Horticultural Quality and Food Loss Network: May 2021 opportunities
The Horticultural Quality and Food Loss Network is providing £90k for pump-priming funds for feasibility studies and preliminary data collection, ring-fenced funds for Early Career Researchers, £5k for Business Interaction Vouchers, and £5k for Networking Visit Funding, open to all UK based researchers at UKRI eligible institutions.
The Network is providing a range of funding opportunities to its members, including pump-priming funds for feasibility studies and preliminary data collection to facilitate new collaborations (with emphasis on industry involvement and multidisciplinary) with ring-fenced funds for Early Career Researchers (ECRs), Business Interaction Vouchers (BIV) and Networking Visit Funding (NVF).
The funding call is open to all UK based researchers at UKRI eligible institutions, and is targeted at plant science and technology focussed researchers with a particular interest in addressing horticultural crop quality (fruit, vegetables and potatoes) and postharvest food loss.
A total of £300K will be allocated across three years through a competitive transparent selection process (this is year 2).
£100K is available for funding as follows:
Pump Priming
Purpose: Short term collaboration funding for projects for use to develop ideas and research plans or conduct feasibility studies for acquisition of preliminary data that would enable a project to be developed beyond the pump-priming phase.
Funding available: Up to £5-20K per application (£90K total available for this call)
Project duration: 3-9 months
Business Interaction Vouchers
Purpose: To develop collaborations between researchers and industrialists. The funding will enable researchers to meet with industry partners to develop project ideas and conduct feasibility trials.
Funding available: Up to £2K per application (£5K total available for this call)
Networking Visit Funding
Purpose: To enable academics from different institutions to meet to co-develop ideas and preconcept note proposals.
Funding available: Up to £2K per application (£5K total available for this call)
Applications should be made by completing the relevant application form and returning by email to info@foodlossnetwork.com by 5pm on 6 August 2021. Applicants will be notified of the selection process outcome by early October 2021. Projects can start from 18 October – 31 December 2021.
For advice, please contact KTN’s Agrifood team.