Advance notice - New grants for agricultural businesses in England, launching in autumn 2021.
Fund Information
- Funding body:
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
- Maximum value:
- Discretionary
- Application deadline:
- None specified
Background
This scheme is funded by Defra.
Objectives of Fund
The Farming Investment Fund is due to be launched autumn 2021. The initiative has been created with the aim of helping promote investment into agricultural business, and is set allow farmers to expand or enhance their enterprises.
The Fund aims to improve and increase profitability whilst developing and enhancing environmental goods. This is all part of the overarching Agricultural Transition Plan, as the subsidy payments are phased out. This therefore reduces the reliance on direct payments and increases the productivity from a holding, in an environmentally and sustainable way.
Value Notes
There will be two levels of the Farming Investment Fund:
- Farming Equipment and Technology Fund, which will offer small grants to contribute towards the purchase of a list of specified items. Farmers can apply for a grant to buy items from a set list of equipment, technology and small infrastructure investments. It is based on the former Countryside Productivity Small Grant scheme.
- Farming Transformation Fund, which will provide larger grants towards the cost of more substantial investments in equipment, technology or infrastructure, with the potential to transform business performance. The kinds of things grants might be awarded for could include:
- On-farm water storage infrastructure, including reservoirs.
- Precision agriculture equipment (for example, low emission and variable-rate nutrient or pesticide application).
- Robotic or automated technology.
- Equipment and technology for storing, sorting, or processing products.
Levels of support have yet to be stipulated.
Who Can Apply
The Farming Investment Fund will be available for farmers and agricultural or forestry contractors based in England.
Location
England.
How To Apply
Defra will publish more information about the kind of projects we will fund as part of the guidance when it launches in autumn 2021.
More details of how to apply will be reported when the programme opens.
Useful documents & links
Useful Links
Addresses and contacts
For further information on how to obtain this grant locally, please contact the following:
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR