£5 Million Boost for Agri-Tech Innovation: Investor Partnerships Competition Opens 2 June

Agri-tech businesses ready to take their innovation to the next level can now prepare for a significant funding opportunity. A new £5 million round of the Farming Innovation Investor Partnerships competition will open for applications on 2 June 2025, offering a unique blend of grant funding and private investment to help scale cutting-edge technologies for use on farms.

The competition is part of Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme, delivered in partnership with Innovate UK and designed to support late-stage innovations that address real-world agricultural challenges.

What sets this funding round apart is its model: grant support from Defra is matched with equity investment from a pool of more than 150 trusted private investors, creating a powerful springboard for agri-tech businesses.

This follows a successful pilot phase, which saw five businesses secure over £10 million in private investment alongside Defra grants. One such business, Upcycled Plant Protein (UPP), developed Harvesta – a technology that automates broccoli harvesting, while turning waste into plant-based protein. UPP went on to secure over £1 million in combined investment and grant funding, illustrating the transformational potential of the programme.

Who Can Apply?

To be eligible, applicants must be:

• A micro, small, or medium-sized business

• Seeking late seed or Series A stage investment

• Working on experimental technology close to market

Projects must:

• Demonstrate clear benefits to English agriculture

• Cost between £750,000 and £3 million

• Be completed within 18 months

• Take place entirely in the UK

Grant funding will cover:

• Up to 45% for micro/small organisations

• Up to 35% for medium-sized organisations

Applications open 2 June and close 2 July 2025, and should be submitted via Innovate UK’s Innovation Funding Service.

Learn More

An online webinar and Q&A session will be held on Thursday 5 June, in collaboration with UKRI. The session will:

• Explain how to apply

• Clarify funding rules and eligibility

• Introduce the Investor Partner Pool

Register for the webinar here. A recording will be made available for those unable to attend live.

This is a fantastic opportunity for agri-tech innovators to unlock funding, fast-track commercialisation and bring practical solutions to UK farms.

For more information and to view the case study of UPP and Harvesta, visit Farming Innovation Investor Partnerships – GOV.UK.