Future Farming Investment Scheme

The Scottish Government have launched their new capital grant scheme – the Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS).  The scheme opened for applications on 14th July and will close again on 22nd August.  

This scheme differs from previous capital grant schemes in that it offers upfront funding covering up to 100% of the capital investment cost to ensure all agricultural businesses have access to capital support to help improve environmental performance and overall business efficiency.  

A key aspect to note when considering applying for FFIS grant funding is that the planned capital investment/s must deliver at least one of the schemes four objectives and expected outcomes: 

• To improve business efficiency and sustainability. 

• To protect, restore or enhance the environment. 

• To reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

• To mitigate the effect of climate change. 

While the scheme has a £14 million budget, please note that this scheme is competitive and that you may not receive the funding you apply for, and that you cannot use the grant to purchase capital items linked to contracting activities. 

The maximum level of support businesses can apply for will be based on the total area of eligible agricultural land (excluding common grazing shares) that was declared on their SAF (Single Application Form) on 15 May this year. 

Area of farm/croft	Maximum Grant that can be applied for
< 30 ha	£5,000
> 30.01 ha – 150 ha	£10,000
> 150 ha	£20,000

A great opportunity for smaller businesses and new entrants 

There is no minimum amount of support that you can apply for and you can apply for multiple items. However, another differing element of this scheme is that the Scottish Government intend to prioritise the way in which they allocate grant funding in order to deliver the best outcomes for the scheme. Priority will be given to: 

• New entrants. 

• Young farmers. 

• Small agricultural businesses. 

• Tenants. 

• Island-based agricultural businesses. 

• Organically registered and certified businesses. 

• Grant requests for investments in electronic identification (EID) equipment and investments in water efficiency. 

Eligible & non-eligible items 

To make the process of knowing what you can and can’t apply for, the Scottish Government FFIS team have complied an online A-Z list of items that have already been approved for grant aid.  To access this list, please click on this link: A-Z eligible and not eligible capital items.  The list will be revised on a Monday and Wednesday each week with new items being shown in red text.  If an item you wish to purchase is not listed and you are unsure of its eligibility, please send the details to FFIS@gov.scot 

Examples of items relating to biodiversity and the environment that can be applied for through the grant scheme include: 

• Bracken control equipment 

• Tree and hedge planting 

• Pond creation 

• Agroforestry with flexibility to do it a lower density to what is currently covered under Forestry Grant Scheme 

• Herb and legume mixes (pollinators mixes) 

• Virtual fence – grazing collars 

The application form is entirely online and applicants will need their Rural Payments and Services login details to be able to make a claim. The claim system can be accessed from the guidance page linked at the bottom of this e-mail. The application form is expected to take 15 minutes to complete.  

Offers of grant letters will not go out before 27th September and once approved, farmers and crofters will have nine months to purchase and/or carry out the investment/s and to provide evidence of carrying out their investment to SGRPID. In addition to which, capital investments must be retained for a period of at least six years from the date the Offer of Grant was made.  

For further guidance of who is eligible, how to apply online and the evidence you will be required to provide if you are awarded a grant, please click on this link: Future Farm Investment Scheme full guidance.