Farmers given £50m technology grants to boost food production

Farmers across England will be able to apply for grants totalling £50 million to improve access to new technology able to boost productivity, profitability and food security, the Government announced on 7 May.

From seed-planting robots which decrease costs, to pesticide spreaders which help reduce chemical use, or slurry separator systems which bring down reliance on expensive fertilisers,
the grants will enable farmers to cut costs while increasing efficiency and sustainability. 

The £46.7 million Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) will support farmers with three types of grants, worth up to £25,000 each, to invest in day-to-day equipment to boost productivity, manage slurry or improve animal health and welfare. 

In addition, the £5 million Investor Partnerships programme
will blend government grant money with private investment to bring cutting-edge technology to market, giving farmers and food producers faster and more widespread access to state-of-the-art innovations. 

A successful pilot has already reduced reliance on seasonal labour through bringing high-yield broccoli harvesters to market and helped crops grow healthier and faster without chemicals by using new seed cleaning technologies. This
new grant will go even further to protect food supply chains and create a more sustainable, profitable agricultural sector.
   
Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs Daniel Zeichner said: “Equipment and technology help drive farming forward and we will work with investors to fund more resilient, sustainable farms, boosting profitability, productivity and food security.   
“This is
the Plan for Change in action, and these grants will help provide our farmers with the equipment necessary to adapt, compete, and grow no matter what challenges lie ahead.”

Today’s announcement builds on significant government grants already available to the farming sector, with £45.6 million announced last month to drive the development of new inventions and technologies, helping farmers increase their profits, boost food production and help nature.