Anglian Water launches Farm Innovation Grant

By Chris Wright, Partner and ARA specialist

In a move that promises to bring both environmental and economic benefits, Anglian Water has launched its Farm Innovation Grant for farmers in the East of England.

This initiative aims to tackle raw water quality challenges and has already shown significant success in its previous years.

About the Farm Innovation Grant

First launched three years ago, the Farm Innovation Grant focuses on developing innovative solutions to improve raw water quality in priority catchments. The grant offers up to £7,500 per holding, allowing farmers to trial new approaches, change existing practices, and scale up innovative ideas for long-term implementation.

Past successes

Last year, the grant supported over 45 projects, delivering more than £1 million to farmers across the East of England.

Subsidised cover crops

In addition to the Farm Innovation Grant, Anglian Water is also introducing a scheme to subsidise the planting of an additional 1,000 hectares of cover crops across the region. This is the second year for this scheme, which aims to help farmers offset the cost of cover crop seed.

Why participate?

Chris Hewis, catchment advisor for Anglian Water, strongly encourages farmers to take advantage of both schemes. According to Hewis, these initiatives not only support farmers but also contribute to food production, water resource management, and environmental protection.

How to apply

Applications for the Farm Innovation Grant opened on 2 October 2023. Given the success of last year’s programme and the limited funds available, early application is advised.

Financial planning tips

If you’re considering applying for the grant, factor the potential funding into your financial planning. Evaluate the long-term benefits of implementing innovative solutions against the initial investment cost.

The Farm Innovation Grant offers a fantastic opportunity for farmers in the East of England to innovate and improve raw water quality. With substantial funding and additional support for cover crops, this initiative is a win-win for both farmers and the environment.

If you’d like more information about this grant and how to best allocate the funding if it is awarded, please contact us today.