UK competition fund to invest in sustainable technologies in food production sector

30 Sep 2019 --- As sustainable production technologies are becoming increasingly important in the global food sector, UK businesses can now apply for a share of up to £20 million (US$24.6 million) from the UK government’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund Transforming Food Production Challenge. This competition fund is set to invest in large-scale projects developing new and efficient low-emission food production systems. By addressing technological and other bottlenecks holding back state-of-the art systems from supplying consumers, the competition aims to drive the UK’s food production model away from its land-based traditions and towards a more sustainable position of net-zero emissions.

The UK has already invested heavily in food-producing technologies, such as environmental management, earth observation, sensors, big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. Areas of particular interest for this competition include growing systems, aquaculture and new food sources such as insects and fermentation-based systems.

The competition requires project submissions to:

• Significantly contribute to achieving net-zero emissions across one or more food products.
• Provide nutrient-dense foods that are accessible to mainstream consumers.
• Deliver other relevant benefits to society, such as reduced resource consumption and waste, or improved animal welfare.
• Apply a systems approach as opposed to working on a single technology.

The competition is particularly enthusiastic about submissions regarding future food production systems, proposals putting science and technology into practice and substantial investments in ecosystems. By financially supporting such research and innovation projects, this fund plans to transform the precision agricultural sector and create high-value jobs, growth and export opportunities. 

The competition is currently accepting project submissions from researchers and businesses of all sizes until January 22, 2020. Projects can range in size, between £1 million (US$1.2 million) and £10 million (US$12.3 million). 

The food industry needs to do more to support healthy foods and reduce food loss and waste throughout the farm-to-fork cycle, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Director-General. 

Businesses have a critical role in achieving food security and nutrition as they influence the production, processing, retail and marketing of food. The food industry is a key player in transforming agriculture and food systems for better environmental, social and economic outcomes as well as reducing the multiple threats of climate change and protecting biodiversity. 

Especially after last week’s UN Climate Action Summit in New York, US, limiting global warming to 1.5°C has become a central sustainability goal. This competition fund calls upon central actors in the food industry to rise to what has been called the defining challenge of our time. 

Edited by Anni Schleicher