GCRF AgriFood Africa Innovation Awards Round 6

Innovation Awards must address African AgriFood challenges in at least one of these areas:

• primary crop and livestock production, including aquaculture.
• improving the availability and accessibility of safe, healthy and nutritious foods.
• challenges in food processing, distribution or storage, or value addition (i.e. through a change in the physical state or form of the product).
• non-food uses of crops, excluding ornamentals and crops for energy use.

Applications focusing on one or more of the high priority areas listed below are highly encouraged, and will be prioritised in the review process:

• reducing crop loss due to quelea birds. This could include but is not limited to innovations around monitoring and forecasting and deterrents.
• improving soil health and resilience or identifying/developing sustainable methods to improve crop nutrition. This could include but is not limited to innovations around soil structure, organic matter content, water holding capacity or fertilisers.
• applying Earth Observation (EO), including satellite data and drone imaging, to address challenges within AgriFood systems. This could include but is not limited to monitoring weather conditions, improving in-field decisions and managing supply chains.
• addressing Livestock production challenges. This could include but is not limited to innovations around health, genetics and digital technologies to support livestock farmers.

We will support a portfolio of projects that address the areas indicated, across a range of organisations, technologies, market sectors and territories.

The innovative projects being funded through the Awards must show the potential to reduce poverty, increase economic prosperity and improve well-being in Africa, through the uptake of agricultural and food systems technology and innovation.

Innovative projects must:

• be sustainable in the context of environmental challenges such as climate change and resource scarcity.
• minimise negative effects such as pollution, food loss and waste.
• promote safe, healthy and nutritious diets.
• show benefit to an ODA-eligible African country’s agriculture and/or food systems to contribute to sustainable, healthy, safe and nutritious diets.
• consider diversity and equality, including where appropriate empowerment of girls and women in agriculture and food systems.

• Projects must be led by a UK-registered business, charity, University or Research Training Organisation (RTO).
• The Lead can work with one other partner organisation, which must be based in an ODA-eligible African country.
• Applications must include a registered business as one of the partner organisations.
• Assuming the projects and/or partners are substantially different, lead applicants from UK-registered universities/ RTOs/ charities and lead applicants from UK-registered businesses/charities can submit a maximum of two applications.

Find the right partner organisation to apply with 

Join our LinkedIn group to make connections with potential partners.

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Step 1

Read the Innovation Award Guidelines.

Download the Innovation Award Guidelines here 

Step 2

Complete the ‘Innovation Award Case for Support’ template. This will outline the details of your Innovation Award and budget.

Download the Case for Support template here 

Step 3

Email your ‘Innovation Award Case for Support’ to gcrf.agrifood@ktn-uk.org

Your Case for Support must be submitted as a Word document, by the UK-registered lead organisation, and be received by Innovate UK KTN by: 11am BST 4 August 2023.

Submit your Case for Support 

Step 4

Fill out the online Application Form to finalise your application, by: 11am BST 4 August 2023.

Finalise your application now