Our first funding round has now closed. The next round will be in 2024.

AFN Network+ Scoping Study Grants
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The AFN Network+ provides funding to carry out work which supports our mission of reaching net zero through the agri-food sector.

In our first round of funding (which closed in July 2023), projects had to involve at least one non-academic food system stakeholder in a meaningful way, and be interdisciplinary in nature. 
 

• Two kinds of projects were funded - up to £10,000 for a maximum 12-month period; and up to £50,000 for a maximum 24-month period. ​

 

• Awards were granted at 80% full economic cost (FEC) and UKRI rules regarding eligible costs apply.

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• Awards will begin from 1 October 2023 or as soon as possible thereafter depending on administrative constraints, and must be spent by 30 September 2024 for projects under £10,000, and by 30 September 2025 for projects under £50,000.

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• Award winners will be notified in September 2023.

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• Research teams had to be interdisciplinary. 

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• Eligible proposals had to include at least one food system stakeholder, from outside of the Higher Education Institution (HEI) sector. For this purpose, food system stakeholders are broadly defined to include e.g. farmers, growers, food manufacturers, dietitians, or policy-makers. Grants will be awarded to the lead partner who will then manage fund transfers between partners e.g. funding may be subcontracted to food system stakeholders. The principal investigator (PI) must have a role at a higher education institution (HEI) and the contract will be with that HEI

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• Proposals had to address one of the following research themes:
  • Enabling behaviour change for net zero through agri-food
  • Reaching net zero through circular food systems
  • Measuring progress towards net zero through agri-food
  • A just transition for net zero through agri-food

​            or be otherwise able to demonstrate that they address the AFN Network+ mission of reaching net zero through agri-food.

• Two awards were reserved for teams led by early career researchers (ECR) (this could be either two small awards, two large awards or one of each, depending on merit).

• Two awards (under £10,000) were made at the Crucible event. (Read more about these projects - Circular fertiliser and net zero: examining the potential of digestate for indoor farms and Regenerative agriculture and net zero: mapping the evidence)

• More information on the other successful projects will be published here in due course.

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Assessment criteria

Applications were reviewed based on the following criteria:

1. Potential of the research to help the UK meet its net zero targets through agri-food
2. Appropriateness of the methodology
3. Diversity including:

• Quality of the food system stakeholder partner integration into the project
• Promotion of equality, diversity and inclusion with respect to protected characteristics
• Integration across disciplines

4. Clear pathway to further development of the project (e.g. future external funding, industry involvement), and impact pathway
5. Achievability of management plan
6. Value for money

Early career researcher
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An early career researcher (ECR) is someone who is either:

• within eight years of their PhD award (this is from the time of the PhD ‘viva’ oral test), or equivalent professional training
• within six years of their first academic appointment (the first full or part-time paid employment contract that lists research or teaching as the primary function).

These periods exclude any career break, for example due to:

• family care
• health reasons

and are pro-rata for any periods of part-time work.

Questions

For any questions about this call, please contact us  or take a look at some frequently asked questions and answers. Watch a recording of part of our information session. Questions and answers from the session.