Devon farmers in line for share of £30m collaboration fund
Farmers across Devon could benefit from more than £1 million of government funding aimed at making agricultural businesses more productive, resilient and environmentally sustainable.
The Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority (CCA) has unanimously agreed to bid for a share of the new £30 million Farmer Collaboration Fund, which is being distributed across England over three years.
The fund is designed to help farmers, land managers and growers work together to tackle common challenges, share knowledge and develop new ways of working.
It will support collaboration groups with activities including peer learning, specialist advice and local facilitation, with the aim of improving farm businesses while also delivering environmental benefits.
There are currently 19 farmer collaboration groups in Devon, according to a report presented to the CCA.
The authority's proposed bid of just over £1 million would be used to support groups of farmers and land managers across the county.
The scheme is intended to cover a wide range of agricultural priorities, with the government specifically highlighting areas such as soil management, animal health and welfare, business resilience, new technology and landscape-scale environmental projects.
Rather than applying directly for the fund themselves, farmers will access support through successful delivery partners. The CCA is among the types of organisation eligible to apply, alongside charities, community interest companies, national parks, universities and other organisations with experience of supporting farmer collaboration.
The fund is expected to support both existing collaboration groups and new groups where there are gaps. Farmers will remain responsible for deciding their priorities, with delivery partners providing coordination, administration and access to expertise.
“This is a brand new fund which is coming through,” said Torbay Council leader David Thomas (Con, Preston), who also chairs the CCA. “It’s a good news story for Devon.”
Torridge District Council leader Ken James (Ind, Milton and Tamarside) added: “Farming is changing and it is becoming more environment-friendly. I am really pleased to see this.”
The CCA voted unanimously to proceed with the bid.
The government launched the Farmer Collaboration Fund in July as part of its Farming Roadmap, saying collaboration could help farmers reduce costs, manage shared risks and improve soil and water quality while building more resilient businesses.
The first round of applications opened on September 1 and closes on September 30, with successful applicants expected to be notified in November and the first payments due in December. Agreements can last for up to three years.
The funding is intended to benefit a broad range of farming businesses, and farming organisations have called for livestock, arable and horticultural enterprises to be included.
For Devon, the funding could provide support at a time when farmers are facing changes in agricultural policy alongside increasing pressure to improve environmental outcomes and strengthen the resilience of their businesses.
The Devon and Torbay CCA was established in February 2025 as part of the government's devolution programme, transferring certain decision-making powers and funding from central government to local authorities. Its responsibilities include areas such as skills, employment, housing, transport and the economy.
The authority initially covered Devon County Council and Torbay Council. Plymouth was not originally part of the arrangement but has since moved towards joining the authority, with a consultation on the proposed change running during September and October 2026.
For the farming sector, the immediate issue is the CCA's bid for the Farmer Collaboration Fund and whether Devon will secure the requested funding when the first-round results are announced later this year.