The UK government has announced a funding initiative totaling £1.34 million aimed at supporting innovative projects that will significantly cut emissions, fortify domestic supply chains, and advance precision-breeding in crops. This investment, part of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Farming Innovation Programme and in collaboration with Innovate UK, will fund 15 projects focused on low-emission farming and precision-breeding techniques.

Methane-Reducing Dairy Feed: Replacing Soy with Pulse Power

Among the recipients is McArthur Agriculture’s InFaba Project, dedicated to creating UK-grown faba-bean feed ingredients aimed at reducing methane emissions in dairy farming while replacing imported soy. The initiative will test regenerative, pulse-based feed formulations designed to sustain milk production while lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Commercial trials will assess performance, cost-effectiveness, and practical implementation, potentially leading to over two million tonnes CO₂e in annual emissions reductions by replacing soya meal and decreasing methane output.

This project not only addresses emissions but also promotes domestic feed resilience by incorporating pulses into crop rotations, improving soil structure, and reducing dependence on fertilizers.

Precision-Bred Crops: Innovations in Hemp, Tomatoes, Rubber, and More

Several projects in this funding round emphasize the UK’s commitment to developing climate-smart crops:

• Precision Plants: Developing high-value hemp varieties suited for UK climates, aimed at creating new bio-based materials and promoting sustainable agriculture.
• British Sugar: Working on precision-bred virus-yellows-resistant sugar beets to buffer against persistent diseases affecting the UK beet sector.
• Newcleic: Focused on scalable tools for creating long DNA sequences to expedite the development of resilient crops.
• QuberTech: Innovating UK-grown rubber-producing crops to establish a sustainable domestic supply.
• Bofin Farmers: Aiming to commercially utilize precision-bred oilseed rape with increased light-leaf-spot resistance for the first time in Europe.
• Cambridge Glasshouse Company: Redesigning tomato greenhouse production through automation and precision breeding to increase efficiency.
• John Innes Enterprises: Enhancing provitamin D3 levels in tomatoes to combat vitamin D deficiencies in the UK population.

These initiatives mark significant strides towards establishing the UK as a frontrunner in advanced, sustainable crop genetics.

Biochar-Based Fertiliser: Reducing Nitrogen Use and Carbon Emissions

A significant portion of the funding is directed towards A Healthier Earth and Cefetra’s BioBLEND initiative, which is enhancing a biochar-based low-carbon fertilizer. This innovative product is derived from converting farm residues into biochar, mixed with poultry fly ash, effectively locking carbon away for centuries while reducing nitrogen application by 23% without sacrificing yield.

The project aims to optimize formulations and conduct farm-scale trials to validate the agronomic advantages of biochar, a leading carbon-removal technology yet to see widespread adoption.

Waste-to-Energy Solutions and Water Innovations

The broader array of funded projects also includes:

Biology-Driven Emissions Reductions

• Terrafarmer: Developing Bio-Phage UK, integrating phages and biological inputs to cut nitrous oxide emissions.

Hyper-Oxygenated Water for Livestock

• Oxcel: A water-treatment system designed to enhance welfare and productivity in poultry and pig farms.

Advanced Waste-to-Energy Innovations

• HydroStar: HyDigest project converts digestate into clean energy and slow-release fertiliser.
• Wase: Scaling electromethanogenic reactors to transform agricultural waste into low-carbon biomethane.
• CCM Technologies: Piloting next-generation fertiliser crafted from treated poultry litter.

Many of these initiatives echo government priorities in enhancing productivity, promoting soil health, and ensuring energy resilience.

A Sustainable Future for UK Agriculture

Andy Cureton, director of agri-food systems at Innovate UK, remarked that these innovations are poised to provide both environmental solutions and economic benefits. “These initiatives present opportunities to mitigate emissions, strengthen supply chains, and enhance productivity, fostering long-term food security and assisting farmers in adapting to climate challenges,” he noted.

The chief R&D officer at A Healthier Earth, Alastair Collier, emphasized the necessity of equipping farmers with economically viable tools. “Biochar represents one of the most feasible carbon removal methods available today,” Collier stated. “This funding will facilitate the engineering of a fertiliser that not only promotes agricultural efficiency but also helps reduce emissions and instills clear economic advantages for farmers.”