£21.5m Government Investment Backs 15 Precision Breeding Projects

The UK Government has announced a landmark £21.5 million investment in 15 precision breeding and low-emission farming projects across England, delivered through the DEFRA Farming Innovation Programme in partnership with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). This substantial commitment marks a transformative moment for agricultural innovation and positions the UK as a global leader in agricultural biotechnology.

Investment Overview

The £21.5 million initiative represents the UK Government's most significant investment in precision breeding to date. Delivered through DEFRA's Farming Innovation Programme in partnership with Innovate UK, the funding targets projects that can turn cutting-edge research into practical, ready-to-use tools that boost farm productivity while supporting environmental goals. According to the official GOV.UK announcement, the programme specifically seeks to "drive farm innovation in England" through precision breeding and low-emission technologies.

"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 (GOV.UK, 31 January 2026)

Programme Details

The Farming Innovation Programme, delivered by UKRI through Innovate UK, operates as a competitive funding mechanism designed to bridge the gap between laboratory research and on-farm application. Projects were selected through a rigorous evaluation process that assessed scientific merit, commercial viability, environmental impact, and potential benefit to UK farmers. The programme funds two complementary streams: precision breeding projects developing new crop varieties with superior traits, and low-emission farming technologies that reduce agriculture's environmental footprint.

This dual approach reflects the Government's understanding that modern agriculture requires both better crops and better farming practices. The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023, which received Royal Assent in March 2023, provides the regulatory foundation for the precision breeding stream. The implementing regulations came into force on 13 November 2025, creating a proportionate, science-based approval pathway that enables faster commercialisation of precision-bred crops.

Funded Projects

The 15 funded projects span diverse crops and agricultural challenges, demonstrating the breadth of opportunity in precision breeding and sustainable farming. Among the most prominent projects are:

Precision Plants' 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 our proprietary Stackatrait™ platform, which combines multiple precision trait modifications per variety across five categories across three commercial lines: BritGrain Auto™ (grain specialist), LongLine Fibre™ (fibre specialist), and YieldMax Duo™ (dual-purpose). As detailed in the DEFRA Farming Blog, the project will "expand sustainable food, fibre and biomaterials opportunities and reduce import dependence." Read our detailed article on the DEFRA award for more information about our specific project.

Precision Breeding Technology

Precision breeding represents a fundamental shift in how crops can be developed and improved. Unlike conventional breeding, which can take 10–15 years to develop new varieties, precision breeding enables researchers to make targeted genetic modifications that could occur naturally but would take far longer to achieve through traditional methods. Technologies such as CRISPR-Cas9 allow scientists to make precise, small-scale changes to a plant's existing DNA without introducing foreign genetic material—distinguishing precision breeding from genetic modification (GM).

According to the Food Standards Agency's guidance, precision-bred organisms are those "developed using techniques that make small genetic changes equivalent to those that could occur through conventional breeding or natural processes." This scientific distinction is critical: it means precision-bred crops can be approved through a streamlined regulatory pathway rather than the lengthy GMO authorisation process. Learn more about how we apply this technology in our CRISPR gene editing guide.

Regulatory Pathway

The timing of this investment is strategically significant. The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 and its implementing regulations, which came into force on 13 November 2025, established the detailed approval process just weeks before this funding announcement. This regulatory clarity provides funded projects with a defined pathway to market authorisation.

The FSA operates a tiered approval system: Tier 1 applications use an applicant-led safety assessment for well-understood modifications, while Tier 2 applications involve more detailed FSA assessment for more significant changes. This proportionate framework enables faster approval for low-risk modifications whilst maintaining rigorous safety standards. For a detailed analysis of this regulatory framework, see our article on the Precision Breeding Act.

Strategic Objectives

The investment programme targets several interconnected strategic objectives that align with the UK's broader agricultural and environmental policy goals:

Food security and resilience sits at the heart of the programme. Developing crops that thrive under climate stress—drought, flooding, temperature extremes—ensures stable food production as weather patterns become more variable. This is particularly critical for the UK, which imports significant volumes of fresh produce and is vulnerable to supply chain disruptions. Productivity and profitability improvements through precision-bred varieties with enhanced yield, quality, or reduced input requirements will strengthen farmer economics and competitiveness.

The programme also addresses environmental sustainability through crops requiring fewer inputs and low-emission farming technologies that cut greenhouse gas emissions, supporting the UK's net-zero commitments. Projects like Sunshine Tomatoes demonstrate how precision breeding can enhancenutritional content, addressing deficiencies and improving population health outcomes.

Global Competitiveness

This investment positions the UK alongside other major agricultural nations that have already established streamlined pathways for precision-bred crops. The United States, Canada, Japan, and Australia have all implemented regulatory frameworks that distinguish precision-bred organisms from GMOs, enabling faster commercialisation and attracting investment. By combining substantial research funding with clear regulatory frameworks, the UK can attract top talent, foster innovation, and build a globally competitive agricultural biotechnology sector.

What This Means for UK Farmers

For UK farmers, this investment signals a new era of agricultural opportunity. Precision-bred varieties that perform better under UK conditions, require fewer inputs, and command premium prices in sustainable markets will improve farm profitability and resilience. This is particularly important for farmers facing economic pressure from commodity price volatility, input cost inflation, and climate variability.

The investment also creates opportunities for new crops and diversification. Hemp, for example, offers UK farmers a new income stream and the opportunity to participate in growing sustainable materials markets. Explore our For Farmers section to learn about hemp cultivation opportunities, or visit our Varieties page to discover our precision-bred hemp portfolio including BritGrain Auto™, LongLine Fibre™, and YieldMax Duo™.

For investors interested in supporting this agricultural transformation, our Investors page provides details on how to participate. With SEIS Advance Assurance confirmed, qualifying investments benefit from substantial tax incentives. To understand the broader market opportunity, read our analysis of the UK hemp industry's projected 300% growth.