Mr Barclay outlined the following pledges:
- 拢30 million under the second round of the Improving Farming Productivity grant, providing capital grants of 拢15,000/拢25,000 - 拢500,000 towards robotic, automatic equipment and solar. More information on this is expected in December.
- 拢8 million under the third round of the Large R&D Partnership 鈥� due to launch on 15 January 2024.
- 拢850,000 through the Research Starter Round 4 competition 鈥� due to open in December 2023 and close in February 2024.
- Individual grants of up to 拢100,000 on offer from a total 拢5 million under the third round of the .听
Innovation 鈥榗entral鈥� to future of farming
NFU Deputy President Tom Bradshaw said: 鈥淚nnovation and new technology have always been central to the progress of British farming, and Defra鈥檚 announcement will further support our farmers as they continue to face ever-increasing financial pressures.
鈥淚nvesting in farming businesses is key; purchasing equipment and technology to increase productivity and improve animal health and welfare on farm and meeting environmental objectives such as the installation of solar panels, as part of our ambition to reach net zero by 2040.鈥�
鈥�Defra鈥檚 announcement will further support our farmers as they continue to face ever-increasing financial pressures.鈥�
NFU Deputy President Tom Bradshaw
The Farming Investment Fund element was first announced back on Back British Farming Day, where former Defra Secretary Th茅r猫se Coffey revealed that round 2 of the Improving Farm Productivity grant would have 拢15 million for robotics and automation and a new fund of 拢15 million for solar. This theme came out of the early summer Farm to Fork Summit.
For the first time, the revised grant offer will also fund grants of between 拢15,000 and 拢100,000 towards solar equipment which can be fitted on rooftops and float on irrigation reservoirs.
Following NFU lobbying, the minimum grant threshold for these large grants has been lowered from 拢25,000 to 拢15,000.
Round 4 of the Research Starter competition, designed to support farmers prepare nature projects that will help attract investment in the private sector, and round 3 of the large R&D partnership project, a competition aimed at boosting research and experimental development projects, fall under the (FIP) Farming Innovation Programme.
The FIP grants will also include the Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies fund, due to launch in 2024, where businesses will be able to apply for a share of 拢44 million to test and trial new technology and techniques on farms.
皇家华人has worked with Defra for further funding opportunities for its members in this area for many years and it is vital that investment leads to all farmers and growers being supported to get involved at some level with R&D.
鈥淎s ever, it鈥檚 important that our members review the information on the grants carefully when it becomes available and make applications where they work for their businesses,鈥� the NFU鈥檚 Deputy President added.
