The Government has pledged a further £21m to help develop new methods of farming
Fifteen innovation projects across England to help farms cut emissions, strengthen resilience and boost productivity are to benefit from at least £21.5 million in new funding, Defra has announced.
Delivered through the Government's Farming Innovation Programme in partnership with Innovate UK, Defra said the projects will move cutting-edge research into practical tools farmers can use on the ground and include actions such as growing vitamin-enriched tomatoes and climate-ready hemp.
Food security
Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle said the funding represented the Government's Plan for Change to support rural growth and long-term food security.
She said: "Innovation is central to a more productive, resilient farming sector.
"This funding will back new ideas farmers can use on the ground to cut methane and fertiliser-related emissions, strengthen crop resilience, and improve nutrition," she said.
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Successful projects include the creation of a ‘Sunshine Tomato' which has used precision breeding to create a tomato enriched with provitamin D₃ to tackle vitamin D deficiency.
There was also cash for schemes looking at low-emissions fertilisers for dairy. This product seeks to replace 50% of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser with biological alternatives to cut nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions, improve soil health and strengthen nutrient management.
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Alongside these was the development of climate-resilient industrial hemp which, because hemp can grow on poorer land, could offer new income streams from less productive farmland, supporting sustainable food, fibre, and biomaterials.
Dr Stella Peace, managing director at Innovate UK, said: "Working alongside Defra, Innovate UK is ensuring precision breeding and low emission technologies move swiftly from research into real‑world use, enabling farmers and agri businesses to grow, compete, and unlock new economic opportunities across the UK's food and farming sector."
Funding
Defra said the funding built on nearly £2.3m awarded to 30 projects announced in December through the first round of the Government's ADOPT Fund. The trials are testing new ideas on working farms – from lower-emission machinery to digital tools that support day-to-day farm management.
