Farming Innovation Pathways (FIP) – feasibility studies

Fund Name: Farming Innovation Pathways (FIP) – feasibility studies
Project Length: 12-18 months
Project Value: £75k-£250k
Deadline: 28/04/2021

Summary

The aim of this competition is to support the development of novel innovations to develop and support a productive, resilient, and sustainable agricultural sector. This funding is from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

This development is achieved through the investment of up to £5 million in feasibility studies in the agricultural sector.

This competition is split into 2 strands:

• feasibility studies (this competition)
• industrial research

Fund details

Funding for this competition is from Defra’s Future Farming and Countryside programme. Projects can be based anywhere in the UK but must be able to clearly demonstrate potential benefits to the English farming sector.

Your project must engage with farmers, growers or producers to develop farm-focused solutions. These solutions must solve the short to long-term challenges of productivity, sustainability and net zero emissions.

Your project must focus on one or more of the high priority areas listed below.

Livestock (for example: beef, dairy, sheep, pigs, poultry):

improving resource use efficiency, particularly feed efficiency
advances in breeding and genetic improvement
improving animal health and welfare
improved data capture, management and decision support
intelligent housing solutions
manure and slurry management

Plant (for example: arable, horticulture, vegetable production):

• reducing reliance on fossil fuels and agrochemical inputs
• improving resource use efficiency, particularly fertiliser
• improving soil health
• improving sustainability of growth substrates (horticulture)
• diversification of rotations with novel crops
• advances in breeding and genetic improvement
• improving the quality, nutritional characteristics and life of arable and horticultural produce
• increasing automation for crop husbandry and harvesting

Novel food production systems:

• insect production for feed
• controlled environment agriculture

Bioeconomy and agroforestry:

• developing opportunities for UK farmers, growers and foresters in the Bioeconomy (primary focus must be on food or feed production)
• integrating biomass and agroforestry into traditional farmed systems and land-use practice, improving sustainability, productivity and income diversification

Integrated approaches:

• Innovate UK is also encouraging applicants with proposals which are developing or improving integrated plant and livestock systems

Eligibility

Your project must:

• have total eligible costs between £75,000 and £250,000
• start by 1 October 2021
• last between 12 and 18 months

Lead organisation

To lead a project your organisation must:

• be a UK registered business of any size, academic institution, research organisation or a research and technology organisation (RTO)
• collaborate with other UK registered businesses, research organisations or RTOs
• carry out its project work in the UK
• intend to exploit the results from or in the UK

Get in touch

If you think that you might be eligible for this fund, please Get In Touch by filling out the contact form below.