Up to £500,000 for Farming Innovation – Farming Innovation Programme Feasibility Round 5

The Farming Innovation Programme: Feasibility Round 5, delivered by Innovate UK in partnership with Defra, provides grant funding for collaborative projects exploring early-stage solutions to major farming and agricultural challenges. There is a £15 million funding pot available.

Here’s what you can expect:

• Projects with total eligible costs of £200,000–£500,000

• A share of up to £15 million available overall

• Projects can last up to 24 months

• Funding for early-stage feasibility studies and agricultural innovation

• Solutions should improve productivity, sustainability and resilience

• Projects should contribute towards lower-emission/net-zero farming

• Eligible areas include farmed animals, plants, novel food production systems, bioeconomy and agroforestry

• Projects must demonstrate a clear benefit for farmers, growers or foresters in England.

Who can apply?

• A UK-registered business of any size must lead

• Sole traders and partnerships can also lead if they are established commercial businesses

• Projects must be collaborative

• At least one additional grant-claiming UK business must participate

• Partners can include businesses, universities, charities, nonprofits, public-sector organisations and RTOs

• CICs and charities cannot lead, although they can participate as partners

• No single partner can account for more than 70% of total eligible project costs.

Funding rates: Up to 70% of eligible costs for micro/small organisations, 60% for medium organisations and 50% for large organisations.

Application deadline: 9 September 2026 at 11:00am