The Agri-Food Technology Challenge by SBRI Wales, is supporting innovative solutions to boost sustainability, productivity, and efficiency across Welsh agriculture and food supply chains. Apply for £50,000 funding to help drive Net Zero and transform agri-tech.

Scope

In 2023, the Welsh Government published an Innovation Strategy for Wales. Innovation in food and Agri-Tech was seen as a key part of Wales’ future economic development within this document. In late 2023, the Welsh Government published an Agri-tech action plan for Wales. The development and adoption of Agri-Tech and Precision Agri-Tech is a strategic area of growth for the Welsh economy and one that the Welsh Government deems requiring of focussed attention and a road map for development. The action plan has four priorities:

  • Accelerate Home Grown Welsh Agri-Tech Capabilities.
  • Drive on-farm adoption to achieve productivity and efficiencies (incl. Environmental) gains ‘more for less’.
  • Deliver environmental benefits and help transition to Net Zero.
  • Support educational and skills development to equip future and existing agricultural professionals to exploit Agri-Tech to its fullest.

Your application should involve at least one Welsh based business involved in the agricultural or food supply chain.

How can solutions address the challenges?

Innovative solutions could include (but not be limited to): –

  • The adoption of AI technologies by agriculture or food and drink businesses,
  • Activities relating to soil and land use,
  • Waste valorisation or minimisation of waste produced at various points across the supply chain, including, but not limited to, on farm waste, including animal waste, plastic waste, etc.
  • The adoption or development of functional or future foods,
  • Adding value to agricultural produce and,
  • Identification of innovative, alternative production systems.

Out of Scope

  • Do not clearly demonstrate engagement with the agricultural and food supply chains within Wales.
  • Cannot evidence engagement with potential future customers to understand needs.
  • Fails to consider affordability & practicality of widespread implementation.
  • Fails to consider potential side effects and their mitigations, for example, environmental impacts.

Challenge Theme

The Agri-Food Technology Challenge fund of £500,000 looks to support feasibility projects that can begin to address the stated aims of the challenge:

Successful applicants will be awarded R&D contracts to deliver:

Phase 1: Feasibility – We are looking to fund up to 10 projects up to a value of up to £50,000 each (inclusive of VAT).

Note: Projects successful at phase 1 will be eligible to apply to subsequent phases. Additional phases will be dependent upon the outcomes of Phase 1 and future funding allocation.

The key focus will be on demonstrating the potential affordability and scalability of solutions that can be delivered at pace.

If project applications are seeking to build upon previous trials/small-scale testing, applications must clearly articulate how this funding will help accelerate more wide-spread development, outlining any previous adoption barriers and demonstrating how these will be addressed.

Dates and How to Apply

Applications to the Agri-Food Technology Challenge must be made by 12pm on Wednesday 24th September. Projects will run from 27th October to 20th February 2026.

Full information can be found on the SBRI website. 

You can find other open funding calls in our Funding Finder.