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Satellites to improve agri-food systems

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Innovate UK and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) are to invest up to £3.75 million in collaborative R&D projects and relevant technical feasibility studies to stimulate innovation to improve the productivity of agri-food systems using satellite technology.
 
This competition links two key areas of innovation: agriculture & food and satellite applications. Its main aim is to stimulate the development and adoption of new technologies and/or business models based on the innovative use of satellite technology, which help to improve the productivity of the UK food and farming industries and simultaneously address the environmental impacts of increased land use and intensification.
 
Projects must be led by a business and be collaborative. The primary aim is to fund collaborative research and development (primarily experimental development). Small business partners could receive up to 45% of their eligible project costs, medium-sized businesses 35% and large businesses 25%. Collaborative R&D projects are expected to be typically to be up to £1 million in size.
 
Consortia led by any sized company are welcome, and particularly encourage proposals from medium-sized companies. Research organisations may participate as collaborators in a consortium but business partners must incur at least 70% of the total project costs.
 
Up to £750,000 of the total funding will be available for smaller-scale technical feasibility studies. These are open to companies working alone or collaboratively. Small businesses could receive up to 70% of their eligible project costs, medium-sized businesses 60% and large businesses 50%. Technical feasibility studies projects are expected to range in size from £45,000 to £200,000.
 
The competition opens for both types of project application on 16 November 2015. The deadline for applications is at noon on 24 February 2016.
 
There will be a briefing webinar for potential applicants on 19 November 2015. A consortium-building workshop will be held on 7 October 2015 in London.
Scope
Applications addressing innovation and new services in at least one of the following areas.
 
Primary production
This area covers:
  • Farm machinery guidance and auto steer/controlled traffic
  • Autonomous systems
  • Variable rate application
  • Yield/biomass/soil mapping and monitoring
  • Livestock monitoring/tracking
  • Whole farm system connectivity
Post-farm gate
This area covers:
  • Farm machinery monitoring and asset management
  • Geo-traceability/geo-referencing
  • Field delineation/survey
  • Compliance,mapping
  • Stock movement/traceability and provenance
  • Supply-side management and logistics/ delivery
Out of scope
In this competition we are not funding projects covering satellite sensor development, unless it is part of a total system solution with a clear route to market.
 
Key dates
Competition opens 16 November 2015
Competition briefing webinar 19 November 2015
Registration deadline noon 17 February 2016
Deadline for receipt of applications noon 24 February 2016
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