A limited number of grants of between £3 million and £5 million over 5 - 7 years are available to partnerships of not-for-profit organisations for projects that strengthen the UK’s food systems and reduce food insecurity for people and communities.
This is a new grant programme aimed at supporting ways of producing enough healthy, affordable food without harming the planet by providing grants for partnership projects that:
- Work with nature to create resilient, sustainable and equitable food systems (the Lottery calls this ‘agroecology’), and
- Address the root cause of long-term problems, not just the symptoms (the Lottery calls this ‘systems change’).
Grants of up to £2.5 million over 3 years are available. The programme will fund up to 10 projects in 2026. Most projects will receive between £3 million and £5 million, and run for between 5 and 7 years.
Project proposals must demonstrate that they will work towards systems change in the way that:
- Community organisations grow and produce food – using agroecological methods.
- Food gets distributed – aiming for equitable access to healthy, affordable food for all, and
- Offers people and communities different food options – especially those experiencing poverty, disadvantage or discrimination.
Applicants will be expected to meet the following criteria:
- Work in a partnership (see list of eligible organisations in ‘Who can apply’ above).
- Make a lasting impact on climate change, the environment and nature.
- Significantly increase access to healthy, affordable food – especially for those experiencing poverty, disadvantage or discrimination.
- Have firm plans to measure the impact of your work
- Have firm plans to tell the story of your project to inspire others, and
- Show how you’ll meaningfully involve communities and organisations representing communities in your project.
The National Lottery Community Fund has scheduled a webinar for between 1pm and 2:15pm on Tuesday 17 February 2026 for those interested in applying to the programme. Registration can be made at this link.
There is currently no application deadline for this programme. For further information about the support available to partnerships and how to apply, please visit the Lottery’s Climate Action Fund – Food Systems webpages.