Notice

Competition brief: agri-food innovation in Turkey

Updated 10 March 2017

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/funding-competition-agri-food-innovation-in-turkey/agri-food-innovation-in-turkey-competition-brief

1. Dates and deadlines

Competition opens 9 May 2016
Briefing webinar 17 May 2016
Partnering webinar 16 June 2016
Partnering event 7 September 2016
Registration deadline Noon 16 November 2016
Application deadline Noon 23 November 2016
Winners notified 24 March 2017

2. The competition scope

We want to see collaborative solutions which address one or more of the following challenges. Projects should be at the industrial research stage of research and development. Projects and their outcomes must fit with Official Development Assistance (ODA) criteria.

2.1 Challenge 1 - using waste by-products and residues from the Turkish agri-food industry to reduce their negative environmental impact and add value

The Turkish food and agriculture industry is one of the country’s biggest sectors. It corresponds to 7.1% of the GDP and a quarter of the employment levels in the country.

Many food production processes create waste by-products. These can impact the environment in a negative way. But some of these by-products have an economic value that we can exploit. For example, chicken manure can have a negative environmental impact. But it is also possible to use it as a fertiliser and in biogas/biomass processes.

We are inviting proposals for ways to reduce the production of waste in the Turkish agri-food sector. This should be through the use of agri-food by-products and residues.

2.2 Challenge 2 - improving agricultural productivity of small and medium sized-farmers through upgrading agricultural technology

Turkey’s agricultural sector has a lot of small farmers with limited cultivable land. These farmers often work with older/legacy agricultural machinery as they cannot afford new equipment. This is a challenge to the future productivity of the agricultural sector in Turkey.

At the same time, increases in population and food consumption are a threat to food security. This threat is relevant to both Turkey and the rest of the world. Changes in climate and wider global warming are challenging productivity within the farming sector.

We need to increase yields in a way that doesn’t adversely affect the environment or mean that we have to cultivate more land. Achieving a sustainable intensification of agriculture is a cross-disciplinary challenge. Precision agriculture provides opportunities to increase agricultural productivity. It can do this through more accurate and efficient crop and livestock production systems.

We are inviting applications to improve agricultural productivity. They should focus on farms that are smaller than 20 hectares. They will use technology to provide more accurate and efficient crop and livestock production systems. We are particularly interested in proposals for ways that Turkish farmers can upgrade old machinery.

The scope of this competition includes the application of solutions to primary production. Proposals can include software engineering and information technologies. But this should be where they represent an essential component of an engineering project.

2.3 Challenge 3 - improving animal and plant breeding within Turkey

Turkey’s agricultural sector is strong and vibrant. But there is a clear need to improve animal and plant breeding in a sustainable way. This will improve productivity and quality characteristics.

Farmers have used traditional breeding methods for thousands of years. But it takes a long time to achieve the seed and animal breed quality needed. This is because of the iterative and slower processes of traditional selective breeding. There is potential to produce better seeds and animals faster. We can do this by using modern breeding and reproductive technologies.

Turkey has an ideal climate for plant seed production. It also attracts healthy foreign investment in this sector. But a lack of expertise and technology means that it is not yet a preferred market for animal/plant breeding.

We are inviting UK and Turkish businesses and researchers to collaborate on new innovations. Proposals should be around breeding. They should focus on varieties of crops and breeds that are grown or consumed in Turkey.

3. Funding and project details

Your project should focus on industrial research. For technical feasibility studies and industrial research, you could get up to:

  • 70% of your eligible project costs if you are a small business
  • 60% if you are a medium-sized business
  • 50% if you are a large business

4. Find out if you are eligible to apply

To apply for a Newton Fund award you must:

  • be a UK-based company acting as lead applicant
  • have at least one UK-based company and one Turkish company working together on this project
  • have a project that will last up to 2 years
  • show that Turkey is the principal market for the project
  • show how your project fits within ODA criteria
  • propose a solution that is innovative in a creative, technical or commercial way

You can also invite research organisations to join your project.

If you need help finding a Turkish project partner, join our Meeting Mojo.

Register for a partnering event in London and Ankara on Wednesday 7 September 2016

Watch the partnering webinar recording from 16 June 2016

5. How to apply

You can submit more than one application across the same or different challenges.

To apply:

We will not accept late submissions. Your application is confidential.

A panel of independent experts from both the UK and Turkey will assess your proposal. We will then choose the best proposals from those that meet the aims of this competition.

6. Background and further information

Innovate UK and TÜBİTAK, the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, are funding this competition. We are running it as part of the Newton-Kâtip Çelebi Fund programme.

The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (formerly the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills) leads the Newton Fund in the UK. The Newton Fund uses science and innovation partnerships to promote the economic development and social welfare of 16 partner countries, including Turkey. The Newton Fund will run from 2014 to 2021. There is £735 million funding available from the UK government. Partner countries are contributing extra funding.

The Newton Fund forms part of the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA). The aims of the ODA are to promote the economic development and social welfare of developing and emerging economies.

If you need more information you can contact the competition helpline on 0300 321 4357 or email us at support@innovateuk.gov.uk.

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