The Farming Innovation Programme (FIP) is Defra’s main route for funding research and innovation in agriculture, horticulture and forestry in England, delivered in partnership with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through Innovate UK. The programme funds collaborative projects that develop new practices, technologies and approaches to improve productivity, profitability and environmental sustainability across the farming sector.
Funding is awarded competitively through themed competitions, focused on areas such as productivity and resilience, climate-smart agriculture, animal health and welfare, environmental sustainability, and farmer-led innovation. Total FIP investment for 2026/27 is £123 million – comprising £70 million announced at the NFU Conference in February 2026 and a further £53 million confirmed by Defra in June 2026. This sits within the government’s wider industrial strategy commitment to invest at least £200 million in the Farming Innovation Programme up to 2030.
New competitions are released on a rolling basis through the Innovate UK Funding Service, so applicants and consortia are encouraged to check open opportunities regularly and prepare proposals well in advance of competition deadlines.
