Funding Opportunities
How To Apply
The Biofortification Hub offers funding to support innovative research, collaboration, events and mobility between Academia and Industry.
Type of funding provided includes:
- Proof of Concept (PoC) award – up to 12 months & £100K
- Business Interaction Voucher (BIV) – up to 9 months & £50K
- Flexible Mobility Award (FMA) – up to 3 months & £20K
- Collaboration-building workshop fund (2 workshops per year in the UK, up to £4K per workshop)
2026 Biofortification Hub Funding calls:
In addition to research projects focusing on the Biofortification of food, feed and fodder, the 2026 funding call will also welcome applications focusing on Consumer Science and Social / policy aspects of crop and food biofortification.
- PoC : call opened 02-02-2026 – deadline to submit proposal 24-04-2026 (18:00 GMT)
- BIV : call opened 02-02-2026 – deadline to submit proposal 24-04-2026 (18:00 GMT)
- FMA : open call (all year) – applications reviewed every 2 months
You can check your eligibility to receive funding using our quick online test
Projects funded by the Biofortification Hub:
In 2023 the Biofortification Hub provided BBSRC funding to five academic groups in collaboration with nine companies for a total of £232K.
- Maximising nutrient levels in seaweeds. PoC project starting 01/10/2023 (duration 12 months). University of Aberdeen in collaboration with New Wave Foods Ltd.
- Sustainable biofortification solutions for Scottish soft fruit and vertical farming food production. PoC project starting 01/11/2023 (duration 12 months). University of Aberdeen in collaboration with Pictish Worms Ltd, Intelligent Growth Solutions, R&N Cessford Farm and Castleton Fruit Ltd.
- Omega-3 enhanced tomatoes (O3TOM). PoC project starting 01/10/2023 (12 months). Rothamsted Research and John Innes Centre (Norwich) in collaboration with Norfolk Plant Sciences Ltd.
- Applications of high-amylose wheat flour to deliver healthier ready-to-eat sandwich bread. BIV project starting 31/01/2024 (duration 6 months). Quadram Institute Bioscience (Norwich) in collaboration with AB Mauri UK & Ireland (Cereform Ltd.) and Bay State Milling.
- Elevating Omega-3 Fatty Acid, Vitamin E and Microelement content of Eggs, supporting Diet, Climate and Biodiversity Targets (lOVEMEggs). BIV project starting 16/10/2023 (duration 6 months). University of Aberdeen in collaboration with Duncan Farms Limited.
In 2024 the Biofortification Hub provided BBSRC funding to four academic groups in collaboration with three companies for a total of £162K.
- Investigating a novel method to increase resistant starch in wheat by increasing starch granule size. PoC project starting 01/10/2024 (duration 8 months). John Innes Centre and Quadram Institute (Norwich) in collaboration with Limagrain.
- NutriSusLeg: Nutritious Sustainable Legumes. PoC project starting 01/10/2024 (12 months). University of Lincoln in collaboration with Recycled Crop Nutrients Ltd.
- Vitamin D biofortification of pork: a route to commercialisation for targeted products (Pork-BioD). PoC project starting 01/11/2024 (12 months). Ulster University in collaboration with Humanativ Ltd.
In 2025 the Biofortification Hub provided BBSRC funding to seven academic groups in collaboration with eight companies for a total of £311.9K.
- Biofortification of fungal mycelium with bioavailable iron: A sustainable strategy for nutrient-dense whole-cut meat alternatives. PoC project starting 01/10/2025 (duration 9 months). University of Nottingham.
- Putting the “B” into non- and low- alcoholic beer through embracing hop genetics and hop microflora. BIV project starting 01/09/2025 (duration 9 months). University of Kent.
- Biofortification for Breakfast – exploring the consumers’ acceptance of biofortified tomatoes and eggs. PoC project starting 01/10/2025 (duration 11 months). Swansea University.
- Developing food products with iron-biofortified pea shoots. BIV project starting 01/08/2025 (duration 7 months). John Innes Centre.
- Fermentation as biofortification tool for ancient grains. BIV project starting 01/10/2025 (duration 9 months). University of Reading.
- Enhancing iodine levels in tomato fruit through seaweed extract biofortification. Joint Biofortification and STAR Hubs – PoC project starting 01/11/2025 (duration 11 months). University of East Anglia.
- Fermentation-Enabled Biofortification for Plant-Based Foods. Joint Biofortification and STAR Hubs – PoC project starting 01/08/2025 (duration 12 months). Sheffield Hallam University.
Work placements (FMA) funded by the Biofortification Hub:
In 2024 the Biofortification Hub provided BBSRC funding for three placements for a total of £48K.
- Applicant from Tetrim Teas undertaking a placement with Aberystwyth University (2024)
- Applicant from Cleobury Project Management undertaking a placement with Aberystwyth University (2024)
- Applicant from the John Innes Centre undertaking a placement with HarvestPlus (2024)
In 2025 the Biofortification Hub is providing BBSRC funding for one placement for a total of £15.9K.
- Applicant from NHS Lothian undertaking a placement with the John Innes Centre (2025)
Workshops funded by the Biofortification Hub:
In 2024 the Biofortification Hub provided BBSRC funding for two workshops organised by Hub members for a total of £7.5K.
- Workshop #3 – Rules and regulations for biofortified commodities in the UK (16 September 2024), London Metropolitan University, UK.
- Workshop #4 – Stimulating adoption and production of biofortified feed and food for the UK (17 September 2024), London Metropolitan University, UK.
In 2025 the Biofortification Hub is providing BBSRC funding for two workshops organised by Hub members.
- Workshop #5 – Biofortification Needs Versus Consumer Wants (19 March 2025), Swansea University, UK.
- Workshop #6 – Boosting Biofortification: Bridging Science, Practice, and Policy (28 November 2025), RSSL, Reading, UK.
Related Funding opportunities:
Opportunities from other food networks or from the other five hubs in the OIRC initiative on Diet and Health are listed here.
How to apply:
- Become a Biofortification Hub member (encouraged) – it’s free and only takes two minutes to register*
- Check your eligibility to receive funding using our quick online test
- Check the details and instructions for each call
- Submit your grant application form and additional information before the call deadline
- Contact the hub manager for any question that you may have
* Members will be kept up to date about workshops, meetings, events and funding opportunities with regular newsletters. Membership is encouraged when applying for funding or attending the biofortification Hub’s large Community meetings. Membership is required for attending workshops and receiving funding from the Hub.
