Farmer Collaboration Fund
Please note: This fund is not yet open for applications - we are currently inviting potential delivery partners to a webinar to ask more questions about the fund and how it will work. To support collaboration Defra is planning to launch the Farmer Collaboration Fund. This will fund the costs of running collaboration groups and allow access to expert advice where this is needed. We are going to engage with a range of potential delivery partners through a webinar on 19th May 2026 from 2pm to 4pm, where we will offer the opportunity to ask more questions about the fund and how it will work.
- Opening date:
- Closing date: (Midnight)
Contents
Summary
Please note: This fund is not yet open for applications - we are currently inviting potential delivery partners to a webinar to ask more questions about the fund and how it will work
Defra aims to support a thriving and productive farming sector while working towards ambitious targets for the environment and animal health and welfare. To achieve those aims we want to ensure that farmers and land managers can access support and advice and work together flexibly towards the best practice for their business and land.
There are a range of farming practices that can benefit the environment and farm productivity (e.g. reducing use of pesticides and fertilisers) but farmers and land managers don’t always have the support they need to make those changes in a way that works for their business. Learning from each other and developing plans together can help ensure that any changes will work on the ground.
To support this kind of collaboration Defra is planning to launch the Farmer Collaboration Fund. This will fund the costs of running collaboration groups and allow access to expert advice where this is needed.
Funds will be distributed via delivery partners, who will need to show knowledge and understanding of collaboration, including locally relevant issues They will use the funds flexibly to support collaboration groups in ways that are important for their area and will help achieve Defra’s objectives.
There will be up to £2.5m available in 2026/27, and successful projects will be funded for up to three years in total, with a similar budget each year. We expect to fund up to 10 projects in 2026/27, with additional projects starting in following years.
We are going to engage with a range of potential delivery partners through a webinar on 19th May 2026 from 2pm to 4pm, where we will offer the opportunity to ask more questions about the fund and how it will work.
Eligibility
Here we set out broad criteria for potential funding eligibility, so that we can engage with a range of potential delivery partners and understand their needs. We will refine these criteria further before launching the first round of the fund.
A range of organisations could be eligible for this grant. These include:
Charities and Community Interest Companies (CICs)
Local authorities, strategic authorities and National Landscapes
Commercial businesses including limited companies
All delivery partners will need to demonstrate that they can manage the finances they are asking to receive and have appropriate governance and reporting processes in place. They will also need to show they have a plan of how they will work towards our objectives.
Delivery plans should grow from what already exists: they should be developed based on existing plans and strategies, and in partnership with other organisations and with relevant farmers and land managers.
We expect delivery partners should support at least three collaboration groups, and it should be clear how outcomes will be delivered through those collaboration groups.
We may limit eligibility criteria further before the grant is launched.
Objectives
The project aims to support farmers and land managers to collaborate with one another to deliver sustainable, nature friendly, productive farming. Delivery partners should use existing strategies and plans to identify priority outcomes, then demonstrate how collaboration groups will deliver those outcomes. demonstrate what actions will help achieve those outcomes through the groups they will support. We anticipate a wide range of priorities being in scope and expect different groups to act flexibly to take a range of activities in line with locally relevant needs.
We expect collaboration and peer learning to lead to farmers and land managers taking up a range of practices that are beneficial for their businesses and for the environment. For example, this could include taking up integrated pest management activities, which can reduce the cost of inputs as well as supporting soil and water health. Or it could involve integrating trees into a farming system to diversify income streams, sequester carbon and protect against flood risks.
Dates
We will hold a pre-market engagement webinar for potential delivery partners on 19th May 2026 from 2pm to 4pm.
Minimum and maximum award
At this stage we expect minimum awards of £100,000 and maximum of £1,000,000 but this may change before the fund is launched.
How to apply
We will provide further details on how to apply when this fund opens.
Eligibility
Here we set out broad criteria for potential funding eligibility, so that we can engage with a range of potential delivery partners and understand their needs. We will refine these criteria further before launching the first round of the fund.
A range of organisations could be eligible for this grant. These include:
Charities and Community Interest Companies (CICs)
Local authorities, strategic authorities and National Landscapes
Commercial businesses including limited companies
All delivery partners will need to demonstrate that they can manage the finances they are asking to receive and have appropriate governance and reporting processes in place. They will also need to show they have a plan of how they will work towards our objectives.
Delivery plans should grow from what already exists: they should be developed based on existing plans and strategies, and in partnership with other organisations and with relevant farmers and land managers.
We expect delivery partners should support at least three collaboration groups, and it should be clear how outcomes will be delivered through those collaboration groups.
We may limit eligibility criteria further before the grant is launched
Objectives
The project aims to support farmers and land managers to collaborate with one another to deliver sustainable, nature friendly, productive farming. Delivery partners should use existing strategies and plans to identify priority outcomes, then demonstrate how collaboration groups will deliver those outcomes. demonstrate what actions will help achieve those outcomes through the groups they will support. We anticipate a wide range of priorities being in scope and expect different groups to act flexibly to take a range of activities in line with locally relevant needs.
We expect collaboration and peer learning to lead to farmers and land managers taking up a range of practices that are beneficial for their businesses and for the environment. For example, this could include taking up integrated pest management activities, which can reduce the cost of inputs as well as supporting soil and water health. Or it could involve integrating trees into a farming system to diversify income streams, sequester carbon and protect against flood risks.
Dates
We are going to engage with a range of potential delivery partners through a webinar on 19th May 2026 from 2pm to 4pm, where we will offer the opportunity to ask more questions about the fund and how it will work.
How to apply
We will provide further details on how to apply when this fund opens.