Farmers from the South East of England are encouraged to apply for support from a £2.5 million fund.
Regional development agency SEEDA’s Farm Resource Improvement Programme (FRIP) offers farm and horticultural businesses grants worth up to £25,000 to increase their competitiveness by carrying out resource efficiency and animal welfare projects. The scheme, financed through the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE), can fund capital costs – such as buying new equipment – “that will promote the efficient use of energy, manure and water resources, or improve animal health and welfare”.
Funding is available under four headings and items which are eligible for grant funding include:-
- Energy efficiency - e.g. heat recovery and energy efficiency devices and heat exchangers.
- Nutrient Management – e.g. mechanical slurry separator systems slurry injectors.
- Water Management – e.g fixed pumps, connecting piping and storage tanks enabling collection and recycling of rainwater from roofs and slurry/silage store roofs (as part of a rainwater harvesting project)
- Animal Health and Welfare – e.g specialist livestock handling equipment, electronic weigh cells, dairy cluster flushing systems
Applications in the current funding window (Round Two) must be made by 10 May, with a further application deadline set for 5 July.
Unveiling the fund earlier this year, Paul Lovejoy, executive strategy director at SEEDA, said “It encourages farmers to respond to climate change and provides a platform for sustainable growth and increased profitability.”
The scheme has received the backing of the Country Land & Business Association.
Contact us for further advice if you are interested in incorporating renewable energy in a current project.