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Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Joss Wallace Defra

Joss Wallace

Joss is a policy adviser in the Farming Innovation team.
The team is responsible for developing Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme as part of the measures to increase innovation and boost sustainable productivity in agriculture and horticulture.

Next round of Large R&D Partnerships competition on the way

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Things we're doing
A hand holding a rapeseed pod

On 15 January, we’ll open another round of the Large R&D Partnerships competition. Part of the Farming Innovation Programme, this competition offers a share of £7.8 million to farmers, growers and foresters in England to take forward ideas that improve productivity, sustainability, resilience and move the sector towards net zero. Together with our delivery partners Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), we published the competition guidance today. 

Further round of the Research Starter competition coming soon 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Payments for research and innovation
A vineyard with vines growing in parallel lines.

Farmers, growers and foresters in England will soon be able to apply for a share of £850,000 for ideas that improve productivity, sustainability, resilience and move the agricultural sector to net zero.  Opening on 18 December, the Research Starter competition offers an entry point to the innovation process for those with bold, ambitious, early-stage ideas.  We published guidance for the competition today to help you prepare.

Small R&D Partnership Projects competition now open

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I’m pleased to say that the Small R&D Partnership Projects competition is now open. Through this competition, we want to enable UK-based businesses to collaboratively develop solutions which improve productivity, sustainability, resilience in farming and realise our net zero ambitions. 

Further innovation grants coming soon 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Payments for research and innovation
Bunches of carrots piled on top of each other

This month, we will open another round of the Small R&D Partnership Projects competition and, in September, another round of the Feasibility Studies competition will follow. In this post, I’ll give you a brief overview of the competitions. I'll also include links to guidance, share details of upcoming webinars and include dates to note. 

Large Research and Development Partnerships: further innovation funding available

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Montage of cows, hydroponics, sheep and vertical farming and cows

Later this month, the second round of the Large Research and Development Partnerships fund will open. From 20 February, agri-businesses, farmers, growers and foresters in England will be able to apply for a share of £8 million to improve productivity, sustainability and resilience. In this post, I’ll give an overview of the competition and details of events for you to find out more.

Further funding available to improve productivity, sustainability and resilience

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Payments for research and innovation
Orchard scene in Kent.

At the end of this month, farmers, growers and foresters in England will be able to apply for a share of £850,000 to improve productivity, sustainability and resilience. In this post, I’ll share an overview of the competition, the application process and links to help you prepare.  

Funding available for robotics and automation in farming

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Payments for research and innovation, Things we're doing
Device controlling agricultural robot

From 9 January 2023, farmers, growers and agritech businesses in England will be able to apply for funding to develop innovative ideas in the areas of robotics and automation. In this post, I’ll give an overview of the competition, dates for your diary and links for you to find out more.

Apply for share of £16.5 million innovation funding

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From the end of this month, £16.5 million will be available through 2 new research and development competitions. There is no set theme for these competitions as we don’t want to create barriers to innovation. However, all projects must focus on improving the productivity, environmental sustainability and resilience of England’s agricultural, horticultural and forestry sectors.  In this post, I'll give an overview and an update on the previous rounds.

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