Tree Production Innovation Fund (currently closed)

About

You thecan Treeapply Productionfor Innovationproposals Fund

TheFunding governmentbeyond setMarch legally2026 bindingis targetssubject to increasethe treenext andgovernment woodlandspending coverreview. toIf 16.5%future offunding totalis landnot areasecured by(for 2050.financial Meetingyears these2026/27 targetsand domestically2027/28) requireswe awill correspondingterminate increasemulti-year inagreements UKat productionthe end of tree2025/26 plantingby material.providing at least 1 months’ notice to agreement holders.

The

Who can apply 

TheWe welcome TPIF isapplications designedfrom toa encouragewide therange developmentof applicants, including: 

• private sector nurseries, organisations, and adoptionseed ofsuppliers 
• public newbodies technologiespartnered with private sector third party organisations 
• research institutes 
• universities and wayscolleges 
• horticultural ofand workingagricultural thatgrowers 
• private willsector enhanceresearch and technology suppliers 
• consortia 
• new entrants to the quantitysector 

Applicants andare qualityencouraged ofto partner with industry (for example, tree plantingor stockseed availableproducers) forwhere plantingappropriate.  inRefer England,to the directory of forest nurseries.

Projects previously funded through the TPIF are eligible and encouraged to ensureapply. geneticallyIf diverseyou materialare fromapplying afor widean rangeextension of speciesa andpreviously provenancesfunded isproject, available.you Thismust willprovide ensureinformation weon canpotential supportroutes theto Englandmarket Treesor Actioncommercialisation Planplans ambitionsin toyour plantapplication. 

The treescapes‘lead thatapplicant’ must be a UK based business, sole trader or organisation.  

Public bodies are resilientrequired to stressespartner includingwith climateprivate changesector andthird pestsparty andorganisations diseases.to be eligible for funding.  

Forestry England and Forest Research are not eligible for grant funding under TPIF but projectsmay can be valuedsubcontracted on behalf of eligible organisations to complete TPIF related work packages. 

Information for previous applicants 

Several changes have been made to the grant for 2025. These include: 

• successful applicants must attend and present at up to £200,0003 pervirtual year‘TPIF knowledge exchange and must addresstransfer’ oneevents  
• the orTPIF morechallenges ofhave been updated  
• multi-year funding (beyond March 2026) can be applied for but is subject to the followingnext 3government spending review 
• applicants must highlight tangible project outputs that will be delivered by March 2026  

Project challenges identifiedand throughpriorities

Your stakeholderproposal engagementmust asbe barriersinnovative. toThis treecan production:include technological, product and process innovation. 

1:

Projects How can webe makevalued betterat useup ofto available£200,000 seedper financial year and vegetativemust address plantingone materialor tomore maximiseof the quantity,following qualitychallenges: 

Challenge and1: diversityEfficient use of treesForest produced?Reproductive Materials (FRM)     

A variety of issues can lead to a low conversion rate of seed and vegetative material to trees for planting. Forest reproductiveReproductive materialsMaterials (FRM) are in limited supply, and itit’s is vital that we maximise the efficient use of the supplies available.available.  

Seed qualityquality, encompassing encompassesthe purity, viability and health of thea batch.batch, Optimisedcan techniquesbe forhighly treevariable seedfor harvesting,trees. processing, screening and storage all have potential to improve quality and biosecurity of seed made available to nurseries.

Even viable seed can be very hard to germinate and successfully establish, especially for the many tree species thatwhich have deeply dormant seed. Optimised techniques for tree seed harvesting, processing, screening, and storage all have potential to improve quality and biosecurity of seed available to nurseries.   

Projects might seek to develop enhanced treatments such as primingpriming, which can enhanceimprove synchronicity and speed of germination. Seed coatings and pelleting can modifychange seed shape and size,size which(which can facilitate use of machinery in seed processing and nurseries,nurseries) and deliver beneficial compounds from nutrients to pesticides.pesticides. Projects might also explore how the seed microbiome can positively and/or negatively affect germination and growth.  

Challenge 2: Ensuring a diverse and resilient supply of FRM and saplings  

EnhancingIncreasing the diversityvariety of tree species and provenances and genetic diversity of our treescapes can improve resilience to pests, disease and the changing climate. However, enhancing the diversity of material available for planting willpresents present specific challenges. Some species that are not commonly available in tree nurseries at presentthis time may present particulargermination germination,or propagation anddifficulties, establishment difficulties which may require the adoption of new techniques and approaches.

We encourage proposals that demonstrateshow potential to facilitateovercome orthese overcomebarriers, barriersparticularly for broadleaves and alternative conifer species.   

Growing an increasingly diverse range of species, each with multiple provenances presents a challenge to broadleafnurseries production.and seed suppliers, as they require management of a large volume of product lines. We welcome proposals seeking to address this through the development of innovative approaches to stock control.   

Development and management of tree seed sources areis vital for the ongoingresilience supplyand diversification of treesupply. seeds. Innovation in developmentestablishment or management of seed orchards and seed stands might include development or application of tree breeding approaches to deliver certain traits to marketmarket, or innovation in the identification, development, planting, growth, management or harvesting of seed stands and orchards.orchards.   

2:

We Howalso canrecognise wethat developseed growingcollecting systems to enhance their efficiency and resilienceprocessing toare change,specialist whilst delivering improved quality and diversity of product?

This challenge can include activities tothat promoterequire biosecurity.

Nurseriesnetworks can face contradictory challenges to enhance quantity of treeknowledgeable plantingand stock,seasonal whilstlabour, alsoand enhancingspecialist qualityequipment and diversity.facilities. ThisWe isalso exacerbatedwelcome byproposals severalto otherinnovate challenges facing the sector.supply Exploringchain alternativefor novelseed, growingpotentially systemsthrough hascollaborative theapproaches potentialor tosystems significantlychange. enhance  

Challenge the3: quantity,Development quality and diversityadoption of treesautomation producedand whilstother bettertechnologies managingto keyenhance inputs.

productivity   

Labour supply issues arecan identifiedlimit by tree nurseriesnursery as limiting to productivity. AutomationAutomation, such as systems for prickingexample outof singulation or gradinggrading, isare evidentused in other growing sectorssectors, but hashave been a challenge to introduce into the tree production sector,sector forwhere example because nurseries deal with smaller volumes and a wider diversity of species.

The developmentdevelopment/adaptation and or adoption of appropriate automation to increase nursery efficiencies and capacity could help to overcome labour uncertainty. In addition, developmentssuch advances would reduce the need for repetitive manual labour and present opportunities for higher quality jobs,jobs for(for exampleexample, running of planting machinery.machinery).   

The sector has recently seen some shift from field-grownfield grown to cell-growncell plantsgrown andplants. furtherWe innovationsare also interested in proposals that could widen uptake or accessibility of these techniques, or develop novel transplanting or planting systems to enhance productivity.   

Challenge 4: Weed control   

In recent years the sector has begun to adapt nursery practices to reduce use of chemical herbicides. The sector faces a considerable challenge to reduce reliance on such products without turning to alternatives that couldare significantlyequally enhanceenvironmentally production.unsustainable, Wewhether it be in the context of greenhouse gas emissions, impact on biodiversity or other considerations. Solutions to this challenge are interestedvital to hearmaintain aboutthe projectsproductivity withof the sector.  

We welcome proposals that exploreuse sustainableall alternativeskinds toof peatinnovation forto cellsolve grownthis treechallenge. production.These Applicantsmight developinginclude peat-freetechnology-based solutions aresuch encouragedas laser technology as well as nature-based solutions. Projects might explore the efficacy, potential damage to considernon-target organisms and the scalabilitywider ofenvironment, rawand materialscost used.effectiveness of different approaches.   

Challenge 5: Sustainability  

We are interested in proposals that aim to increase the economic or environmental sustainability of tree production practices. Projects might explore other means to enhance the efficiency of production,production forby example developing new ways to reduce or manage inputsinputs, such as water, peat or reducesingle theuse riskplastics.

Applicants oflooking climaticto impacts.develop Analternatives enhancedto inputs should clearly outline in their application ofhow understandingtheir ofproject soilis health,specifically nutritiontailored orfor domestic tree production and consider the rolescalability of mycorrhizaraw mightmaterials alsoused.   

Challenge improve6: growthWeather  

The UK is experiencing changes to its climate, which are expected to intensify in future years. This includes warmer temperatures and establishmentmore rates.extreme weather events, such as flooding and drought.

AsThese withchanges seed,and extremes in weather pose a moverisk to enhancetree theproduction, diversitywhich ofcan speciesbe anddifficult provenancesfor producedgrowers willto presentmanage someand specificmitigate. challengesTo andaddress this challenge, we welcome projects whichexploring seeksolutions to overcomeensure thesetree wouldproduction beis welcome.resilient Ensuringto thechanges traceabilityin ofclimate, differentfor provenancesexample, ofby stockdeveloping outsidetools that reduce the FRMsusceptibility systemof isgrowers ato specificdrought challengeand ofextreme interest.weather events.    

Challenge 7: Biosecurity   

Biosecurity and theimplementation use of bestthe practicePlant standardsHealthy Certification Scheme underpin the production of high-quality tree planting stock.stock.  Plant Healthy certification will increasingly be a requirement of planting stock used in government-funded tree planting schemes. 

Projects might explore the use of novel technologies or processes that help growers to achieve biosecurity standards andor encourage wider uptake of best practice.   

Challenge 8: Tree establishment  

YouWe mightare alsointerested exploreto hear from applicants looking to develop innovative approaches that improve establishment and survival rates of nursery stock at the point of planting in the wider environment.

To reach maturity, trees in both forestry and urban contexts are required to withstand pressures including climatic stresses, pests and disease.

We welcome proposals aimedthat aim to enhance the resilience of newly planted trees and saplings. For example, projects mightmay exploreseek sustainable alternatives to largeenhance pineour weevilunderstanding control that increase survival rates of newly planted stock.

3: How can innovative environmentally sustainable weed control solutions be used to reduce reliance on herbicides?

In recent years the sectorrole has begun to adapt nursery practices to reduce use of chemicalsoil herbicides.health, Thenutrition sectoror facesmycorrhiza a considerable challenge to reduce reliance on such products without turning to alternatives which are equally environmentally unsustainable, whether it be in thetree contextgrowth ofand greenhouseestablishment. gas  

Funding emissions,available 

Up impact on biodiversity or other considerations. Solutions to this£1.5 challengemillion are vital in ordercapital togrant maintainfunding theis productivityavailable ofthrough theTPIF sector.for 2025/26. 

ProposalsYou thatcan useapply allfor kindsproposals ofspanning innovationup to solve3 thisfinancial challengeyears are(up welcome. These include technology-based solutions such as laser technology as well as nature-based solutions. Projects might explore the efficacy, potential damage to non-targetMarch organisms,2028), andbut costyou effectivenessmust ofclearly differentdefine approacheswhich asoutputs wellwill asbe innovativedelivered solutions

Whatby fundingMarch is available

Proposals, whether single or multi-year, must have a minimum total cost of £20K£20,000. to be eligible for funding under the TPIF. Projects may benot valuedexceed at£200,000 up to £200K in any given financial year. year. 

Eligible costs that maycan be claimed include:include: 

• personnel costs relatedfor toresearchers researchers, and other supporting staff toemployed on the extentproject: employedpersonnel onrates can include overheads that directly impact and support the project but cannot be identified as a direct cost 
• costs of equipment for the period of the project: where such equipment is not used for theirits full lifelife, only the depreciation costs corresponding to the life of the project shallis be eligibleeligible 
• costs of contractual research, knowledge and patents bought or licensed from outside sources at arm’s-length conditions, as well as costs of consultancy and equivalent services used exclusively for the projectproject 
• operating expenses, including costs of materials, supplies and similar products,products incurredused directlyspecifically asfor a result of the projectproject 
• travel and subsistence specifically for for TPIF related related grant activities, carried out in the most economically and sustainable way possiblepossible 

TheWe followingcannot expenditure is ineligible:fund: 

• overhead costs orthat overheadswill suchnot asdirectly rent,impact and utilitiessupport apportioned to staff directly or indirectly employed on the projectproject  
• costs incurred outside of the projectfunding delivery windowperiod 
• costsdepreciation involved in preparing your application
• costs currentlyfor beingequipment metpurchased byoutside another grant scheme

Am I eligible?

The TPIF is open to a wide range of applicants from the privatefunding sector, and we would welcome applications from consortia and new entrants to the sector.

The following groups are identified as likely potential applicants to the fund:

• private sector nurseries, organisations, and seed suppliersperiod 
• publicsubscription bodiesor partneredlicense withfees privateextending sectorbeyond thirdthe partyfunding organisationsperiod 
• researchcosts institutes
• universitiesinvolved andin colleges
• horticulturalpreparing andyour agricultural growersapplication 
• privatecosts sectorcurrently researchbeing andmet technologyby suppliersanother grant scheme 

Public bodies are required to partner with private sector third party organisations to be eligible for funding. Forestry England and Forest Research are not eligible for grant funding under the TPIF but may be subcontracted on behalf of eligible organisations to complete TPIF related work packages.

IsProject my project eligible?eligibility 

Projects can run for up to two financial years, ending by 27 March 2025. Applicants submitting proposals spanning multiple financial years should state this on the application form and clearly outline the activities, milestones and outputs that will be delivered by the end of each financial year.

To be eligible for funding:funding, your project must: 

• the proposal must demonstrate how the project will contribute to enhancing quantity, quality and/or diversity of trees produced for planting in England by meeting one of theour challenges above 
• thebe leadenvironmentally partnersustainable  
• not inpose thea workrisk to biosecurity  
• be fundedled (i.e.by the lead applicant) must be a UK based business, sole trader or organisationorganisation 
• thehave intended outcomes should be applicable to tree production in England (but not necessarily exclusively so).so) 
• the project proposal shall be relevant to species with forestry potential (but not necessarily exclusively so)so) 
• thenot workhave tostarted bebefore fundedfunding mustis not have commencedapproved 
• the project must be limited to pre-commercial activityactivity 

All eligibility criteria are fully described in the the TPIF application application form.form. 

CurrentSee previous projects funded by TPIF 

The TPIF ishas supportingsupported a range of projectsprojects, duemany toof completewhich bycompleted in March 2025. ReadRead  about the projects onwhich thewere Treepreviously Productionawarded Innovationfunding: 

•  TPIF: Fund: 2023 successful applicants pageprojects.

  You 

•  TPIF: can also read about the 2022 successful applicantsprojects  
• Tree onand theseed 2022production projectcase liststudies
• and on our blog TreeTPIF: Production Innovation Fund: 2022 successful applicants (blog).
   

How do I apply?

Aour single2 stageonline application process is followed.

The Forestry Commission hosted a “‘TPIF –knowledge Howtransfer’ toevents Apply”showcasing webinaroutputs infrom Marchpreviously 2023.funded Duringprojects thison session,20 applicantsMay had the opportunity to ask questions about the TPIF application and evaluation22 processes. If you missed the webinar you can watch it again TPIF: May.