Deadline: 21 November 2018
UK businesses and research organisations can apply for a share of up to £3 million from the Department for International Development (DFID) for projects with partners in eligible African countries.
The aim of this competition is to increase the pace of development and scale of uptake of agricultural and food systems innovation by farmers and food systems actors (such as manufacturers, processors, retailers, distributors or wholesalers) in Africa.
The Agri-tech Catalyst will take innovative ideas from any sector or discipline. Ideas must show the potential to deliver impact for poor people through the uptake of agricultural and food systems technology and innovation. The scope of the Catalyst includes:
- primary crop and livestock production, including aquaculture
- non-food uses of crops, excluding ornamentals
- challenges in food processing, distribution or storage, and value addition (such as through a change in the physical state or form of the product)
- improving the availability and accessibility of safe, healthy and nutritious foods
Themes
- integrating smallholders into global and local supply chains
- meeting quality standards and improving productivity
- increasing the value of production to smallholders
- innovation that supports food systems to deliver nutritious, healthy and safe food
- control of crop pests, weeds and diseases
- reducing food losses ‘post-farm gate’ and through the value chain
- addressing food safety issues through the value chain
- addressing challenges in downstream food processing, distribution or storage and value addition
- new food technologies and data-driven food systems, including for urban areas
Funding Information
- Early stage feasibility studies: £100,000 to £500,000, 12 to 18 months.
- Mid stage industrial research: £250,000 to £1 million, up to 3 years.
- Late stage experimental development: £150,000 to £800,000, up to 18 months.
Eligibility Criteria
All projects:
- must be collaborative
- must include a partner from an eligible African country, who can be the technical lead
- must include a UK-based administrative lead
- must be carried out in the UK or an eligible African country or both
Projects they will not fund
They will not fund projects that cover:
- forestry or ornamentals
- wild-capture fisheries
- equine
- crops for energy production
How to Apply
Interested applicants can apply online via given website.
Eligible Countries: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo, Democratic Republic of, Côte d’Ivoire, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, The, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and United Kingdom.
For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2wAw8kd