Up to US$150,000 is now available for Climate-Smart Agriculture Pilot Projects under AGRInnova II🌍

Agribusinesses working to solve real-world agricultural challenges through technology now have a significant funding opportunity to act on. The AGRInnova II Open Call is offering up to US$150,000 per pilot project for partnerships that bring together agribusinesses and technology providers to test and scale innovative climate-smart agriculture solutions in the field.

Furthermore, selected projects will be implemented during the 2026 to 2027 agricultural season, making this one of the most immediately actionable funding opportunities currently open for organisations ready to move from concept to implementation quickly.

The priority review deadline is 30 June 2026, and the final application deadline is 31 July 2026. Consequently, organisations that are serious about securing funding should submit as early as possible to maximise their chances of selection.

🔗 Official Source: AGRInnova II Open Call — Apply Here

What Is AGRInnova II?

AGRInnova II is a structured open call initiative designed to bridge the gap between agricultural challenges and technology-driven solutions. Rather than funding research in isolation, the programme specifically supports practical partnerships between agribusinesses that have identified a clear operational challenge and technology providers that have a proven solution ready to be tested and validated at scale.

This approach consequently ensures that funded projects are grounded in real agricultural realities, not theoretical frameworks, and that every dollar invested moves directly toward measurable impact on productivity, resilience, and sustainability in the field.

What Does the Programme Fund?

AGRInnova II supports pilot projects that address genuine agricultural challenges through climate-smart innovation. The programme is particularly focused on projects that can demonstrate scalability, meaning that successful pilots have a clear pathway toward broader adoption and impact beyond the initial implementation period.

Funded projects are implemented during the 2026 to 2027 agricultural season, giving selected partnerships a structured and time-bound framework within which to test, document, and validate their innovations under real field conditions.

The programme supports solutions across a wide range of climate-smart agriculture themes, including improving crop productivity under climate stress, building soil health and water use efficiency, strengthening post-harvest resilience, and integrating digital and precision agriculture tools into existing farming operations.

🔗 Related Reading: 7 Active Agri Funding Windows African Farmers Must Know in 2026 — AAN

Who Should Apply?

The AGRInnova II Open Call is designed for two distinct but complementary types of applicants who come together as partners in a single project proposal.

Agribusinesses are eligible if they have a clearly defined agricultural challenge they are seeking to address through a technology-enabled solution. The challenge should be specific, operationally relevant, and significant enough to justify a structured pilot intervention during the upcoming agricultural season.

Technology providers are eligible if they have a proven solution that is ready for field-level testing and validation in partnership with an agribusiness. The solution should be demonstrably relevant to climate-smart agriculture and capable of generating measurable results within the pilot period.

Together, eligible partnerships should be organisations that are ready to implement and test innovations in the field immediately, and that are committed to improving productivity, resilience, and sustainability through practical, evidence-based climate-smart approaches.

Key Funding Details

🔹 Funding amount: Up to US$150,000 per pilot project
🔹 Type of funding: Project grant for pilot implementation
🔹 Project period: 2026 to 2027 agricultural season
🔹 Priority review deadline: 30 June 2026
🔹 Final application deadline: 31 July 2026
🔹 Focus: Climate-smart agriculture innovation through agribusiness and technology provider partnerships

Why This Opportunity Matters

Climate change is fundamentally reshaping the conditions under which African and global agribusinesses operate. Rainfall patterns are increasingly unpredictable, temperature extremes are becoming more frequent, and the pressure on agricultural systems to produce more with less is intensifying year by year.

Initiatives like AGRInnova II are therefore critically important because they do not simply fund innovation in the abstract. They fund the practical, field-level testing that turns promising agricultural technologies into proven, scalable solutions that farmers and agribusinesses can adopt with confidence.

Moreover, by structuring funding around agribusiness and technology provider partnerships, AGRInnova II ensures that funded innovations are commercially grounded and operationally relevant from the very beginning, dramatically increasing the likelihood that successful pilots translate into lasting agricultural impact.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through the AGRInnova II official platform. Partnerships should come prepared with a clearly defined challenge, a proven technology solution, and a realistic implementation plan for the 2026 to 2027 agricultural season. Submit before the priority review deadline of 30 June 2026 to receive early consideration.

🔗 Apply Now: AGRInnova II Open Call
🔗 Further Reading: Top 10 Agribusiness Funding Opportunities in 2026 — AAN
🔗 Supporting Resource: Climate-Smart Agriculture Overview — FAO

Disclaimer

Africa Agricultural Network (AAN) is committed to informing and empowering agricultural communities across Africa as per our mandate. This article is intended for informational purposes only. Readers are advised to verify all details directly with the AGRInnova II programme team before making any decisions.