The Forestry Commission’s Tree Production Innovation Fund (TPIF) supports innovative projects that help overcome barriers to domestic tree production and strengthen the resilience, productivity, and sustainability of tree production practices in England.
TPIF is a competitive grant programme that supports projects aimed at enhancing or facilitating domestic tree production methods. The programme contributes to the UK government’s target of increasing tree and woodland cover in England to 16.5% by 2050. Through this funding opportunity, applicants are encouraged to develop and adopt new technologies, innovative systems, and improved working practices that strengthen the long-term sustainability of the forestry sector.
The deadline for applications is 11:55pm on Wednesday 29th July 2026.
The Fund focuses on improving the productivity and resilience of tree production practices, improving the quality of seeds and trees produced, ensuring genetically diverse material from a wide range of species and provenances is available, and creating resilient treescapes that can withstand climate change, pests, and diseases.
The initiative is designed to complement the Tree Production Capital Grant and the Seed Sourcing Grant, both of which support the expansion and diversification of England’s tree production sector.
Applications are welcomed from a broad range of eligible organisations, including private sector nurseries, seed suppliers, research institutes, universities, colleges, horticultural and agricultural growers, technology suppliers, consortia, and new entrants to the sector. Public bodies may also apply if they partner with private sector third-party organisations. The lead applicant must be a UK-based business, organisation, or sole trader.
Projects can span up to three financial years and must have a minimum cost of £20,000 and a maximum cost of £200,000 per financial year. All funded activities and project outputs must be completed by Tuesday 27th March 2029. Applicants may submit multiple applications provided each proposal is for a unique project.
To qualify for funding, projects must demonstrate innovation, address one or more of the TPIF challenges, and remain environmentally sustainable. Proposed activities must be relevant to tree production in England and connected to species with forestry potential. The programme supports only pre-commercial activities, and projects must not pose biosecurity risks or begin before funding approval is granted.
Eligible costs under the fund include personnel expenses and direct project overheads, equipment depreciation costs for project use, contractual research, consultancy services, materials and supplies, and travel and subsistence costs directly related to project activities. All expenditure must be specifically connected to the approved TPIF project.
For further information, including details about how to apply, please visit the GOV.UK website.
