The Digital Dairy Chain project is launching its £3m ‘Research, collaboration and growth funding competition’ next month.

The competition offers up to £3m in support for innovation projects with a focus on improving productivity and sustainability in advanced, high value dairy production.

The project part of the UK Research and Innovation-funded Digital Dairy Chain work which has an over all budget of £21m to transform the dairy sector in Cumbria, South and West Scotland. The five-year project is headed up by former NFUS dairy policy manager, Stuart Martin, who started at the beginning of 2023.

The project partners will focus on aligning industry needs which will include developing digital connectivity, stimulating research and new product development, supporting business growth and attracting talent and skills.

Mr Martin commented: “The funding competition is just one of four tranches of funding and business support that the Digital Dairy Chain is offering to anyone involved in the dairy sector. There is also innovation vouchers, the milk round technology accelerator programme and maker spaces for new product development.

“Alongside these funding and support schemes we are also running several education and engagement projects which will address the urgent skills shortage the industry faces as well as showcasing the range of opportunities for young people in modern dairying.