Robotics To AI Farm Tools Fast-Tracked By £50m Investment

Some £50 million has been pledged by the UK government to speed up the rollout of cutting-edge farm technologies, with up to 12 agritech tools from robotics to AI designed to help increase productivity while cutting labour, energy, and fertiliser use. 

Delivered through Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme with Innovate UK, the funding is aimed at getting practical, proven precision and biological technologies into farmers’ hands sooner to improve animal and crop health, cut costs, and make day-to-day work easier. 

Up to 12 innovative agritech tools will be supported by the funding, spanning areas such as robotics, AI, biological crop protection, and forestry tools.

“Farmers know the right tools can make all the difference,” remarked Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle in a press release from Defra. “We’re supporting farm businesses to boost productivity, strengthen resilience and help secure the future of British agriculture.” 

The funding should help to reduce fertiliser use by fast-tracking technologies that help farmers apply inputs more precisely and rely less on synthetic products. 

In particular, Defra points to nature-based innovations such as FA Bio’s ‘living’ biopesticide, which is designed to protect crops at planting and reduce repeated chemical spraying. 

Defra said some of the supported tools are intended to cut reliance on expensive fertilisers more broadly.

“This approach will strengthen UK food security while building a competitive, innovation-led agri-tech sector,” commented CEO and Co-Founder of Fa Bio, Dr Angela de Manzanos.

The package is backed by around £50 million in public and private investment, including £8 million from the government and £40 million from private investors.

A further £5 million springboard funding round for 2026 to 2027 has also been announced to help promising agri-tech firms scale up and attract more private capital.