Agri-tech innovation in developing countries: apply for funding

13 Jul 2016 02:30 PM

UK businesses and universities can apply for a share of up to £4 million to develop agri-tech innovations with developing country partners.

The Department for International Development (DFID) has up to £4 million to fund round 6 of the Agri-Tech Catalyst.

The aim of the competition is to increase the pace and scale of uptake of agricultural innovation by farmers in developing countries and to achieve:

• a sustained reduction of poverty and hunger for smallholder farmers
• a sustainable intensification in developing country agriculture
• improvements in human health and diversity in diets and nutrition
• a positive impact on rural income and food security
• opportunities for trade in agricultural products

Agricultural science and technology is one of the world’s fastest growing and exciting markets. The global challenges that are driving this rapid growth include:

• a rising population
• climate change
• rapid development of emerging economies with western lifestyle aspirations
• growing geopolitical instability around shortages of land, water and energy

The government’s UK Strategy for Agricultural Technologies is helping the UK respond to these challenges. It has invested £160 million in the Agri-Tech Catalyst and 4 Centres for Agricultural Innovation.

Innovate UK is running this competition.

Competition information

• This competition is open now
• The registration deadline for the expression of interest stage of the industrial research award category is noon on 26 October 2016
• The registration deadline for the full-stage registration deadline for the early and late-stage awards is noon on 25 January 2017
• The application deadline for the expression of interest stage of the industrial research award category is 2 November 2016
• The application deadline for the full-stage registration deadline for the early and late-stage awards is noon on 1 February 2017

Find out more about this competition and apply