Defra Unveils £45M Funding Push to Power Low-Carbon Farming Tech

In a bold move to modernise British agriculture, the UK Government has announced more than £45 million in funding to revolutionise how farms operate — with tech front and centre. The investment will support everything from robotic fruit pickers and smart livestock trackers to advanced irrigation systems designed to optimise water usage.

Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner said the grants will help drive innovation on the ground, equipping farmers with cutting-edge tools to increase food production, safeguard natural ecosystems, and boost profitability. Think cow "Fitbits" that monitor health in real-time or automated systems that make drought-conscious watering decisions—it's no longer futuristic. It's now.

The funding will be distributed across three initiatives, totalling £45.6 million. It will support projects at every stage — from fledgling ideas in the lab to full-scale trials on working farms. The goal? Bringing breakthrough technologies into everyday use while slashing emissions and tapping into opportunities unlocked by last year’s Precision Breeding Act. The legislation opened the door for gene-edited crops, which promise higher yields, stronger disease resistance, and less reliance on harmful pesticides.

Mr Zeichner said: “This government is serious about delivering its Plan for Change.

“That is why I’m delighted to see money getting out the door to British farmers. This £45m will support them with technology to boost food production, profits and the rural economy.”

Starting April 28, farmers can apply for £2,500 grants under the Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies competition, which accounts for up to £20.6 million in support over the next 12 months. This initiative empowers farmers to trial new technologies directly on their land, ensuring innovations are grounded in practical application.

Then, on May 5, two additional funding streams under the Farming Innovation Programme (FIP) will go live. One competition, backed by £12.5 million, will fund collaborative research focused on slashing emissions from agriculture. The other — worth £12.5 million — will support R&D into precision-bred crops, leveraging modern biotechnology to transform crop resilience and sustainability.