Funding for community, private and public sector organisations across the UK for initiatives which will help to reduce the UK’s reliance on soy-based animal and fish feed and synthetic fertilisers.

The Co-op Foundation has published the guidance notes for the second round of its £3.5 million Carbon Innovation Fund.

The new round of funding will deliver against the sustainability element of the Co-op Foundation’s youth-led vision and strategy by focusing on creating a more equitable and sustainable food and farming industry.

Grants of between £75,000 and £200,000 will be awarded to organisations working to reduce the UK’s reliance on soy animal feed and/or synthetic fertilisers.

Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Alternatives to soy-based animal or fish feed.
• Alternatives to synthetic fertiliser, or ideas which would reduce their negative impacts.
• On-farm trials of alternative feed or fertiliser which will measure success and impacts on measures such as yield, costs, biodiversity increases, nitrogen management, etc.
• Thinking laterally to reduce reliance rather than create alternatives such as breeding new strains of crops, better nitrate management on farm, building multi-stakeholder networks to tackle issues together, agroecological cluster demonstration projects, etc.

Funding can be used on project costs, core costs/overheads and capital costs. Projects must start within six months of receiving the grant, but thereafter can be spent over any time period.

It is expected that roughly 10 organisations from across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be funded.

The Co-op Foundation is running a free webinar on 1 February (11:00 to 12:15) where it will share more information on the Fund and how to apply as well as providing an opportunity for groups to ask questions. Groups will need to reserve a spot on eventbrite.

Round Two will open for applications on 1 February 2023 (after the event concludes at midday) and close on 28 February 2023 (midday).

 

How To Apply

26 January 2023 update:

• Round Two will open for applications on 1 February 2023 (midday) and close on 28 February 2023 (midday).
• The Co-op Foundation is running a free webinar on 1 February (11:00 to 12:15) where it will share more information on the Fund and how to apply as well as providing an opportunity for groups to ask questions. Groups will need to reserve a spot on eventbrite.
• Guidance notes and application questions for Round 2 have been published and can be found on the Co-op Foundation website.

The online application form will be available on the Co-op Foundation website. from midday on 1 February 2023