By Mark TurnerWe are thrilled to announce that Precision Plants Ltd has been awarded £912,259 through the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Farming Innovation Programme. This funding will accelerate our development of high-value, climate-resilient industrial hemp varieties using our proprietary Stackatrait™ technology.
Official Government Announcement
This funding was announced by DEFRA on 31 January 2026 as part of a £21.5 million investment in 15 precision breeding and low-emissions farming projects across England.
Funding Overview
The UK Government, through DEFRA's Farming Innovation Programme delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, has invested £21.5 million in 15 England-wide projects. These projects aim to turn cutting-edge research into practical, ready-to-use tools that boost farm productivity while supporting environmental goals.
"Innovation is central to a more productive, resilient farming sector. This funding will back new ideas farmers can use on the ground to cut methane and fertiliser-related emissions, strengthen crop resilience, and improve nutrition."
— Dame Angela Eagle, Farming Minister
Precision Plants Award Details
Our project, titled "Precision-Bred Hemp: Unlocking Sustainable, Productive and Profitable Farming in England", received £912,259 to develop high-value, climate-resilient hemp varieties using responsible, non-GM precision gene editing, enabled by the Precision Breeding Act.
According to the DEFRA Farming Blog, our project will "expand sustainable food, fibre and biomaterials opportunities and reduce import dependence."
Project Details
The funding supports our ongoing work to develop three distinct hemp varieties using our Stackatrait™ technology to enhance traits for UK growing conditions:
| Variety | Primary Use | Key Stackatrait™ Features | Target Market |
|---|---|---|---|
| BritGrain Auto™ | Grain/Seed | THC knockout (<0.2%), +40% yield, climate resilience | Food processors, oil producers |
| LongLine Fibre™ | Fibre | THC knockout (<0.2%), 35% fibre content, 3m+ stem height | Textiles, hempcrete, composites |
| YieldMax Duo™ | Dual-purpose | THC knockout (<0.2%), balanced grain/fibre, versatile | Mixed farming operations |
Research Partnerships
This project brings together leading UK research institutions to ensure our varieties meet the highest standards of scientific rigour and practical applicability for farmers. Our partners include the University of Hertfordshire and Rothamsted Research, who will support field trials and agronomic research.
The UK Hemp Opportunity
As highlighted in the DEFRA announcement, hemp is a highly versatile crop with multiple end uses. Under a UK Home Office licence, it can be grown for its fibre and seeds, which have a wide range of applications.
UK Hemp Market Growth Projections (Fibre & Seed)
Important Note on CBD
An industrial hemp licence in the UK is strictly for the cultivation of hemp for fibre and seed production. It does not permit the use of flowers or leaves for CBD (cannabidiol) extraction. Producing CBD requires a separate, specific controlled drug licence. For more details, please see the official GOV.UK factsheet.
Precision Breeding Explained
The Precision Breeding Act 2023 enables the use of modern technologies like CRISPR-Cas9 to make precise changes to a plant's DNA. This is not genetic modification (GM) because it doesn't introduce foreign DNA. Instead, it accelerates the natural breeding process, allowing for the rapid development of crops with desirable traits like drought resistance and higher yields.
What This Means for UK Farming
This funding is a major step forward for UK agriculture. By developing domestically-adapted hemp varieties, we can create new, profitable opportunities for farmers, strengthen supply chains, and build a more sustainable bioeconomy. Our work will help reduce the UK's reliance on imported materials and establish hemp as a key rotational crop that benefits both farmers and the environment.
To learn more about growing hemp, check out our guides on licensing and the benefits for farmers. Explore our full range of hemp varieties or dive deeper in our Knowledge Hub.
