A NEW £20 million government funding competition aimed at accelerating agricultural robotics and automation could create fresh opportunities for businesses working with Hartpury University's Digital Innovation Farm.

The funding, announced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), will support companies developing technology capable of planting, monitoring and harvesting crops, alongside innovations for livestock farming and forestry.

Hartpury's 360-hectare Digital Innovation Farm has become a recognised centre for testing agricultural technology, providing a commercial farming environment where developers can trial advanced sensors, artificial intelligence, automated machinery and data-driven systems.

The Gloucestershire campus has also attracted international investment, with Turkish AI and drone automation company Agrovech choosing Hartpury as its UK base for developing smart farming solutions.

The competition, delivered through Innovate UK's Farming Innovation Programme, forms part of a wider £123 million package for agricultural research and technology available this year.

Defra said the funding aims to help move promising ideas from research into practical use on farms, easing labour pressures while improving productivity and resilience.

Farming Minister Stephen Morgan said: "This funding will help put cutting-edge robots and technology into their hands, easing that burden while boosting yields and profits."

He added the investment was "a vote of confidence in British ingenuity, and a big step towards the kind of modern, resilient farming we set out in our Farming Roadmap."

Chris Danks, Head of Agrifood at Innovate UK, said robotics and automation were becoming increasingly important in helping farms improve productivity and build more resilient businesses.

The latest competition follows earlier rounds of government support for agricultural innovation and forms part of a commitment to invest at least £200 million in farming innovation by 2030.

Applications are now open through Innovate UK's Innovation Funding Service for eligible businesses and research organisations across England.