Food
The Food and Drink Manufacturing sector is the largest manufacturing sector in the UK. In terms of economic contribution, it accounts for 17% of all UK manufacturing GVA (£28.2 billion).
The Food and Drink Manufacturing sector is the largest manufacturing sector in the UK. In terms of economic contribution, it accounts for 17% of all UK manufacturing GVA (£28.2 billion). It comprises just over 6,800 businesses and employs nearly 400,000 people. Innovation is key to the Food & Drink Manufacturing sector. Key areas are nutrition, shelf life, packaging, healthy eating, minimal processing, food safety and waste minimisation.
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Related Opportunities
Full ADOPT Grant Round 7
Opens: 09/04/2026 Closes: 03/06/2026
Farming, growing or forestry businesses based in England can apply for a share of up to £5 million for on-farm trial and demonstration projects, to improve adoption of new ideas or solutions in the agricultural sector.
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ADOPT Facilitator Support Grant: Round 8
Opens: 15/04/2026 Closes: 27/05/2026
Farming, growing or forestry businesses based in England can apply for a grant of £2,500 to engage an external Project Facilitator to support the development of a Full ADOPT Grant application.
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AgriScale - Accelerating Agri-tech manufacturing: Experimental Development
Opens: 30/03/2026 Closes: 03/06/2026
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £8 million for projects to accelerate Agri-tech manufacturing.
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AgriScale - Accelerating Agri-tech manufacturing: Industrial Research
Opens: 30/03/2026 Closes: 03/06/2026
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £5 million for projects to close product technology gaps that are preventing movement towards commercial acceptance, scale up and manufacture.
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NAPIC ICURe Discover – September 2026
Opens: 01/06/2026 Closes: 03/09/2026
NAPIC (National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre) ICURe Discover is a part-time hybrid market exploration programme for researchers, technicians and research students, with up to £2,500 support for market discovery activities.
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Defra Farming Innovation Investor Partnership 2026
Opens: 11/05/2026 Closes: 17/06/2026
UK registered micro, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) can apply for a share of up to £5 million to develop innovative farming solutions. This must align with private investment from selected investor partners.
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Related Events and Recordings
Related News
22/08/2024
Accelerator drives AgriFood innovators forward
The Innovate UK AgriFood Accelerator provided training and mentorship to increase the diversity of Innovate UK grant funding applications within the AgriFood sector and support participants in developing their businesses.
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13/08/2025
Trilateral partnerships to drive innovation in climate-smart agriculture
Innovate UK has awarded funding to 30 projects promoting climate-smart agriculture for sustainable food production systems. The projects are all collaborations between the UK, Brazil and Ghana or Nigeria.