United KingdomGOV.UK
Farmer Collaboration Fund bids close on 30 September
Delivery partners can seek £200,000–£1 million a year for up to three years to support farming groups in England. Individual farmers cannot apply directly.
By Taxxa AI OyPublished 24 August 2026
Organisations supporting farming collaboration groups in England have until 11:59pm on 30 September 2026 to apply for the first round of the Farmer Collaboration FundGOV. Agreements offer £200,000 to £1 million a year for up to three years
GOV. The application window opened at midday on 1 September 2026
GOV.
The funding goes to delivery partners that help farmers, land managers and growers share experience, learn from each other and test working practices that benefit their businesses and the environment. Individual farmers, land managers, growers and group facilitators cannot apply themselvesGOV; farmers can instead approach successful delivery partners to get involved.
A delivery partner must support at least five farming collaboration groupsGOV. Groups should include at least four separate farming businesses managed by different people
GOV. Eligible organisations include charities, Community Interest Companies, local and strategic authorities, national landscapes and national parks organisations, commercial businesses, cooperatives and universities. Applicants must be a single entity with overall day-to-day control of their activities and a UK bank account
GOV. Organisations outside England may apply if they support English farmers
GOV; partnerships must appoint a lead organisation to apply, receive funds and oversee their use.
The grant is principally for facilitators and group collaboration, including advice, learning events, proportionate event costs and delivery-partner coordinationGOV. Administration costs must be less than 10% of the total budget
GOV. Irrecoverable VAT can be included
GOV, and each group can receive up to £1,500 per agreement for advice on its legal structure
GOV. Direct farm actions, capital works, farm equipment or technology, and help completing individual farmers' funding applications are excluded
GOV.
Applicants must show that the funding adds to what they would achieve without itGOV. Other funding is permitted, but the same activity cannot be funded twice
GOV, and relevant existing or subsequent funding must be disclosed. Groups receiving Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund support must end those agreements before receiving this funding
GOV, but should wait until their delivery partner's application succeeds before ending them
GOV.
Applicants must register on Defra's Atamis systemGOV and complete its Qualification Envelope and Technical Envelope
GOV. Required documents include Annex A: Collaboration group information tables, Annex B: Financial summary, Annex C: Form of application, and a six-month milestone plan and three-year roadmap. Applicants also need a written delivery plan for year one
GOV. The delivery-actions response must score 70 to reach full assessment
GOV; each question at full assessment must then score at least 50
GOV, with value for money also assessed.
Payments are quarterly in advance from agreement signingGOV, with actual spending reported and reconciled. Delivery partners must keep evidence for audit and assurance
GOV, submit quarterly spending and annual reports on successes and areas for improvement
GOV, and budget approximately £5,000 for an end-of-agreement audit
GOV. Defra expects around 20 grants from £5 million of annual funding
GOV, plans to notify applicants in November 2026
GOV and aims to make first payments in December
GOV.
The funding terms and application requirements are set out in Defra's Farmer Collaboration Fund applicant's guide.
Eligible delivery partners should prepare their plans, budgets and supporting annexes and submit the Atamis application by 11:59pm on 30 September 2026.