Grants are available for organisations across all sectors to help unlock barriers to the development of commercially viable paludiculture in England.
Through the Paludiculture Exploration Fund (PEF), grants are available to help unlock barriers to the development of commercially viable paludiculture. Paludiculture is wet agriculture and forestry on peatlands, combining the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from drained peatlands through rewetting with continued land use and biomass production under wet conditions.
The focus of the grants is tackling both ends of the supply chain, ie the growing and harvesting of paludiculture crops and/or the development of products based on those crops. Land-based projects (including machinery development) must take place on lowland peat soils in England. Product development projects must be based in England, but the paludicultural crops used to develop the product can be sourced from further afield if sufficient supplies cannot be sourced in England.
The scheme has a total funding budget of £5 million. There is no minimum or maximum limit to the size of projects. Applications in the range of £50,000 to £500,000 are anticipated. PEF grants can cover up to 100% of costs.
Applications are welcomed from projects focused on tackling the barriers to developing commercially viable paludiculture on lowland peat soils in England, where the intended outcome is a positive environmental benefit resulting in the reduction of peat wastage and greenhouse gas emissions.
Bids can be made by businesses and commercial enterprises, landowners, environmental groups, public bodies and local authorities, internal drainage boards, charities and other organisations.
The deadline for submission of applications is 3 March 2023.
How To Apply
Applications opened on 3 January 2023. The deadline for submission of applications is 3 March 2023.
Applications are made online. Further information is available on Atamis, the application portal - Welcome (force.com)
For more information, visit the UK Government website.