Grant opportunity
Farming Innovation Programme: Feasibility Round 5
Defra and Innovate UK are funding feasibility studies for new solutions that improve productivity, sustainability, resilience and net-zero progress in farming.
- Funder
- Innovate UK / Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
- Applications close 9 September 2026 at 11:00am UK time
- Applications close 9 September 2026 at 11:00am UK time: Sep 9, 2026
- Award
- Share of up to GBP 15 million; project costs GBP 200,000 to GBP 500,000
- Applicant
- UK registered businesses leading collaborative feasibility projects that benefit farmers, growers or foresters in England.
- Discipline
- Environment, Climate and Natural Resources
- Region
- England / United Kingdom
- Posted
- Jul 22, 2026
Call summary
Overview
This round of the Farming Innovation Programme supports early-stage feasibility projects investigating practical solutions for on-farm or immediate post-farmgate challenges.
Who can apply
Projects must be led by UK registered businesses and demonstrate benefit to farmers, growers or foresters in England. Applicants should confirm consortium, subsidy and project-cost rules in the official competition brief.
What it supports
- Early-stage solutions with potential to improve farm productivity, sustainability and resilience.
- Innovation that helps agricultural sectors move toward net zero.
- Collaboration with the wider UK research community and commercially relevant farming contexts.
Funding and duration
- Defra will invest up to GBP 15 million, subject to sufficient high-quality applications.
- Project total eligible costs must be between GBP 200,000 and GBP 500,000.
Applications close 9 September 2026 at 11:00am UK time
Applications close 9 September 2026 at 11:00am UK time: Sep 9, 2026
How to apply
Start the official application through GOV.UK Find a Grant or Innovate UK before the 9 September 2026 deadline.
Call details
Source-based overview
The Feasibility Round 5 competition funds collaborative feasibility studies that test early-stage farming innovations. Proposals should show clear relevance to farmers, growers or foresters in England and a route toward practical productivity, sustainability or resilience benefits.
Eligibility
Projects must be led by UK registered businesses and demonstrate benefit to farmers, growers or foresters in England. Applicants should confirm consortium, subsidy and project-cost rules in the official competition brief.
Funding and benefits
Defra will invest up to GBP 15 million, subject to sufficient high-quality applications.
Project total eligible costs must be between GBP 200,000 and GBP 500,000.
Themes and supported activities
Early-stage solutions with potential to improve farm productivity, sustainability and resilience.
Innovation that helps agricultural sectors move toward net zero.
Collaboration with the wider UK research community and commercially relevant farming contexts.
Deadline and timeline
Applications close 9 September 2026 at 11:00am UK time: Applications close 9 September 2026 at 11:00am UK time: Sep 9, 2026.
Applicants should confirm the exact deadline time, time zone, required documents, portal steps and any institutional approvals on the official call page before submitting.
How to apply
Start the official application through GOV.UK Find a Grant or Innovate UK before the 9 September 2026 deadline.
Before applying, check eligibility rules, budgets, attachments, page limits, partner requirements, cost-share conditions and whether the opportunity uses an expression of interest, full proposal, registration or nomination stage.