New funding has been announced to support collaborative projects capable of moving practical technologies from development towards commercial use in agriculture, horticulture and forestry across England.
The competition forms the second round of the Farming Futures Automation and Robotics fund, part of the government’s wider Farming Innovation Programme. It contributes to a recent £53 million funding boost and brings the total available for farming research and technology during 2026 to £123 million.
Businesses must work collaboratively with researchers, farmers, growers or other industry partners. Eligible projects must have total costs of between £500,000 and £2.5 million and demonstrate both practical on-farm benefits and clear commercial potential.
Applications for the competition close at 11am on 30 September 2026. Full eligibility details and application guidance are available through the Innovation Funding Service