Defra announces £30m fund to help farmers add value to produce

Article summary

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has made £30m of funding grants available to up to 1,000 farmers to help boost business and add value to their produce, with individual farmers able to claim between £25,000–£300,000. The funding from the Farming Investment Fund will enable farmers in England to purchase equipment, diversify and add value to their products after they have been harvested or reared. Examples include turning milk into cheese or yoghurt, processing meat into sausages, and potatoes into crisps or chips, or equipment such as vending machines and display facilities for selling food directly to customers.