Applicants are invited to submit applications for Agri-tech Catalyst Round 9: agriculture and food systems innovation, late stage.
Up to £5 million of funding is available from the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF). This is for projects working on agri-tech and food chain innovations with partners in eligible African countries.
The aim of this competition is to increase the pace of innovation in the development of agricultural and food systems in Africa. Applicants project must result in more use of innovations by farmers and food systems organisations such as manufacturers, processors, retailers, distributors and wholesalers.
Themes
Applicants project can focus on one or more of the following:
integrating smallholders into global and local supply chains
increasing the value of production to smallholders
control of crop pests, weeds and diseases
meeting quality standards and improving productivity
reducing food losses ‘post-farm gate’ and through the value chain
addressing food safety issues through the value chain
new food technologies and data-driven food systems, including for urban areas
addressing challenges in downstream food processing, distribution, or storage and value addition
innovation that supports food systems to deliver nutritious, healthy and safe food
Focus Areas
Applicants can choose from one or more of the following areas:
primary crop and livestock production, including aquaculture
non-food uses of crops, excluding ornamentals
challenges in food processing, distribution or storage, and value addition (such as through a change in the physical state or form of the product)
improving the availability and accessibility of safe, healthy and nutritious foods
Innovation
Project’s innovations must:
be sustainable in the context of environmental challenges such as climate change and resource scarcity
minimize negative effects such as pollution, food loss and waste
promote safe, healthy and nutritious diets
Funding Information
Total eligible project costs must be between £150,000 and £800,000.
Eligibility Criteria
All projects must:
include a UK registered administrative lead
include a technical lead from any country
include at least one business from the UK
be collaborative
include at least one business from an eligible African country from the list below
implement significant activity in the eligible African country
Lead organisation
The administrative lead:
will be the recipient of the award
will manage and be accountable for the project’s finances in accordance with the terms and conditions of the award
must be a UK registered business of any size
must claim funding through this competition
can partner in up to 2 other applications where they are neither the administrative lead nor the technical lead
The technical lead:
will lead on the development of the scope, work packages within the project and other work from a technical perspective
can be a business of any size from any country
must claim funding through this competition
can also be the administrative lead if a UK organisation