BBSRC and Defra Launch £3 Million Collaborative Programme to Accelerate Food Innovation and Improve Health Outcomes

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(IN BRIEF) BBSRC and Defra have launched a £3 million Diet and Health Collaborative Research and Development programme to drive food innovation and improve health outcomes in the UK. The jointly funded initiative aims to translate leading bioscience research into real-world solutions by strengthening collaboration between academia and industry. Focusing on nutrition, food processing, sustainability and supply chain resilience, the programme supports the Good Food Cycle and builds on previous UKRI investments to deliver healthier, more sustainable and high-quality food for consumers.

(PRESS RELEASE) SWINDON, 29-Jan-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) have announced a joint £3 million investment in a new Diet and Health Collaborative Research and Development programme aimed at accelerating food innovation and improving public health outcomes across the UK.

Co-designed and jointly funded by BBSRC and Defra, the programme is intended to strengthen the UK’s position as a global leader in food innovation by translating world-class bioscience into practical, real-world solutions. A central focus of the initiative is fostering closer collaboration between academic researchers and industry partners to speed up the development of healthier, more sustainable and high-quality food products.

The new investment aligns bioscience research with Defra’s policy priorities and supports delivery of the Good Food Cycle, an integrated approach that links human health, environmental sustainability, supply chain resilience and economic growth. By combining scientific innovation with policy-led objectives, the programme aims to deliver tangible benefits for consumers while supporting a thriving UK food sector.

Building on existing foundations, the programme complements earlier UK Research and Innovation commitments in diet and health, including the £15 million Diet and Health Open Innovation Research Club. Together, these initiatives are helping unlock the scientific and industrial capabilities needed to address long-term challenges and opportunities across the food system.

Through this latest programme, BBSRC and Defra will support research and development projects that improve the nutritional quality of food, deepen understanding of how food processing and product composition influence health, and promote circular economy approaches to reduce food loss and waste. Funded projects must address at least one of the programme’s priority areas, including nutrition for populations at higher risk of malnutrition, the health impacts of food processing and additives, and innovations that deliver better environmental outcomes.

Projects may explore a wide range of themes such as biofortification, food reformulation, sustainable processing technologies, consumer behaviour, affordability and accessibility of nutritious food, and strengthening the resilience of the UK food supply chain. Applicants will also be expected to demonstrate how their proposals contribute to the Good Food Cycle by supporting healthier populations, environmental improvements and economic resilience.

The funding opportunity is now open via the UKRI Funding Finder, with applicants required to submit a notification of intent before progressing to a full application.

Media Contacts:

Email: press@ukri.org
Phone: 01793 298 902

SOURCE: UKRI