If you run a UK farming or agri-tech business and you have an innovation that is close to commercial but needs a final funding push, there is a competition open right now that was designed precisely for you. The Defra Farming Innovation Investor Partnerships scheme closed a previous round earlier this year and has just opened a new one. The deadline is 17 June 2026.
Scheme: Defra Farming Innovation Investor Partnerships, delivered by Innovate UK
Total fund: Up to £5 million
Who can apply: UK-registered SMEs only. Single applicants only, no consortiums.
Key requirement: You must secure private investment of at least twice the grant amount requested
Deadline: 17 June 2026 at 11:00am UK time
Opens: 11 May 2026
Apply at: apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk
What it is
This is a grant competition run jointly by Defra and Innovate UK as part of the wider Farming Innovation Programme. It funds late-stage research and development for near-commercial farming innovations. The idea is to help promising agri-tech businesses close the gap between a working prototype and a product that can scale across England.
Crucially, this is not a research grant. Innovate UK wants projects that are close to market, not ones starting from scratch. The grant is designed to reduce the risk profile of your business enough to attract private investors from Innovate UK’s Investor Partner Pool.
Who qualifies
You must be a UK-registered micro, small, or medium-sized enterprise. The competition is open to single applicants only, no collaborative projects. All project work must be carried out in the UK.
The most important eligibility condition is the investment requirement. You must be seeking private financing of at least twice the grant amount you are requesting. So if you apply for £100,000 in grant funding, you need to demonstrate that you are also seeking at least £200,000 in private investment. Innovate UK connects successful applicants with investor partners from its own pool, but you need to show the appetite is there before you apply.
What the funding covers
The total competition pot is £5 million. Individual project sizes are not published but previous rounds suggest awards typically range from £100,000 to £500,000 depending on project stage and scope. Your project must focus on practical, farm-focused innovation that improves productivity, reduces costs, or supports more sustainable farming, with a clear route to adoption across England.
What you need to apply
Applications go through the Innovation Funding Service on GOV.UK. You will need to set out:
- A clear description of your innovation and its stage of development
- Evidence that it is near-commercial, not early-stage research
- How it will help farmers improve productivity or sustainability in practice
- Your route to scale and commercial deployment across England
- Your plan for securing private investment at the required ratio
Innovate UK is running an online briefing session on Monday 18 May 2026 at midday via Zoom. No registration is required. If you are considering applying, this is worth attending.
The deadline
Applications close at 11:00am on 17 June 2026. Projects are expected to start from October 2026.
Our take
The private investment requirement is the filter that makes this competition both harder and more valuable than a standard grant. If you can attract private investors at a 2:1 ratio, you are already a credible business, and the grant becomes leverage rather than a lifeline. If you cannot demonstrate that appetite, applying is probably premature. The focus on near-commercial projects is also strict. Innovate UK has rejected farming grant applications in previous rounds for being too early-stage despite strong technology. Be honest with yourself about where your project sits before spending time on an application.
How to apply
Apply via the Innovation Funding Service at apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk. Search for Defra Farming Innovation Investor Partnership. For questions, contact Innovate UK at support@iuk.ukri.org or call 0300 321 4357, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
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