Tree Production Innovation Fund (currently closed)
Source: gov.uk (2025-10-02)

A closed grant that provided funding to develop innovative methods to overcome barriers to domestic tree production.

The Tree Production Innovation Fund (TPIF) is currently closed for new applications.

If you are a TPIF agreement holder, find out how to make a claim (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tree-production-innovation-fund-how-to-make-a-claim/how-to-make-a-claim-tree-production-innovation-fund).

If you have any questions, or need to withdraw your application, email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

The TPIF supported projects that will enhance or facilitate tree production methods used in the UK. You could apply for up to £200,000 per financial year to develop new technologies or techniques that enhance UK tree production methods.

About the fund

The TPIF supports projects that enhance UK tree production methods. Improving tree production will help meet the government’s target of increasing tree and woodland cover to 16.5% by 2050.

The TPIF encourages the development and adoption of new technologies and ways of working that will:
- improve the productivity and resilience of tree production practices
- improve the quality of seeds and trees produced
- ensure genetically diverse material from a wide range of species and provenances is available
- create resilient treescapes that can withstand climate change, pests and diseases
You can apply for proposals spanning up to 3 financial years (to March 2028), but you must clearly define which outputs will be delivered by March 2026.

Funding beyond March 2026 is subject to the next government spending review. If future funding is not secured (for financial years 2026/27 and 2027/28) we will terminate multi-year agreements at the end of 2025/26 by providing at least 1 months’ notice to agreement holders.

Who can apply

The Tree Production Innovation Fund is currently closed for new applications.

We welcome TPIF applications from a wide range of applicants, including:
- private sector nurseries, organisations and 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
- new entrants to the sector
Applicants are encouraged to partner with industry (for example, tree or seed producers) where appropriate. Refer to the directory of forest nurseries (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/forestry-nursery-directory).

Projects previously funded through the TPIF are eligible and encouraged to apply. If you are applying for an extension of a previously funded project, you must provide information on potential routes to market or commercialisation plans in your application.

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

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 TPIF but may be subcontracted 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 3 virtual ‘TPIF knowledge exchange and transfer’ events
- the TPIF challenges have been updated
- multi-year funding (beyond March 2026) can be applied for but is subject to the next government spending review
- applicants must highlight tangible project outputs that will be delivered by March 2026
Project challenges and priorities

Your proposal must be innovative. This can include technological, product and process innovation.

Projects can be valued at up to £200,000 per financial year and must address one or more of the following challenges:

Challenge 1: Efficient use of forest reproductive material (FRM)

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

Seed quality, encompassing the purity, viability and health of a batch, can be highly variable for trees. Even viable seed can be very hard to germinate and successfully establish, especially for the many tree species which 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 priming, which can improve synchronicity and speed of germination. Seed coatings and pelleting can change seed shape and size (which can facilitate use of machinery in seed processing and nurseries) and deliver beneficial compounds from nutrients to 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

Increasing the variety of 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 presents challenges. Some species that are not commonly available in tree nurseries at this time may present germination or propagation difficulties, which require the adoption of new techniques and approaches.

We encourage proposals that show potential to overcome these barriers, particularly for broadleaves and alternative conifer species.

Growing an increasingly diverse range of species, each with multiple provenances, presents a challenge to nurseries 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 is vital for the resilience and diversification of supply. Innovation in establishment or management of seed orchards and seed stands might include development or application of tree breeding approaches to deliver certain traits to market, or innovation in the identification, development, planting, growth, management or harvesting of seed stands and orchards.

We also recognise that seed collecting and processing are specialist activities that require networks of knowledgeable and seasonal labour, and specialist equipment and facilities. We also welcome proposals to innovate the supply chain for seed, potentially through collaborative approaches or systems change.

Challenge 3: Development and adoption of automation and other technologies to enhance productivity

Labour supply issues can limit tree nursery productivity. Automation, for example of singulation or grading, are used in other growing sectors, but have been a challenge to introduce into the tree production sector where nurseries deal with smaller volumes and a wider diversity of species.

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

The sector has recently seen some shift from field grown to cell grown plants. We are 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 are equally environmentally unsustainable, whether it be in the context of greenhouse gas emissions, impact on biodiversity or other considerations. Solutions to this challenge are vital to maintain the productivity of the sector.

We welcome proposals that use all kinds of innovation to solve this challenge. These might include technology-based solutions such as laser technology as well as nature-based solutions. Projects might explore the efficacy, potential damage to non-target organisms and the wider environment, and cost 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 means to enhance the efficiency of production by developing new ways to reduce or manage inputs, such as water, peat or single use plastics.

Applicants looking to develop alternatives to inputs should clearly outline in their application how their project is specifically tailored for domestic tree production and consider the scalability of raw materials used.

Challenge 6: Weather

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

These changes and extremes in weather pose a risk to tree production, which can be difficult for growers to manage and mitigate. To address this challenge, we welcome projects exploring solutions to ensure tree production is resilient to changes in climate. For example, by developing tools that reduce the susceptibility of growers to drought and extreme weather events.

Challenge 7: Biosecurity

Biosecurity and implementation of the Plant Healthy Certification Scheme underpin the production of high-quality tree planting 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 or encourage wider uptake of best practice.

Challenge 8: Tree establishment

We are interested to 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 diseases. We welcome proposals that aim to enhance the resilience of newly planted trees and saplings. For example, projects may seek to enhance our understanding of the role of soil health, nutrition or mycorrhiza in tree growth and establishment.

Funding available

Up to £1.5 million in capital grant funding is available through TPIF for 2025/26.

You can apply for proposals spanning up to 3 financial years (up to March 2028), but you must clearly define which outputs will be delivered by March 2026.

Proposals, whether single or multi-year, must have a minimum total cost of £20,000. Projects may not exceed £200,000 in any given financial year.

Eligible costs

Eligible costs include:

Personnel costs

You can claim for researchers and supporting staff employed on the project. Personnel rates can include overheads that will be incurred because of undertaking the project.

When calculating overheads, bear in mind that TPIF is a competitive process. Your project and associated costs will be assessed against applications from other organisations.

Equipment for the period of the project

Where equipment is not used for its full life, only the depreciation costs corresponding to the life of the project is eligible.

Research, consultancy, patents etc.

You can claim for contractual research, knowledge and patents bought or licensed from outside sources at arm’s-length conditions. This can include costs of consultancy and equivalent services used exclusively for the project.

Travel and subsistence

You can only claim travel and subsistence specifically for TPIF related grant activities.

Travel and subsistence must be carried out in the most economical and sustainable way possible.

Materials

You can claim for materials, supplies and similar products used specifically for the project.

Ineligible costs

We cannot fund:
- overheads not attributed to staff employed on the project
- costs incurred outside of the funding period
- depreciation costs for equipment purchased outside of the funding period
- subscription or license fees extending beyond the funding period
- costs involved in preparing your application
- costs currently being met by another grant scheme
Project eligibility

To be eligible for funding, your project must:
- contribute to enhancing quantity, quality and/or diversity of trees produced for planting in England by meeting one of our challenges (#challenges)
- be environmentally sustainable
- not pose a risk to biosecurity
- be led by a UK based business, sole trader or organisation
- have intended outcomes applicable to tree production in England (but not necessarily exclusively so)
- be relevant to species with forestry potential (but not necessarily exclusively so)
- not have started before funding is approved
- be limited to pre-commercial activity
All eligibility criteria are fully described in the TPIF application form.

See previous projects funded by TPIF

TPIF has supported a range of projects, many of which completed in March 2025. Read about projects which were previously awarded funding:
- TPIF: 2023 successful projects (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tree-production-innovation-fund-successful-projects-2023)
- TPIF: 2022 successful projects (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tree-production-innovation-fund-successful-projects-2022/tree-production-innovation-fund-successful-projects-2022)
- Tree and seed production case studies (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tree-and-seed-production-case-studies)
- TPIF: 2022 successful applicants (blog) (https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/2022/12/01/tree-production-innovation-fund-2022-successful-applicants/)
How to apply

The Tree Production Innovation Fund is currently closed for new applications.

You need to email us a completed:
- application form
- finance spreadsheet
- project timeline
- evidence of financial viability (when applicable)
Go to the TPIF application form page (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tree-production-innovation-fund-application-form) where you’ll find these forms and further guidance on how to complete the application form.

Watch the ‘TPIF how to apply’ webinar recording for detailed information on how to complete and submit your application documents:

Watch the video: TPIF how to apply (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-v-QVnW-NXk)

There is no limit to the number of bids an applicant can submit, provided each application is for a discrete and unique project.

If you need to amend your application before the published deadline or withdraw your application at any time, email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

This is a competitive grant so it’s possible that not all eligible applications will be funded.

Grant agreements are likely to be issued in August/September 2025. You should consider this when writing your application. Any activities and outputs due to complete by March 2026 should be achievable within the resulting timeframe.

Application form

In your application form, you need to provide details about your organisation and your proposed project. You must also provide written responses to 8 assessed questions, which will be scored by the TPIF evaluation panel.

Finance spreadsheet

In your finance spreadsheet, you should itemise project costs and funding applied for. All costs and financial details should be in £ Sterling and should be exclusive of any recoverable VAT.

Project timeline

You must submit a project timeline with your application. When preparing this, give sufficient time for setting up the project and preparing reports for each of the relevant deadlines. In some cases, we will not be able to issue a grant agreement until you have responded to panel requests, which can take several weeks. You should add contingency for this scenario.

Evidence of financial viability

If you are a local authority, university or public body, you may need to submit evidence of financial viability with your application. Check how to complete your TPIF application (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tree-production-innovation-fund-application-form) for details.

Assessment process

All eligible applications will be scored by an evaluation panel. Find out more about how applications are assessed (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tree-production-innovation-fund-application-form/how-to-complete-your-tpif-application#assessed).

We will notify you of our TPIF funding decision by Wednesday 21 August 2025.

The evaluation panel will have access to information about the delivery of previous TPIF grant agreements you may have held and may use this to help score your application.

In addition to the 8 scored questions, each application will be scored on overall ‘degree of innovation’, which will be weighted at 10%. If your application scores 0 for any of the scored questions or ‘degree of innovation’ or scores less than 20/40 overall, once the panel scores have been collated, it will be unsuccessful.

If the panel needs more information, we may issue an ‘offer in principle’ and give you 2 weeks to respond. Your response will help us to decide whether to offer you a funding agreement.

If your application is successful, you will be issued with a ‘grant agreement’. You must not begin your project until you have signed your agreement and returned it to the Forestry Commission. Expenditure outside of the funding period will not be eligible to claim back.

Knowledge transfer and exchange

We are hosting a series of knowledge exchange and transfer events to facilitate collaboration and promote sharing of findings between TPIF projects and to the wider sector.

If your application is successful, a representative from your organisation will be required to attend and present at the following events:
- TPIF project introductions and networking: 2pm to 3.30pm on Wednesday 15 October 2025.
- TPIF knowledge exchange (2026 date and time to be confirmed).
- TPIF knowledge transfer (date and time to be confirmed).
Reporting and payments

Grant holders are required to complete and submit reports throughout the grant funding period. These reports will detail achievements against stated outcomes and outputs, lessons learnt and any need for further development.

The first project report is due on 27 March 2026 (end of year report).

Find out more about how to make a claim and submit reports (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tree-production-innovation-fund-how-to-make-a-claim/how-to-make-a-claim-tree-production-innovation-fund).

Biannual reporting is required in subsequent financial years for projects in receipt of multi-year funding. An end of year claims and reporting deadline of 27 March will apply at the end of each financial year.

Interim reports are due on 7 October in the 2026/27 and 2027/28 financial years.

Multi-year agreements will be subject to an annual performance monitoring review by the Forestry Commission. Where agreement holders are failing to deliver against agreed outputs and objectives, or it becomes clear that avenues of research are no longer worth pursuing, multi-year agreements may be terminated at the discretion of the Forestry Commission.

Funding beyond March 2026 is subject to the next government spending review. If future funding is not secured (for financial years 2026/27 and 2027/28) we will terminate multi-year agreements at the end of 2025/26 by providing at least 1 months’ notice to agreement holders.

We will pay claims in arrears by BACS transfer following receipt of completed claim forms. Payment of the claim will be made within 22 working days of us approving your claim. All claims must be supported by evidence of eligible expenditure (for example, invoices and timesheets) and, where not accompanied by an interim or end of year report, a progress update to demonstrate that works have been carried out as per the grant agreement.

Items should not be paid for by cash and all invoices must be addressed to the grant recipient organisation.

Further information

The Forestry Commission reserves the right to change the deadline for applications or make changes to the ‘invitation to apply’ and the application process at short notice.

The Forestry Commission reserves the right to amend, add to or withdraw all or any part of the funding application process at any time during the process. All changes and updates are recorded on this page, read page updates (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tree-production-innovation-fund#full-publication-update-history). If we make changes to this page after you have applied, we will inform the lead applicant by email for all applications.

Material changes (for example to the closing date or eligibility rules) will also be communicated via the Forestry Commission’s grants and regulations eAlert (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/email-alerts-ealerts-for-grants-and-regulations-customers).

Intellectual property shall remain with the grant recipients, but the scope of the project and a summary of the outcomes and outputs shall be made publicly available via trade publications.

The Forestry Commission is not responsible for any losses, breakages or injuries incurred by the applicant whilst engaged in activities associated with this Innovation Fund.

Neither the Forestry Commission nor its respective advisers, directors, officers, members, partners, employees, other staff or agents:

Makes any representation or warranty (express or implied) as to the accuracy, reasonableness, or completeness of this guidance; or

Accepts any responsibility for the information contained in this guidance or for the fairness, accuracy or completeness of that information nor shall any of them be liable for any loss or damage (other than in respect of fraudulent misrepresentation) arising as a result of reliance on such information or any subsequent communication.

Contact us

If you have questions about the TPIF or the application process, email us at xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

To get the most up to date information on this grant sign up for our eAlert (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/email-alerts-ealerts-for-grants-and-regulations-customers).

Find out how to make a complaint or appeal (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/forestry-commission/about/complaints-procedure).