Tree Production Innovation Fund (currently closed) Grant

About this grant

The Tree Production Innovation Fund (TPIF) is a competitive grant run by the Forestry Commission that supports projects enhancing or facilitating domestic tree production methods in England. It encourages development and adoption of new technologies and ways of working that improve the productivity and resilience of tree production, improve the quality of seeds and trees produced, ensure genetically diverse material from a wide range of species and provenances is available, and create resilient treescapes able to withstand climate change, pests and diseases. The fund is designed to complement the Tree Production Capital Grant and the Seed Sourcing Grant. The page states that TPIF is currently closed for new applications, with applications for the most recent round closing on 29 July 2026 and outcomes expected on 16 September 2026. Projects must be innovative, address one or more TPIF challenges, be environmentally sustainable, have outcomes applicable to tree production in England, be relevant to species with forestry potential, be limited to pre-commercial activity, not pose a biosecurity risk, and not have started before funding is approved. Proposals can span up to three financial years, with a minimum cost of £20,000 and maximum of £200,000 per financial year, and all work must be completed by 27 March 2029. Eligible costs include personnel costs with direct overheads, equipment (depreciated to the project period where relevant), contractual research, knowledge and patents at arm's length, materials and supplies, and travel and subsistence. Costs incurred outside the funding period, application preparation costs and costs met by other grant schemes are not eligible. Payments are made in arrears via claims, with up to four claims per financial year and a claims deadline of 27 March. Multi-year funding is subject to annual review, and agreements may be terminated with at least one month's notice.

Eligibility

The lead applicant must be a UK-based business, sole trader or organisation. Eligible applicants include private sector nurseries, seed suppliers, public bodies partnered with private sector third-party organisations, research institutes, universities and colleges, horticultural and agricultural growers, private sector research and technology suppliers, consortia and new entrants to the sector. Public bodies must partner with private sector third parties to be eligible. Previously funded TPIF projects are eligible and encouraged to apply. Forestry England and Forest Research cannot receive grant funding but may be subcontracted by eligible organisations. There is no limit on the number of bids per applicant provided each is for a unique project.

How it's scored

All eligible applications are scored by an evaluation panel against other applications. Detailed assessment information is provided in the TPIF application form guidance, which the page references without specifying weightings. Applicants are told that costs, including overhead rates, will be assessed competitively.

Key requirements

• ✓Focus on innovative methods to overcome barriers to domestic tree production
• ✓Projects must advance tree production capacity or efficiency
• ✓Applicants should demonstrate feasibility and potential impact on UK forestry sector

Funder contact

The notice names a programme contact you can speak to before applying.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Forestry Commission offer?

Tree Production Innovation Fund (currently closed) offers $25K – $250K.

Who can apply for Tree Production Innovation Fund (currently closed)?

Eligibility covers organisations in GB; startup, sme, large-company, nonprofit, research-institution, university. See the eligibility criteria above for the full conditions.

Relevant sectors

About this sector

Forestry funding supports afforestation, reforestation, sustainable forest management and avoided deforestation. Money flows from climate finance, nature programmes, results-based payments and corporate buyers of forest carbon. Calls typically require land tenure clarity, community engagement and a credible plan to monitor tree survival over time.