The future of farming is getting smarter, and more automated. DEFRA, in partnership with Innovate UK, has launched the latest round of its Farming Innovation Programme, providing a share of £2 million in funding for projects that explore automation and robotics in agriculture and horticulture.
If you’re working on forward-thinking agri-tech solutions, this competition is your chance to take ideas from concept to field trial.
What is the opportunity?
The “Farming Futures: Automation and Robotics – Industrial Research” competition aims to support projects that help drive progress across three key pillars:
- Productivity – Improving the efficiency of farm operations
- Sustainability – Supporting net zero goals and reducing environmental impact
- Resilience – Making food production more robust and adaptable
Projects should focus on industrial research, such as developing or trialling:
- Autonomous field robots or vehicles
- Smart sensors and data-driven platforms
- Automated machinery or systems to support on-farm processing, crop management, or environmental monitoring
Who can apply?
The competition is open to UK-registered businesses leading collaborative projects. Each application must include at least one SME (a micro, small, or medium-sized enterprise) and one UK farmer or grower. All work must be carried out within the UK and must demonstrate clear benefits to farmers or growers in England.
Funding at a glance
Details | Information |
Competition opens | Thursday 26 June 2025 |
Deadline to apply | Wednesday 20 August 2025 at 11:00am |
Funding type | Grant |
Project type | Industrial Research |
Project duration | 24 to 48 months |
Eligible costs | £50,000 to £100,000 per project |
The percentage of costs covered depends on the size and type of organisation involved, following Innovate UK guidelines.
Why this matters to Hellenic Systems
At Hellenic Systems, we’ve long supported the food manufacturing and agricultural sectors with smart, reliable technology, from automation and data systems to end-to-end process integration.
This DEFRA competition aligns closely with our mission: using innovation to create a more productive, sustainable, and future-ready food system. We work with forward-thinking partners to turn ideas into scalable, real-world solutions – helping producers meet today’s challenges with tomorrow’s technology.
If you’re developing an automation or robotics concept that could make a real difference in farming or horticulture, the time to apply is now.
