Farming Minister Stephen Morgan announced today, 3 August, that new funding will support the development of robots and innovative technologies for planting, tending, and harvesting crops. Agri-tech businesses can now apply for a share of £20 million to collaborate with researchers and farmers on the next generation of farm automation.
This cash injection aims to accelerate the development of automated technology, from planting seeds to picking fruit, to help farms facing seasonal worker shortages. The funding is part of the government's Farming Innovation Programme, contributing to a total of £123 million available this year for farming research and technology.
The current funding round is open to applications for livestock, ornamental plant propagation, and forestry projects, in addition to crop automation. Innovate UK is partnering with Defra to deliver the programme, which supports solutions for productivity, sustainability, and resilience in the agricultural sector. Applications for the funding opened today.