GCRF AgriFood Africa Innovation Awards Round 3

Projects should address the AgriFood challenges of an African organisation through a defined research/innovation project between one UK and one African organisation.

Innovation Awards can either:

• Support a new collaborative Project in an area within the scope of the GCRF AgriFood Africa programme
• Provide follow-on funding to organisations funded by the GCRF AgriFood Africa Programme in the past. Projects should be to further build upon innovations or to solve new African AgriFood challenges identified during the previously funded project.

We want to encourage projects which include a business as one of the partners (commercial companies, farmer cooperatives, producer organisations etc.) to stimulate business-led innovation.

Innovate UK KTN is delivering these Innovation Awards as part of the Global Challenges Research Fund AgriFood Africa Programme.

What is an Innovation Award?

Watch this short video for an introduction to the GCRF AgriFood Africa Innovation Awards Round 3.

Innovation Award projects must be a defined piece of research or innovation work undertaken by one UK and one African organisation working together.

Applicants can apply for either an award of £20,000 or £30,0000 (including any applicable VAT), depending on the amount of work proposed (and therefore the costs that will be incurred). The types of activity that can be undertaken in either project size are the same.

These collaborative innovation projects must be completed by 31st March 2023.

Scope

Your project must address 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 (ie. through a change in the physical state or form of the product)
• non-food uses of crops, excluding ornamentals and crops for energy use

Projects 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.

High priority areas

We encourage applications from projects focusing on one or more of the high priority areas listed below, but applications are not limited to these areas:

• Insects for food and feed
• Sustainable energy solutions for AgriFood processing or manufacturing
• Forgotten Foods/Underutilised Crops
• Aquaculture

Who can apply?

• Projects must be led by a UK-registered business, charity, University or Research Training Organisation (RTO).
• Projects must include one UK-registered lead organisation and one partner organisation based in an ODA-eligible African country (two partners maximum per project).
• Previous applicants who have received funding through the GCRF AgriFood Africa programme (including the Innovation Awards Round 1 and the Agri-Tech Catalyst) are encouraged to apply for this funding.
• Assuming the projects and/or partners are substantially different, lead applicants from UK-registered universities/ RTOs can submit a maximum of five applications 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. 

How to Apply 

*If you’re viewing this webpage using Microsoft Edge, these links may not be accessible; please try a different browser if so, or contact the Agrifood Africa Connect team if you need more assistance.

Step 1
Read the Competition Guidelines.

Step 2
Complete the ‘Case for Support’ template. This will outline your project details and budget.

Step 3
Email your ‘Case for Support’ to gcrf.agrifood@iuk.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 30th August 2022.

Step 4
Fill out the online Application Form to register, by 11AM BST 30th August 2022.

If you have any questions about the Innovation Awards or application process please email gcrf.agrifood@iuk.ktn-uk.org.