News article
£12m ‘Dragons Den’ farming innovation boost - GOV.UK
02/09/2025
The UK Government has launched a £12.6 million “Dragons’ Den-style” funding boost to accelerate farming innovation through the Farming Innovation Programme, delivered in partnership with Innovate UK.
This initiative is designed to help farmers and growers develop and deploy cutting-edge technologies that address key industry challenges such as reducing costs, improving animal health, cutting reliance on seasonal labour, and enhancing productivity.
Two new competitions will open this autumn:
- Small R&D Partnerships – Opening 15 September 2025, with up to £7.8 million available. These grants support later-stage projects that aim to bring new farming products or services closer to market.
- Feasibility Studies – Opening 13 October 2025, with up to £4.8 million available. These grants are for early-stage ideas to test and develop innovative concepts before scaling up.
The competitions are part of the Government’s broader Plan for Change, which includes nearly £250 million in farming grants, a £200 million National Biosecurity Centre, and reforms to improve supply chain fairness and support British produce. The programme also aligns with the New Deal for Farmers, aiming to make UK farming more resilient, competitive, and profitable.