DFID’s Agri-tech Catalyst funding scheme helps businesses and researchers commercialise their research and develop innovative solutions to global challenges in the agri-tech sector. The scheme helps to take innovations all way from research to as close to commercial viability as possible, awarding grants for:
- early-stage feasibility studies
- industrial research
- late-stage experimental development.
Focus Areas
The Agri-tech Catalyst will fund proposals relating to:
- primary crop and livestock production, including aquaculture
- non-food uses of crops including ornamentals (for example, for biomass)
- food security and nutrition challenges in international development
- challenges in downstream food processing, provided the solution lies in primary production
Sectors
- Agriculture
- Private sector/business
- Technology
Focus Countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, South Sudan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Eligibility Criteria
- Any UK business or academic researcher can apply. All projects must be collaborative except for late-stage awards which can support individual companies or business partners working together through collaboration.
- Developing country partners must be involved for applicants targeting international development.
- Applications from the aquaculture and livestock sectors are particularly encouraged, as are crop sector projects targeting weed control and on-farm storage and management. Projects targeting the late-stage award category are also encouraged.
For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/international-development-funding/the-agri-tech-catalyst.