Farming and Food Resources
Welcome to our Farming and Food Resources Hub
Our Farming and Food Resources Hub is dedicated to highlighting the most recent funding and project opportunities for the farming, food and agricultural sectors.
Quick Reference to funding
| Project | Overview | Timescale |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMs) | There are 3 elements to this scheme: 1. Sustainable Farming Incentive 2. Local Nature Recovery 3. Landscape Recovery | 1. Pilot 2021, launched 2022 2. Piloting 2022, launched in 2024 3. Piloting 2022, launched in 2024 |
| Farming Investment Fund | Information about funding for farmers, foresters, growers, and contractors about grants for investing in new technology. | Project running from 2021 – 2026 |
| Tree Health Scheme | A pilot to help slow the spread of pests and diseases in trees. | Pilot project 2021 – 2024 |
| Forestry Commission Grant Schemes | Summary of all woodland grants and incentives. | 2021 – Ongoing |
| Farming in Protected landscapes | If you’re a farmer or land manager, you can get funding to support and improve Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), National Parks and the Broads. | Project running from 2021 – 2024 |
| Catchment Sensitive Farming | Get help to reduce water and air pollution, from your land. Find out if you’re in a priority area and how you can contact your local adviser. | Ongoing |
| Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) | There will be progressive reductions in direct payments from 2021 to 2027. All payments will be reduced, but there will be bigger reductions on the higher payment bands. | Phased out by 2027. Reduced by 50% by 2024 |
| Countryside Stewardship (CS) | Provides financial incentives for farmers, woodland owners, foresters, and land managers to look after and improve the environment. | Revenue claims for existing CS agreements (Jan 2022). Programme ends in 2024 |
| Animal Health and Welfare Framework | County councils, metropolitan boroughs and unitary authorities in England have a statutory duty to work with local communities to help them comply with laws that are aimed at preventing the spread of animal disease and protecting the welfare of animals. | Ongoing |
| Woods into Management Forestry Innovation Funds | As part of the Government’s Nature for Climate Fund, the Forestry Commission will shortly be reopening the Woods into Management (WiM) Forestry Innovation Funds for applications. Through the WiM Forestry Innovation Funds, grant funding will be made available to stimulate the development and testing of new ideas that can help improve the ecological condition of woodlands, and their resilience to climate change, via increased demand for wood and increased levels of woodland management. New to the 2022 WiM Forestry Innovation Funds offer, applicants will be able to submit multi-year proposals spanning up to three financial years (ending March 2025). Proposals may be costed at up to a maximum of £100K per year. The 2022 WiM Forestry Innovation Funds offer also includes a new, additional funding stream: the Timber in Construction Innovation Fund. Further details on each of the funds scheduled to open under the WiM Forestry Innovation Funds in 2022 can be found online here. | 2022 – 2025 |
Projects and Programmes
Devon Agri-Tech Accelerator (DATA) – This pilot project aims to enhance the Agri-Tech sector within Devon. This project has 4 elements:
- Research and Mapping
- Agri-Tech Alliance
- Knowledge Exchange and Voucher Pilot (apply by the 15 July 2022)
- Farm Innovation Pilot (running until July 2022)
This project is currently running until October 2022. Further details online here.
This is part of the Community Renewal Fund (CRF) managed by DCC: UK Community Renewal Fund: prospectus – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Future Farm Resilience (FFR) – Providing free, expert advice for farmers in Devon and Somerset in the transition from BPS to ELMs. A project funded by DEFRA to deliver information workshops, 1-1 support, and specialist workshops.
Currently running from August 2021 – May 2022. Further details online here.
As part of DEFRA’s FFR projects, managed by DCC: The Future Farming Resilience Fund: access free support – Future Farming (blog.gov.uk)
Devon Food Partnership (DFP) – A strategic food partnership for Devon has been established, to enable collaboration and open communications with food stakeholders across the county. Run by key steering group. This project started in 2021 and is ongoing. Further details online here.
Smart Biosphere project – The Biosphere has several projects designed to help farmers secure new revenue streams from their land. These include payments for carbon, water management and biodiversity fees, and others.
For these outputs to be quantified, to maximise payments to landowners, the smart biosphere programme uses technology to monitor these outcomes. The Umber catchment is the first area in the UK to test this new technology platform. Smart Biosphere uses a range of cutting-edge technologies, including remote sensors connected to the Internet, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things. Further details online here. 
DEFRA Facilitation Fund (led by biosphere) – For the signed-up landholders, the facilitation funds can:
- Give additional points for Countryside Stewardship applications, so that they are more likely to be successful
- Provide help and advice with Countryside Stewardship applications
- Organise free workshops and training in agriculture, forestry, grants etc, with the subject matter being identified by Facilitation Group members
- Give general advice, support, and opportunities for joint working
This project finishes in December 2022. Further details online here.
County Farms – NPS South West limited manages the County Farms Estate of 3,873 hectares (9,570 acres). Strategic, policy and operational management decisions are considered by its own Committee.
This project is ongoing. Further details online here.
Dynamic Food Purchasing – Improving the transparency of food chains. Three different levels of financial support:
- Regional Food network
- Regional infrastructure
- Implementing dynamic food procurement in a county
The Dixon Foundation: Dynamic food procurement – The Dixon Foundation
This project was launched in 2021. Further details online here.
Green Innovation Fund – Fund looking to support clean growth projects that boost Devon’s economy and drive green innovation.
From Agri-tech, renewable energy, and electric vehicle technology to eco-tourism and hospitality opportunities, there are a range of industries that can transition into the low carbon sector through innovation.
This project is set to run from 2021 until 2023. Further details online here.
Devon Woods – This is a partnership between the Environment Agency, North Devon Biosphere Foundation, Natural England, Forestry Commission and the Woodland Trust. It will deliver woodland creation, enhanced woodland management and infrastructure specifically to achieve Water Framework Directive (WFD) outcomes, with multiple benefits to flood risk and biodiversity.
More information on this project is to be release soon and will appear on the North Devon Biosphere website when ready.
The Natural Capital Marketplace – The Natural Capital Marketplace is a cloud-based application that supports farmers and landowners understand their options for natural capital projects, helping to unlock new revenue from their holdings. The platform connects the farming community with trusted delivery partners to develop nature-based projects and provides a ready market for any resultant ecosystem outcomes, such as Carbon and Biodiversity Net Gain credits.
Registering an account is free, with no onward commitment, and allows the landholder to view customised opportunities matched to landholdings and project objectives that they themselves have set.
A Biosphere Foundation project, the platform is offered on a not-for-profit basis, focussing instead on impact – environmental, social and economic.
To find out more contact NCM Operations Manager, David Collier on David.collier@biospherefoundation.co.uk or register an account at https://app.naturalcapital.market/
Expression of interest: Farming Innovation Programme: research starter pilot, round two – Farming, growing or forestry businesses based in England can apply for a share of up to £1 million for feasibility projects. This is an expression of interest competition.
The funding for this competition is part of Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme which is delivered in partnership with UKRI’s Transforming Food Production Challenge.
If your application is successful, you will be invited to apply to a full stage competition.
Get in touch
Contact the Growth Hub team to find out about support available locally.
03456 047 047
GOV.UK website
Government advice, information and tools for businesses covering a whole range of sectors, issues and themes.
HSE – Guide to Healthy & Safety
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has developed a range of tools and guidance to help small and medium sized businesses understand health and safety.