AGMARDT is accepting expressions of interest (EOIs) for a transitional Agribusiness Innovation Grant (AIG) round, providing early-stage innovation funding for bold food and fibre ideas.
EOIs are open from 2 June to 29 June 2026. This is a single transitional round, run in response to demand while AGMARDT continues to develop its longer-term grants delivery strategy.
Lee-Ann Marsh, general manager, says “This transitional round is about keeping the pipeline of ideas alive while we develop the next chapter for AGMARDT’s open responsive grants. We’re looking for clear thinking on new opportunities or stubborn challenges – ideas where a novel approach could shift the dial for New Zealand agriculture. And we’re keen to explore what AGMARDT can contribute beyond the dollar. Every application this round helps us understand what the sector needs from us next.”
A new first step
AGMARDT is trialling an EOI process for this round. This short first step lets applicants quickly share their idea before committing to a full application. Applicants should expect to spend one to two hours completing an EOI.
EOIs that demonstrate the strongest strategic alignment will be invited to submit a full application in July 2026. Final funding decisions will be made by AGMARDT’s Trustees in September.
What AGMARDT is looking for
AGMARDT is particularly interested in projects that have clear progression pathways and a collaborative focus. The strongest applications will show innovative ideas with a credible market opportunity, and will tackle urgent problems or have transformative potential. This includes projects that:
- have a clear pathway to scale or attract further investment
- involve multiple partners bringing complementary expertise
- show a credible market opportunity or identified demand
- respond to an urgent sector challenge
- have transformative potential and could create a material shift — such as a new product category — rather than an incremental improvement
For this round, AGMARDT will not be funding projects that received previous AGMARDT funding.
Keeping it simple
To keep this round efficient for everyone, AGMARDT will not be open for pre-application conversations about EOI ideas, and will not provide detailed feedback on EOIs or full applications. This approach allows the team to continue its work setting up processes and systems for future grant rounds, including how capability building will be delivered, as this is fundamental to our strategy.
This transitional round is one step in fundamentally changing the way AGMARDT operates its grant rounds, to make them easier and more targeted.
Key dates
- EOIs open: 2 June 2026
- EOIs close: 29 June 2026
- Invitations to apply: July 2026
- Full applications due: four weeks from invitation
- Funding decisions: September 2026
EOIs should be submitted by email to [email protected], using the AGMARDT Expression of Interest template and with reference to the AIG Guidelines.