The Scottish Food and Drink Net Zero Challenge Fund

The Scottish Food and Drink Net Zero Challenge Fund has been launched by Interface and the Scotland Food and Drink Partnership to support Scotland’s food and drink businesses as part of the Recovery Plan funded by Scottish Government. It aims to support businesses to accelerate their journey towards Net Zero and improve their environmental sustainability utilising the world class knowledge base and facilities across Scottish Universities, Research Institutes and Colleges. Please contact applications@interface-online.org.uk for help to identify and connect you into key academic expertise to support your project ideas.

The fund will support companies working in or with the food and drink supply chain in Scotland to reduce environmental impacts. It will pay for companies to utilise the expertise Scotland’s higher education institutions and colleges can provide.  Scotland is blessed with world class academia across numerous disciplines including Agri-tech, IT, data, manufacturing, engineering, food science, chemistry, biology, environmental and consumer sciences. Funding awards of up to £10,000 will be made available for businesses to partner with and fund Scottish academia on projects contributing to sustainability and Net Zero goals.

Potential funding opportunities are wide and varied:

• Projects are welcome across the supply chain including primary production, manufacturing, food service, supply chains, retail, and technology. Fundamental to a successful application will be associated reductions on environmental impact for the food and drink industry in Scotland.
• Environmental sustainability is unique to each business, organisation or subsector; so, priorities will vary. We envisage applications covering a range of issues such as food waste, waste valorisation, water usage, sustainable ingredients, packaging, resource and energy efficiency.  For further inspiration please see Scotland Food & Drink’s Leadership in a Climate Emergency  document on the right hand side of the page.
• Ideas may have emerged from engagement with support services available to businesses (e.g.Greening Your Business) Circular Economy Business Support Service and Food and Drink Waste Reduction Business Support enabling the business to pilot concepts or embed knowledge with the support of academia.

If you are a business with a Net Zero challenge and don’t already have an academic partner, Interface can provide a free, impartial connection into relevant academic experts.

Eligibility

The competitive challenge fund is open to businesses of any size working in or supporting the Scottish Food and Drink sector and its supply chains.

The Scottish Food and Drink Net Zero Challenge Fund will work on the same principles as the Scottish Funding Council’s Innovation Voucher programme . Key differentials are as follows:

• Companies who have previously collaborated with academia or have an existing relationship will still be eligible for consideration.
• Multi partner applications will be considered if there is a defined lead business and lead academic partner.
• An independent panel of experts will assess and approve applications.

For any questions on eligibility or any other queries please contact: applications@interface-online.org.uk

Eligible Costs

Funding awards up to £10,000 in value, which will cover University, Research Institute or College project costs (e.g. time, facilities and consumables) in order to carry out the project and disseminate the project findings to the company and wider industry (if appropriate). Companies will need to contribute an equal value in kind i.e. staff time, materials, equipment and data supplied or collated. The award will be paid directly to the University, Research Institute or College.