Agritech businesses are being invited to bid for a share of £20 million to develop the next generation of robots and automated systems for British farms and growing operations.
The funding, announced by Farming Minister Stephen Morgan, will support collaborative projects capable of moving practical technologies from development towards commercial use in agriculture, horticulture and forestry across England.
Potential applications range from planting and crop management to harvesting fruit and vegetables, with the programme intended to improve productivity, tackle labour pressures and make everyday farm operations more efficient.
The competition forms the second round of the Farming Futures Automation and Robotics fund, part of the government’s wider Farming Innovation Programme. It contributes to a recent £53 million funding boost and brings the total available for farming research and technology during 2026 to £123 million.
Businesses must work collaboratively with researchers, farmers, growers or other industry partners. Eligible projects must have total costs of between £500,000 and £2.5 million and demonstrate both practical on-farm benefits and clear commercial potential.
Morgan said the investment would help place “cutting-edge robots and technology” into farmers’ hands, easing labour pressures while supporting improved yields and profitability.
The announcement comes as developers seek to overcome some of the most technically demanding challenges in fresh produce automation. Fieldwork Robotics, for example, has developed a raspberry-picking robot and is using government support to improve its durability and reliability ahead of potential commercial deployment.
Previous funding has also supported the development of a robotic mushroom harvester led by Agaricus Robotics, working with Littleport Mushrooms and the University of Lincoln. Awarded £772,425 in 2023, the project created a system capable of scanning mushroom beds before using a soft gripper to pick, measure and trim mushrooms while minimising damage and waste.
Another previously backed project, the Vineyard Information System for Technology and Automation, is developing high-resolution maps using drone and robotic technology. The data can support more accurate yield forecasting, harvest planning and precision growing.
The latest funding round has a broader scope than the competition held in 2023. It includes ornamental plant propagation, growing and monitoring, where the technologies developed could also have applications within food-producing horticulture. Selected livestock and forestry projects are eligible too.
Chris Danks, head of agrifood at Innovate UK, said robotics and automation were becoming increasingly important in helping farmers improve productivity and build more resilient businesses.
Applications for the competition close at 11am on 30 September 2026. Full eligibility details and application guidance are available through the Innovation Funding Service. The scheme is delivered by Defra in partnership with Innovate UK as part of the government’s commitment to invest at least £200 million in farming innovation by 2030.
