Agriculture

Adapt and Lead

Services R&D Tax Sectors Agriculture

It has been a increasingly difficult time for UK farmers be it uncertainties arising from the transition from the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to the UK’s Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS) or soaring fertiliser costs due to inflation and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with goal posts ever moving many forward thinking farmers are looking to innovate and get ahead of the curve.

What is apparent is that R&D is increasing within the sector, with the emergence of vertical farming, the integration of newer technologies such as sensors and drones for better detection, use of data analytics to drive better yields and overcoming regulatory changes such as peat-free compost, here we take a dive into R&D tax opportunities in the agriculture sector.

Construction Sectors

What Qualifies for R&D Tax credits in the Agricultural sector?

If you are an agricultural firm such as arable, dairy, livestock or horticulture or in the agricultural supply chain creating new products or methodologies R&D tax relief may occur if you seek to make an advance in a field of science or technology whilst overcoming technological or scientific uncertainties. InnoFund have a large agricultural client base, our technical consultants include PhD scientists who have broken down qualifying activities we typically claim for our clients.
01 Crop Breeding and Genetic Improvements

• Developing new crop varieties with improved yields, resistance to disease, or better adaptation to different climates.

• Investigating innovative methods to accelerate plant growth or increase nutritional content.

02 Sustainable Farming Practices

• Developing methods to reduce the use of pesticides and fertilisers while maintaining or improving crop yields.

• Innovating new techniques for soil management and water conservation (e.g. precision agriculture, drip irrigation).

03 Livestock Breeding and Health

• Researching new breeding programmes to enhance disease resistance or improve production (e.g. higher milk yields, better meat quality).

• Developing vaccines or treatments for livestock diseases and optimising feeding systems.

04 Automation and Precision Farming

• Developing automated machinery or robotics to plant, monitor, and harvest crops more efficiently.

• Innovating sensors or AI-based systems for real-time monitoring of crop health, soil conditions, or livestock well-being.

05 Innovative Pest and Disease Control

•Developing non-chemical methods of controlling pests and diseases, such as biological control agents.

•Innovating precision pesticide application techniques to reduce chemical use and minimise environmental impact.

06 Renewable Energy Use in Agriculture

• Developing renewable energy sources for farms (e.g. solar, wind, bioenergy from waste products).

• Innovating systems to convert farm waste into energy or fertiliser (e.g. anaerobic digestion).

07 Post-Harvest Handling and Storage

• Innovating new methods of storing and preserving crops to extend shelf life or reduce spoilage.

• Developing systems to monitor storage conditions (e.g. humidity, temperature) in real-time.

08 Food Processing and Packaging Innovations

• Developing new methods of processing raw agricultural products into value-added goods.

• Innovating sustainable packaging materials or techniques to reduce waste and improve shelf life.

09 Environmental Sustainability and Carbon Footprint Reduction

• Researching techniques for carbon capture and sequestration in farming practices.

• Innovating ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from livestock or the use of machinery.

10 Hydroponics and Vertical Farming

• Developing efficient, high-yield hydroponic or vertical farming systems that require less water and space.

• Innovating lighting, nutrient delivery, and automation systems for these types of controlled-environment agriculture.

What we do for you

How We’ll Support You

Our R&D tax team specializes in aquaculture and fishing. We utilise industry experts, PhD engineers, construction manager, ex-HMRC inspectors and a Chartered Accountant to ensure a comprehensive review of your projects. Our services include:

  • Identifying the appropriate scheme for your business.

  • Conducting a comprehensive review of your R&D activities to maximise your claim.

  • Taking the burden of report writing to free up your time.

  • Preparing a claim that minimises the potential of losing tax benefits if HMRC queries are raised.

  • Offering unrivalled HMRC dispute resolution headed by one of the UK’s leading R&D Tax compliance expert.

Protect and Prosper

Safeguard Your R&D Tax with InnoFund

Partnering with InnoFund gives companies a unique opportunity to utilise SecureRD™, our proprietary solution which we believe is the safest way to claim R&D Tax. We add value to clients by leveraging InnoFund’s expertise in both R&D lifecycle management and R&D Tax Credits, act today to maximise the success of your future R&D claims from services such as:

01

Analysing previous R&D and benchmarking it against the baseline of your industry

02

R&D lifecycle management consulting and R&D road mapping to increase your chances of innovation and the size and security of R&D claims in the future

03

Safeguard future R&D relief by strategically reviewing your current operations to maximize benefits under available R&D funding options.

04

Visualise the value of a future tax benefit with upcoming R&D projects and allow commercial teams to tender for work more competitively

Complete R&D Solutions

Additional Incentives and Support

Agricultural businesses should explore all R&D incentives, from tax credits and grants for product development work to Research and Development Allowances (RDA) for capital spend on prototype systems and patent box for sales or licensing of protected technology.

We also help identify other sources of R&D support and plan your R&D strategy considering available incentives and grants. Our holistic approach ensures continuous support throughout the business lifecycle, not just during claim preparation process.

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