Fighting the climate crisis through our largest ever partnership with Co-op 

1 February 2023

Update 3 March 2023: This Fund has now closed. Sign up to our blog to find out first when new funding is available

Grants of up to £200,000 are available for organisations reducing reliance on soy and fertilisers in farming. 

Round two of our £3.5m Carbon Innovation Fund (CIF) partnership with Co-op opens for applications today, Wednesday 1 February. 

Grants of £75,000 to £200,000 are available to organisations working to reduce reliance on soy-based animal or fish feed and/or synthetic fertilisers. 

This work will build upon our plan to create more sustainable communities, as part of our new strategy ‘Building communities of the future together’.   

Funding follows on from £1.4m of grant-giving in round one that saw our partnership support organisations working to decrease carbon emissions from the food, farming and aquaculture industries. 

The Carbon Innovation Fund is the largest partnership of its kind between ourselves and Co-op. It is funded by Co-op donations from the sale of compostable carrier bags in the UK, as well as the Foundation’s own funds.    

Find out what organisations are eligible.

Between five and 10 grants are expected to be awarded, helping us to deliver on Co-op’s vision of ‘Co-operating for a Fairer World’. 

Nick Crofts, CEO of the Co-op Foundation, said: 

“The Carbon Innovation Fund is our largest ever partnership with Co-op and it truly embodies our shared commitment of co-operating for a fairer world. This second round of funding will help build more sustainable communities by reducing the environmental impact of the soy industry and synthetic fertilisers. We want to work closely with our partners, listen and learn and I’d encourage all those eligible for this funding to apply today.” 

Adele Balmforth, Director of Propositions at Co-op, said:  

“Collaboration is key to unlocking the carbon reductions that are needed to protect our planet, which is why the Carbon Innovation Fund is so integral in our ambitious pathway to Net Zero. The second round of investment calls for innovations to deliver a sustainable food and farming industry for the future, with areas of focus that directly impact our supply chains- something that will not only support Co-op but the wider food industry.” 

Read more about available funding and apply here. Sign up to the Co-op Foundation blog to hear first when new funding is announced.