Nature for Climate: Paludiculture Exploration Fund
The Paludiculture Exploration Fund (PEF) is a new grant scheme sitting under the umbrella of the Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme (NCPGS) managed and delivered by Natural England. PEF Grants are to help unlock barriers to the development of commercially viable paludiculture.
- Opening date:
- Closing date:
Contents
Summary
PEF Grants are to help unlock barriers to the development of commercially viable paludiculture. The focus of the grants offered through PEF is tackling both ends of the supply chain, i.e., the growing and harvesting of paludiculture crops and/or the development of products based on those crops. Land-based projects (including machinery development) must take place on lowland peat soils in England. Product development projects must be based in England, but the paludicultural crops used to develop the product can be sourced from further afield if sufficient supplies cannot be sourced in England.
The intention of PEF is to help develop the evidence base and create the conditions for paludiculture enterprises in England, to facilitate this, outputs generated by PEF Grants will be made available to others. For example, data gathered in your project and/or other knowledge gained could be shared as a case study. This will be in line with the Grant Terms and Conditions, a copy of these will be supplied as part of the Invitation to Apply pack on Atamis.
Funding & timeline
Applications for PEF Grants can be made between 03 January 2023 and 03 March 2023. Grants will be awarded in May 2023 and will run until March 2025.
There is no minimum or maximum limit to the size of projects: we anticipate applications in the range of £50,000 to £500,000. PEF Grants can cover up to 100% of costs.
Eligibility
Applications to PEF are welcomed from projects focused on tackling the barriers to developing commercially viable paludiculture on lowland peat soils in England, where the intended outcome is a positive environmental benefit resulting in the reduction of peat wastage and greenhouse gas Applications to PEF are welcomed from projects focussed on tackling the barriers to developing commercially viable paludiculture on lowland peat soils in England, where the intended outcome is a positive environmental benefit resulting in the reduction of peat wastage and greenhouse gas emissions.
Who can apply:
businesses
commercial enterprises
environmental groups
local authorities
charities
public bodies
landowners
internal drainage boards
other organisations
Objectives
The intention of PEF is to help develop the evidence base and create the conditions for paludiculture enterprises in England, to facilitate this, outputs generated by PEF Grants will be made available to others. For example, data gathered in your project and/or other knowledge gained could be shared as a case study.
Dates
Issue Invitation to Apply (ITA) - 3rd January 2023
Deadline for clarification questions from Applicants - 17th February 2023 2pm
Deadline for submission of Applications - 3rd March 2023 4pm
Applicant Due Diligence Prior to Evaluation - 6th March 2023
Evaluation of Applications - 7th March 2023 - 18th April 2023
Post Evaluation Enhanced Applicant Due Diligence - 5th April 2023
Funding award notification - 28th April 2023
Funding start date - 8th May 2023
Grant Management and Reporting Begins - 8th June 2023
Funding end date - 31st March 2025
Submission of final reporting including grant usage certificate - 1st May 2025
How to apply
Information on Atamis, the application portal - Welcome (force.com)
If you have not accessed the portal before you will need to select "Register" from the landing page and complete the required form.
Supporting information
PEF Applicant Guidance 2022 -Pre-ITA draft
File type: pdf
Annex A NCF Paludiculture Exploration Fund ITA 2023 Final
File type: vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document
Annex A_NCF_Paludiculture_Exploration_Fund_ITA_2023_Final.docx (119 Kb)
Annex B NCPGS TCs over 100k PEF
File type: vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document
Annex C PEF Applicant Guidance 2023 - FINAL
File type: pdf
Annex D Paludiculture Exploration Fund Technical template
File type: vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document
Annex D_Paludiculture_Exploration_Fund_Technical template.docx (91 Kb)
Annex E PEF Commercial template Final 03Jan23
File type: vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet