Funding opportunity

Funding opportunity: Diet and health: collaborative research and development grants: full stage

Opportunity status: Open Funders: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) Co-funders: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) Funding type: Grant Total fund: £3,750,000 Maximum award: £800,000 Publication date: 26 March 2026 Opening date:

26 March 2026 9:00am UK time

Closing date:

27 May 2026 4:00pm UK time

Start application Apply for Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and Defra funding to support collaborative R&D projects developing novel products and innovations delivering healthy, sustainable, and resilient diets for the UK population.

You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for BBSRC funding.

Apply for funding to support collaborative research and development projects, developing novel products and innovations delivering healthy, sustainable and resilient diets for the UK population.

You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for BBSRC funding.

Projects must include an industry contribution of 30% of the 100% full economic cost (FEC).

The FEC of your project can be up to £800,000. BBSRC and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) will fund 80% of the FEC. The FEC does not include industry contributions.

Projects must start by 31 October 2026.

This funding opportunity has a mandatory notification of intent (NOI) stage. You will not be able to submit an application if you have not previously submitted a NOI.

Who can apply

This opportunity is open to organisations with standard eligibility. Check if your organisation is eligible.

Who is eligible to apply

To be eligible as the academic partner, you must be from one of the following organisations:

• UK higher education institutions
• research council institutes
• UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) approved independent research organisations
• public sector research establishments
• NHS bodies with research capacity

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We are committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all funding applicants. We encourage applications from a diverse range of researchers.

We support people to work in a way that suits their personal circumstances. This includes:

• career breaks
• support for people with caring responsibilities
• flexible working
• alternative working patterns UKRI can offer disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders during the application and assessment process.

What we're looking for

Active portfolio management

Active portfolio management is being applied to this funding opportunity due to the high level of interest. If required, BBSRC may convene a strategic panel to undertake an initial triage of proposals. A proportion of applications will then progress to the expert panel assessment. The strategic panel will consider the extent to which proposals align with the funding opportunity’s intended outcomes, anticipated impact, and the expected return on investment at a national level.

Aim

This joint funding opportunity provided by BBSRC and Defra aims to build and strengthen partnerships between academia and industry. This will enable the co-development of collaborative research and development projects which lead to novel food products and innovations that deliver healthy, sustainable and resilient diets for the UK population in line with the Good Food Cycle.

For more information on the background of this opportunity and the Good Food Cycle, go to the Additional information section.

Scope

You are invited to submit proposals for collaborative research and development projects, that explore the following and support the ’Good Food Cycle’.

Projects should address one or more of the following priority areas:

• improving the nutrition of food and drink products to support populations at higher risk of malnutrition, muscle loss or both, for example those using GLP-1 drugs, older population groups and those from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds
• supporting research and innovation to assess the impact of food processing and final food product composition on health. This can include, but is not restricted to, assessing and improving the nutritive value retained by different processing methods and evaluating the impact of food additives and emulsifiers on human physiology to develop innovations and sustainable alternatives to support healthy sustainable diets

• improving environmental outcomes for novel innovations in the food and drink sector for example by considering a circular economy approach seeking to reduce waste and food losses
  To address these themes, your project can focus on one or more of the following:

• biofortification to enhance the nutritional profile of food and drink products and improve nutrition of the UK population (including, but not limited to, fibres, folates, iron, vitamins, proteins, omega-3.)

• re-formulation and processing innovations to retain and or/improve the nutritional value of food products and provide suitable and sustainable alternatives to processing ingredients

• increasing the affordability and accessibility of nutritious food and drink products across the UK, reducing food inequalities and empowering a productive workforce contributing to the UK economy

• considering consumer behaviour towards diet and health and drivers of food choices

• increasing resilience of the UK food system by creating conditions for a robust supply chain, enabling the UK population to access healthy sustainable food
  Your project should consider:

• sustainability in the context of environmental challenges, such as climate change and resource scarcity, where your innovation has the potential to support the UK in establishing resilient supply chains for healthier foods, and reduce negative impacts on climate and nature

• how your innovation will contribute to economic growth within the food and drink sector, contributing to spreading growth and opportunities around the UK. Your innovation should also demonstrate potential for economic growth beyond the food and drink sector, for example by delivering healthier diets with the potential to reduce the burden on the NHS, and by having a net positive impact on growth by increasing healthy life expectancy and improving the workforce productivity
  Project proposals should clearly articulate how your project will contribute to the vision set out in the Good Food Cycle, specifically the four pillars below:

• a healthier population with reduced diet related ill-health, especially for children and vulnerable people. You are encouraged to consider how your innovation may support consumer behaviour change towards healthier diets

• a thriving UK food sector that feeds a healthier and more productive UK population and enables economic growth. Applicants are encouraged to consider economic growth within the food and drink sector and beyond

• improved environmental outcomes on land and sea , enhancing nature and ecosystem services while reducing pollution, waste and greenhouse gas emissions. Applicants are encouraged to consider the upstream supply chain requirements of their proposed innovation, as well as the potential environmental implications associated with its scale-up

• improved resilience of the supply chain, with reduced impact of shocks and chronic risks on access to healthy and sustainable food. Applicants are encouraged to consider the preparedness of the innovation for supply chain shocks, disruption and impacts of chronic risks

Duration

The duration of this award is 36 months.

Projects must start by 31 October 2026.

Funding available

The FEC of your project can be up to £800,000.

BBSRC and Defra will fund 80% of the FEC.

Projects are required to have at least one industry partner, with an industry contribution of 30% (cash or in-kind) of the 100% FEC. The 30% contribution may be made either by and individual project partner or by a consortium.

Eligible industry partners must:

• be a UK based business registered at Companies House
• have a manufacturing base for the relevant product in the UK or provide the relevant service in the UK
• intend to exploit the results in the UK

What we will not fund

We will not fund projects that:

• do not primarily address our remit
• do not clearly address the scope of the funding opportunity
• relate to market analysis
• relate to fundamental research which is not industrially relevant
• relate to standard testing and measurement services readily available commercially or via academic partners
• are not research grants, for example , where the primary focus is funding for networking, studentships, fellowships, equipment purchase, instrument access, infrastructure or training

Supporting skills and talent

We encourage you to follow the principles of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers and the Technician Commitment.

Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I)

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is committed in ensuring that effective international collaboration in research and innovation takes place with integrity and within strong ethical frameworks. Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) is a UKRI work programme designed to help protect all those working in our thriving and collaborative international sector by enabling partnerships to be as open as possible, and as secure as necessary. Our TR&I Principles set out UKRI’s expectations of organisations funded by UKRI in relation to due diligence for international collaboration.

As such, applicants for UKRI funding may be asked to demonstrate how their proposed projects will comply with our approach and expectation towards TR&I, identifying potential risks and the relevant controls you will put in place to help proportionately reduce these risks.

See further guidance and information about TR&I, including where you can find additional support.

How to apply

Overview of the application process

This is the full stage of the assessment process for the BBSRC and Defra Diet and Health Collaborative Research and Development Grants.

This funding opportunity has two mandatory stages: notification of intent and full stage applications. You should read all the information before starting your application.

The mandatory notification of intent closed on 3 March 2026 at 4:00pm UK time. Applicants to the full stage must have been invited following submission of a successful notification of intent.

Any applications submitted that have not been invited to submit to the full stage or did not submit a notification of intent will be rejected.

Stage two: full application

This stage is open only to applicants who have completed a notification of intent at stage one and were invited to submit a full application. Any other submissions will be rejected.

The application link for the full applications stage will be available on this funding opportunity page from 26 March 2026 9:00am to 7 May 2026 4:00pm UK time. You will not be able to apply after this time.

We are running this funding opportunity on the new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service so please ensure that your organisation is registered. You cannot apply on the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system.

The project lead is responsible for completing the application process on the Funding Service, but we expect all team members and project partners to contribute to the application.

Only the lead research organisation can submit an application to UKRI.

To apply

Select ‘Start application’ near the beginning of this Funding finder page:

1. Confirm you are the project lead.
2. Sign in or create a Funding Service account. To create an account, select your organisation, verify your email address, and set a password. If your organisation is not listed, email support@funding-service.ukri.org Please allow at least 10 working days for your organisation to be added to the Funding Service. We strongly suggest that if you are asking UKRI to add your organisation to the Funding Service to enable you to apply to this opportunity, you also create an organisation Administration Account. This will be needed to allow the acceptance and management of any grant that might be offered to you.
3. Answer questions directly in the text boxes. You can save your answers and come back to complete them or work offline and return to copy and paste your answers. If we need you to upload a document, follow the upload instructions in the Funding Service. All questions and assessment criteria are listed in the How to apply section on this Funding finder page.
4. Allow enough time to check your application in ‘read-only’ view before sending to your research office.
5. Send the completed application to your research office for checking. They will return it to you if it needs editing.
6. Your research office will submit the completed and checked application to UKRI. Please be aware that research office and finance teams undertake checks on hosting arrangements and financial eligibility. The ultimate responsibility for ensuring compliance with all opportunity requirements lies with the applicant.

Where indicated, you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant.

When including images, you must:

• provide a descriptive caption or legend for each image immediately underneath it in the text box (this must be outside the image and counts towards your word limit)
• insert each new image on a new line

• use files smaller than 5MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format
  Images should only be used to convey important visual information that cannot easily be put into words. The following are not permitted, and your application will be rejected if you include:

• sentences or paragraphs of text

• tables

• excessive quantities of images
  A few words are permitted where the image would lack clarity without the contextual words, such as a diagram, where text labels are required for an axis or graph column.

Your application will be rejected if images are provided without a descriptive legend in the text box or are used to replace text that could be input into the text box.

For more guidance on the Funding Service, see:

• how applicants use the Funding Service
• how research offices use the Funding Service
• how reviewers use the Funding Service

References

References should be included within the word count of the appropriate question section. You should use your discretion when including references and prioritise those most pertinent to the application.

Hyperlinks can be used in reference information. When including references, you should consider how your references will be viewed and used by the assessors, ensuring that:

• references are easily identifiable by the assessors
• references are formatted as appropriate to your research
• persistent identifiers are used where possible

General use of hyperlinks

Applications should be self-contained. You should only use hyperlinks to link directly to reference information. You must not include links to web resources to extend your application. Assessors are not required to access links to conduct assessment or recommend a funding decision.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Use of generative AI tools to prepare funding applications is permitted, however, caution should be applied.

For more information see our policy on the use of generative AI in application and assessment.

Deadline

BBSRC must receive your Notification of Intent by 27 May 2026 at 4:00pm UK time.

You will not be able to apply after this time.

Make sure you are aware of and follow any internal institutional deadlines.

Following the submission of your application to this funding opportunity, your application cannot be changed, and submitted applications will not be amended. If your application does not follow the guidance, it may be rejected.

Personal data

Processing personal data

BBSRC, as part of UKRI, will need to collect some personal information to manage your Funding Service account and the registration of your funding applications.

We will handle personal data in line with UK data protection legislation and manage it securely. For more information, including how to exercise your rights, read our privacy notice.

BBSRC as part of UKRI, will need to share the application and any personal information that it contains with Defra so that they can participate in the assessment process. See more information on how Defra uses personal information.

Sensitive information

If you or a core team member need to tell us something you wish to remain confidential, email dietandhealth@bbsrc.ukri.org

Include in the subject line: [the funding opportunity title; sensitive information; your Funding Service application number].

Typical examples of confidential information include:

• individual is unavailable until a certain date (for example due to parental leave)
• declaration of interest
• additional information about eligibility to apply that would not be appropriately shared in the ‘Applicant and team capability’ section
• conflict of interest for UKRI to consider in reviewer or panel participant selection
• the application is an invited resubmission For information about how UKRI handles personal data, read UKRI’s privacy notice.

Institutional Matched Funding

There is no requirement for matched funding from the institutions hosting the project lead, project co-leads or other staff employed on the application, beyond the standard 20% FEC. Expert reviewers and panels assessing UKRI funding applications must not consider levels of institutional matched funding as a factor on which to base recommendations.

Direct and in-kind contributions, or a combination of both from third party project partners are mandatory for this funding opportunity.

This policy does not remove the need for support from host organisations who must provide the necessary research environment and infrastructure for award-specific activities funded by UKRI. For example, research facilities, training and development of staff.

Publication of outcomes

If your application is successful, we will publish some personal information on the UKRI Gateway to Research.

Summary

Word limit: 550

In plain English, provide a summary we can use to identify the most suitable experts to assess your application.

We usually make this summary publicly available on external-facing websites, therefore do not include any confidential or sensitive information. Make it suitable for a variety of readers, for example:

• opinion-formers
• policymakers
• the public
• the wider research community

Guidance for writing a summary

Clearly describe your proposed work in terms of:

• context
• the challenge the project addresses
• how your project will contribute to the vision set out in the Good Food Cycle
• aims and objectives
• potential applications and benefits
• The collaborative nature of your project
• The industry involvement in the delivery of your project

Core team

List the key members of your team and assign them roles from the following:

• project lead (PL)
• project co-lead (UK) (PcL)
• specialist
• grant manager
• professional enabling staff
• research and innovation associate
• technician
• researcher co-lead (RcL) Only list one individual as project lead.

This programme will fund academic-industry collaborative R&D partnerships, undertaking industrially relevant research and innovation in bioscience and biotechnology (within BBSRC’s remit) that has clear benefits to the businesses involved, and your application must include at least one industry partner in the project partner section to be eligible.

Do not include your industry project partner(s) in the Core Team section.

UKRI has introduced a new addition to the ‘Specialist’ role type. Public contributors such as people with lived experience can now be added to an application.

Find out more about UKRI’s core team roles in funding applications.

Application questions

Vision

Word limit: 2,000

What are you hoping to achieve with your proposed work?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Explain how your proposed work:

• is of excellent quality and importance within or beyond the field(s) or area(s)
• has the potential to advance current understanding, or generate new knowledge, thinking or discovery within or beyond the field or area
• is timely given current trends, context, and needs, in particular how will your project contribute to the vision set out in the Good Food Cycle
• impacts world-leading research, society, the economy, or the environment Your project proposal must demonstrate how your work will contribute to deliver on Defra’s Good Food Cycle.

Project proposals should clearly articulate how your project will contribute to the vision set out in the Good Food Cycle, specifically the four pillars below:

• a healthier population with reduced diet related ill-health, especially for children and vulnerable people. You are encouraged to consider how your innovation may support consumer behaviour change towards healthier diets
• a thriving UK food sector that feeds a healthier and more productive UK population and enables economic growth. You are encouraged to consider economic growth within the food and drink sector and beyond
• improved environmental outcomes on land and sea, enhancing nature and ecosystem services while reducing pollution, waste and greenhouse gas emissions. You are encouraged to consider the upstream supply chain requirements of your proposed innovation, as well as the potential environmental implications associated with its scale-up
• improved resilience of the supply chain, with reduced impact of shocks and chronic risks on access to healthy and sustainable food. You are encouraged to consider the preparedness of the innovation for supply chain shocks, disruption and impacts of chronic risks References may be included within this section.

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

Approach

Word limit: 1,500

How are you going to deliver your proposed work?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Explain how you have designed your approach so that it:

• is effective and appropriate to achieve your objectives
• is feasible, and comprehensively identifies any risks to delivery and how they will be managed
• uses a clearly written and transparent methodology (if applicable)
• summarises any previous work and describes how this will be built upon and progressed (if applicable)
• will maximise translation of outputs into outcomes and impacts which are commercially relevant
• describes how your, and if applicable your team’s, research environment (in terms of the place and relevance to the project) will contribute to the success of the work References may be included within this section.

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

Wider benefits

Word limit: 1,500

In addition to the commercial opportunity, what are the potential societal, environmental, and economic benefits of the proposed approach?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

You should:

• explain why public funding is appropriate and essential for the proposed programme of work, including why private investment cannot, or will not enable this
• consider the potential impact on high-level societal challenges, especially related to diet and health
• outline any wider economic impacts. For example, job creation, skills, and capacity building
• describe the steps you will take to maximise any potential benefits References may be included within this section.

Your organisation’s support

Word limit: 500

Provide details of support from your research organisation.

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Provide a statement of support from your research organisation detailing how they will support you, as the applicant, and your proposed activities. This should include details of any additional support that might add value to the work.

Assessors will be looking for a strong statement of support from your research organisation. This information should have been approved for submission by an appropriate institutional authority.

You must also include the following details:

• a significant person’s name, their position and office or department, or all
• office address or web link Upload details are provided within the Funding Service on the actual application.

Project partners

Word limit: 1,000

Add details about any project partner contributions.

A project partner is a collaborating organisation who will have an integral role in the proposed research. This may include direct contributions for example cash, donated equipment and resources, or staff seconded to the project, or indirect and in-kind contributions for example use of project partner’s equipment, datasets, or facilities. Project partners may be in industry, academia, third sector, or government organisations in the UK or overseas, including partners based in the EU.

Projects are required to have at least one industry partner, with an industry contribution of 30% (cash, in-kind, or both) of the 100% FEC. The 30% contribution may be made either by and individual project partner or by a consortium.

Eligible contributing industry partners must:

• be a UK based business registered at Companies House
• have a manufacturing base for the relevant product in the UK or provide the relevant service in the UK

• intend to exploit the results in the UK
  Add the following project partner details:

• the organisation name and address (searchable via a drop-down list or enter the organisation’s details manually, as applicable)

• the project partner contact name and email address

• the type of contribution (direct or indirect) and its monetary value
  If a detail is entered incorrectly and you have saved the entry, remove the specific project partner record and re-add it with the correct information.

For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made. If your project is funded, a collaboration agreement must be in place within six months from the grant start date.

Project partners: letters (or emails) of support

Word limit: 5

Upload a single PDF containing the letters or emails of support from each partner you named in the ‘Project partners’ section. These should be uploaded in English or Welsh only.

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Enter the words ‘attachment supplied’ in the text box. Each letter or email you provide should:

• confirm the partner’s commitment to the project
• clearly explain the value, relevance, and possible benefits of the work to them
• describe any additional value that they bring to the project
• fully justify project partner contributions
• have a page limit of two sides A4 per partner All project partners that propose to make either a cash or in-kind contribution, or a combination of both, must provide a justification for the value of their planned contributions and summarise how those contributions add value to the overall project.

The Funding Service will provide document upload details when you apply.

Ensure you have prior agreement from project partners so that, if you are offered funding, they will support your project as indicated in the ‘Project partners’ section.

For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made.

Applicant and team capability to deliver

Word limit: 1,650

Why are you the right individual or team to successfully deliver the proposed work?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Evidence of how you, and if relevant, your team, have:

• the relevant experience (appropriate to career stage) to deliver the proposed work
• the right balance of skills and expertise to cover the proposed work
• the appropriate leadership and management skills to deliver the work and your approach to develop others
• contributed to developing a positive research environment and wider community
• an appropriate innovation environment (in terms of place,location, reputation, and relevance to the project) to contribute to the success of the work You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

The word limit for this section is 1,650 words: 1,150 words to be used for Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI) modules (including references) and, if necessary, a further 500 words for Additions.

Use the R4RI format to showcase the range of relevant skills you and, if relevant, your team (project and project co-leads, researchers, technicians, specialists, partners and so on) have and how this will help deliver the proposed work. You can include individuals’ specific achievements but only choose past contributions that best evidence their ability to deliver this work. Please make sure that you also include your project partner’s capability to deliver on the proposed work in this section and how their contribution fits within the project team.

Complete this section using the R4RI module headings listed. Use each heading once and include a response for the whole team, see the UKRI guidance on R4RI. You should consider how to balance your answer, and emphasise where appropriate the key skills each team member brings:

• contributions to the generation of new ideas, tools, methodologies, or knowledge
• the development of others and maintenance of effective working relationships
• contributions to the wider research and innovation community
• contributions to broader research or innovation users and audiences and towards wider societal benefit Additions

Provide any further details relevant to your application. This section is optional and can be up to 500 words. You should not use it to describe additional skills, experiences, or outputs, but you can use it to describe any factors that provide context for the rest of your R4RI (for example, details of career breaks if you wish to disclose them).

Complete this as a narrative. Do not format it like a CV.

References may be included within this section.

The roles in funding applications policy has descriptions of the different project roles.

Ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI)

Word limit: 500

What are the ethical and RRI considerations, implications and issues relating to the proposed work? If you do not think that the proposed work raises any ethical or RRI issues, explain why.

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Demonstrate that you have identified and evaluated:

• the relevant ethical and RRI considerations, including both the research or topic area itself and the design and delivery of the project
• the wider implications of the proposed work, and how you will maximise the positive societal, environmental, and economic benefits arising from the project, whilst minimising unintended negative impacts, such as research misuse or accidental harm

• how you will manage these considerations throughout the lifecycle of the project
  If you are collecting or using data you should identify:

• any legal and ethical considerations of collecting, releasing and storing the data (including consent, confidentiality, anonymisation, security and other ethical considerations and, in particular, strategies to not preclude further re-use of data)

• formal information standards that your proposed work will comply with
  Additional sub-questions (to be answered only if appropriate) relating to research involving:

• animals

• human participants

• genetically modified organisms
  You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

Please refer to the UKRI position statement on funding ethical research and Responsible innovation for more information around our expectations on ethical and responsible research and innovation.

Genetic and biological risk

Word limit: 700

Does your proposed research involve any genetic or biological risk?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

In respect of animals, plants or microbes, are you proposing to:

• use genetic modification as an experimental tool, like studying gene function in a genetically modified organism
• release genetically modified organisms
• ultimately develop commercial and industrial genetically modified outcomes If yes, provide the name of any required approving body and state if approval is already in place. If it is not, provide an indicative timeframe for obtaining the required approval.

Identify the organism or organisms as a plant, animal or microbe and specify the species and which of the three categories the research relates to.

Identify the genetic and biological risks resulting from the proposed research, their implications, and any mitigation you plan on taking. Assessors will want to know you have considered the risks and their implications to justify that any identified risks do not outweigh any benefits of the proposed research.

If this does not apply to your proposed work, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.

Research involving the use of animals

Does your proposed research involve the use of vertebrate animals or other organisms covered by the Animals Scientific Procedures Act?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

If you are proposing research that requires using animals, download and complete the Research involving the use of animals template (DOCX, 52.5KB), which contains all the questions relating to research using vertebrate animals or other Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 regulated organisms.

Save it as a PDF. The Funding Service will provide document upload details when you apply.

If this does not apply to your proposed work, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.

Research involving human participation

Word limit: 700

Will the project involve the use of human subjects or their personal information?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

If you are proposing research that requires the involvement of human subjects, provide the name of any required approving body and whether approval is already in place.

Justify the number and the diversity of the participants involved, as well as any procedures.

Provide details of any areas of substantial or moderate severity of impact.

If this does not apply to your proposed work, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.

Research involving human tissues or biological samples

Word limit: 700

Does your proposed research involve the use of human tissues, or biological samples?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

If you are proposing work that involves human tissues or biological samples, provide the name of any required approving body and whether approval is already in place.

Justify the use of human tissue or biological samples specifying the nature and quantity of the material to be used and its source.

If this does not apply to your proposed work, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.

Data management and sharing

Word limit: 700

How will you manage and share data collected or acquired through the proposed research?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Provide a data management plan that clearly details how you will comply with UKRI’s published data sharing policy, which includes detailed guidance notes.

Resources and cost justification

Word limit: 1,500

What will you need to deliver your proposed work and how much will it cost?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Justify the application’s more costly resources, in particular:

• project staff
• significant travel for field work or collaboration (but not regular travel between collaborating organisations or to conferences)
• any equipment that will cost more than £25,000
• any consumables beyond typical requirements, or that are required in exceptional quantities
• all facilities and infrastructure costs
• all resources that have been costed as ‘Exceptions’ You can request costs associated with reasonable adjustments where they increase as a direct result of working on the project. For further information see Disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders. Where a funding limit is imposed on the opportunity, requested costs for reasonable adjustments may exceed the maximum funding amount.

Assessors are not looking for detailed costs or a line-by-line breakdown of all project resources. Overall, they want you to demonstrate how the resources you anticipate needing for your proposed work:

• are comprehensive, appropriate, and justified
• represent the optimal use of resources to achieve the intended outcomes
• maximise potential outcomes and impacts

How we will assess your application

Assessment process

We will assess your application using the following process but reserve the right to modify the assessment process as needed. Assessment of the full-stage applications will be by a panel-only process. If required, we may convene a strategic panel to undertake an initial triage of proposals. A proportion of applications will then progress to expert panel assessment. Additional external reviews will not be sought.

Panel

The panel will assess applications against the published criteria for this funding opportunity. The quality of your application will be ranked alongside other applications after which the panel will make a funding recommendation.

BBSRC and Defra may take a portfolio approach to ensure a breadth of proposals are supported where the quality of applications allows.

BBSRC and Defra will make the final funding decision.

For more information on how we prioritise applications for funding please visit How we make decisions.

Timescale

We aim to complete the assessment process within six months of receiving your application.

Feedback

There will be no applicant response opportunity for this assessment process. If your application was discussed by a panel, summary feedback from the panel will be provided to applicants after the assessment process is complete.

Principles of assessment

We support the San Francisco declaration on research assessment and recognise the relationship between research assessment and research integrity.

Find out about the UKRI principles of assessment and decision making.

Using generative artificial intelligence (AI) in expert review

Reviewers and panellists are not permitted to use generative AI tools to develop their assessment, including to correct language, spelling, grammar and formatting. Using these tools can potentially compromise the confidentiality of the ideas that applicants have entrusted to UKRI to safeguard.

For more detail see our policy on the use of generative AI.

Sharing data with co-funders

BBSRC as part of UKRI, will need to share the application and any personal information that it contains with Defra so that they can participate in the assessment process. See more information on how Defra uses personal information.

We reserve the right to modify the assessment process as needed.

Assessment areas

The assessment areas we will use are:

• vision
• approach
• wider benefits
• project partners and letters (or emails) of support
• applicant and team capability to deliver
• ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI)
• data management and sharing
• resources and cost justification Find details of assessment questions and criteria under the ‘Application questions’ heading in the ‘How to apply’ section.

Contact details

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If you have a question and the answers aren’t provided on this page

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Contact details

For help and advice on costings and writing your application please contact your research office in the first instance, allowing sufficient time for your organisation’s submission process.

For questions related to this specific funding opportunity please contact dietandhealth@bbsrc.ukri.org

Any queries regarding the system or the submission of applications through the Funding Service should be directed to the helpdesk.

Email: support@funding-service.ukri.org
Phone: 01793 547490

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For further information on submitting an application read How applicants use the Funding Service.

Additional info

Background

This competition is aligned to the previous investment in the Diet & Health Open Innovation Research Club programme (OIRC). Membership is free and you can join on the individual hub websites which can be found on About the Diet & Health OIRC.

The government has set out a new food strategy aiming to deliver a healthier, more affordable, sustainable and resilient 21st century UK food system that grows the economy, feeds the nation, nourishes people, and protects the environment and climate, now and in the future.

To support the ’Good Food Cycle’, your project will focus on developments to create novel food and drink products or innovations that can deliver healthy, sustainable, and resilient diets supporting a productive UK population and a thriving food and drink sector. Your project should focus on collaborative research and academics must have at least one Industry partner included on the project, financial contributions (cash or in-kind) from the industry partner will be required.

Research and innovation impact

Impact can be defined as the long-term intended or unintended effect research and innovation has on society, economy and the environment; to individuals, organisations, and the wider global population.

Webinar for potential applicants

We held a webinar on 12 February 2026 (11:00am to midday UK time). This provided more information about the funding opportunity and a chance for applicants to ask questions.

Watch the webinar recording.

FAQ document (PDF, 234KB)

Research disruption due to COVID-19

We recognise that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused major interruptions and disruptions across our communities. We are committed to ensuring that individual applicants and their wider team, including partners and networks, are not penalised for any disruption to their career, such as:

• breaks and delays
• disruptive working patterns and conditions
• the loss of ongoing work
• role changes that may have been caused by the pandemic Reviewers and panel members will be advised to consider the unequal impacts that COVID-19 related disruption might have had on the capability to deliver and career development of those individuals included in the application. They will be asked to consider the capability of the applicant and their wider team to deliver the research they are proposing.

Where disruptions have occurred, you can highlight this within your application if you wish, but there is no requirement to detail the specific circumstances that caused the disruption.

Supporting documents

Equality Impact Assessment (DOCX, 25MB)

Timeline

26 March 2026 9:00am Full stage opening date 27 May 2026 4:00pm Full stage closing date Summer 2026 Full stage panel meeting October 2026 Projects start from November 2029 Projects must end by

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Guidance on good research

• Good research resource hub

Related content

• UKRI policies and standards
• BBSRC policies and standards
• OIRC current opportunities
• NAPIC Collaborative Programme Funding (CPF) II

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