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Agro-Energy Fund is a grant from the South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries that funds farmers in South Africa to acquire alternative and renewable energy assets for their farming operations. The R1.
21 billion blended finance programme from DALRRD and the Land Bank was launched in 2023 in response to load shedding, and supports investment in solar panels, biogas, biomass, and other renewable energy systems to protect food production and reduce energy costs. Eligible applicants are farmers in South Africa seeking to transition to cleaner, more reliable energy sources.
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Agro Energy Fund 2026 - Solar & Alternative Energy Grants for Farmers | grantZA Home Agriculture & Land Agro Energy Fund Agro Energy Fund Solar & Alternative Energy for Every Farmer The Agro Energy Fund (AEF) is a R1. 21 billion blended finance programme from DALRRD and the Land Bank that funds the acquisition of alternative energy assets for farming operations.
Launched in August 2023 in response to the load shedding crisis, the AEF helps farmers invest in solar panels, biogas, biomass, and other renewable energy systems to protect food production and reduce energy costs. Unlike the main Blended Finance Scheme (which targets black producers only), the AEF is open to all South African citizens operating in agriculture -- from smallholder farmers to mega commercial producers.
The fund combines a DALRRD grant (non-repayable) with a Land Bank loan, and will remain open until the allocated funds are completely drawn down. R500M DALRRD grant + R710M Land Bank loan. Available until funds are fully drawn down.
Apply directly through Land Bank. Grant ratios and caps differ by farm scale. Smallholders receive the highest grant proportion.
The fund targets energy-intensive agricultural activities and the infrastructure to power them sustainably. Photovoltaic systems, battery storage, inverters, and installation for on-farm renewable energy generation. Energy-efficient pumps and solar-powered irrigation to reduce reliance on grid electricity for water delivery.
On-farm cold rooms, refrigeration units, and pack house cooling powered by alternative energy to protect perishable produce. Energy systems for poultry houses, dairy parlours, piggeries, greenhouses, and other intensive agricultural operations. Biogas digesters, biomass boilers, and waste-to-energy systems for on-farm renewable heat and electricity.
High-Energy Commodities Targeted The AEF prioritises farming sectors with the highest energy consumption. The commodity list is not exhaustive and will be guided by Land Bank's internal assessment.
🥛 Dairy 🐔 Poultry 🐖 Pork 🍇 Deciduous Fruit 🍊 Citrus 🥦 Vegetables 🌾 Grains 🌻 Oilseeds 🌿 Flowers/Nurseries 🐄 Feedlots Nedbank Avo Solar Partnership Land Bank has partnered with Nedbank through Avo Solar to provide access to renewable energy systems for farmers and agribusinesses. This partnership extends the AEF's reach by combining Land Bank blended finance with Nedbank's agribusiness services.
Contact your Land Bank relationship manager or email agriculture@nedbank. co. za for details.
Obtain a feasibility or energy expert report outlining your farm's energy requirements and infrastructure design. Draft a plan showing the impact of energy funding on operations, with 5-year cash flow projections. Register on the Land Bank e-Services portal at landbank.
co. za and log an AEF enquiry. Your dedicated Land Bank relationship manager will guide you through the application and documents.
Submit all documents on time. The application follows Land Bank's lending policies and approval process. Click to check off as you prepare your application.
Valid South African ID (18+ years) Proof of land ownership or lease (aligned to loan term) Business plan with 5-year cash flow projections Feasibility or energy expert report 12-month electricity/energy consumption history Audited financial statements or management accounts Quotation(s) for energy equipment and installation Proof of agricultural business operation One Application Per Entity. No Debt Settlements.
Only one application per entity or applicant will be considered. The AEF cannot be used for debt takeovers, debt settlements, or refinancing of existing facilities. The fund is strictly for acquiring new alternative energy assets.
Ensure all supporting documents are submitted on time -- incomplete paperwork will delay the process. Is the AEF only for black farmers? No. Unlike the main Blended Finance Scheme, the Agro Energy Fund is open to all South African citizens operating in agriculture, regardless of race.
It supports smallholder, medium-scale, large-scale, and mega commercial producers. The goal is sector-wide energy resilience. How long will the fund be available?
The fund remains open until all allocated funds are completely drawn down . There is no fixed closing date. However, applications are processed on a first-come-first-served basis, so early application is recommended.
Once the R500M grant and R710M loan allocations are exhausted, the fund closes. Can I use existing solar equipment as own contribution? The AEF is specifically for acquiring new alternative energy assets .
Existing equipment cannot be refinanced or used as part of the application. Co-funding by other development finance institutions, equity participants, or private sector grants for the same project is allowed if it forms part of the total project proposed. Do I need an energy expert report?
Yes. A feasibility or energy expert report is mandatory. It must outline your farm's energy requirements, significant energy uses, and the proposed infrastructure design.
For existing operations, you also need to provide 12 months of electricity/energy consumption history (municipality bill or equivalent). New operations need to demonstrate projected energy requirements. What is the interest rate on the loan portion?
Loans are priced at market-related rates per Land Bank's lending policies. The grant portion significantly reduces your effective borrowing cost. For smallholders receiving 70% grant and 30% loan, the majority of the funding is non-repayable.
Land Bank also offers its Green Finance product alongside the AEF. Can part-time farmers apply? No. Part-time producers are excluded, even if they have a full-time farm manager in place or intend to appoint one.
The applicant must be operating an agricultural business at the primary or secondary level and must demonstrate the capacity to utilise the energy requirements applied for. Application portal, brochures, and energy fund information.
Register, enquire, and apply Official fund brochure via AFASA Department of Agriculture Companion programme on grantZA Step-by-Step Guide (Food For Mzansi) Farmer-friendly walkthrough Nedbank Avo Solar Partnership Renewable energy for agriculture grantZA is an independent informational guide and is not affiliated with DALRRD, Land Bank, or Nedbank. Apply directly through the Land Bank at landbank. co.
za .
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Farmers in South Africa. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates Varies Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is rolling deadlines or periodic funding windows. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
Yes — AI tools like Granted can help research funders, draft proposal sections, and check compliance. However, always review and customize AI-generated content to reflect your organization's unique strengths and the specific requirements of the solicitation.
Review timelines vary by funder. Federal agencies typically take 3-6 months from submission to award notification. Foundation grants may be faster, often 1-3 months. Check the program's timeline in the official solicitation for specific dates.
Many federal programs offer multi-year funding or allow competitive renewals. Check the official solicitation for continuation and renewal policies. Non-competing continuation applications are common for multi-year awards.
Ilima/Letsema Programme is a grant from the South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries that funds smallholder and subsistence farmers in South Africa with production inputs, tools, infrastructure, and technical support to improve food security and agricultural productivity. The programme specifically targets historically disadvantaged individuals and communities, providing assistance to establish or expand smallholder farming operations. Eligible applicants are smallholder farmers in South Africa, with priority given to women, youth, and people in rural areas.
Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) is sponsored by South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) is a grant from the South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries that funds emerging farmers in South Africa with post-settlement agricultural support to improve viability and sustainability of farming operat…
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The Department of Defense FY2026 Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP) provides funding for U.S. universities to acquire research equipment and instrumentation in areas important to national defense, including AI and machine learning hardware. The program is administered jointly by the Army Research Office (ARO), Office of Naval Research (ONR), and Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), with approximately $34 million available and 95 awards anticipated. DURIP funds the acquisition of specialized computing hardware for AI/ML research (GPU clusters, TPUs, neuromorphic processors), robotics and autonomous systems testbeds, sensor arrays and data collection systems for machine learning training, high-performance computing infrastructure for defense-relevant AI research, and laboratory equipment for human-AI interaction studies. The program specifically supports equipment that enhances research-related education in DoD-priority disciplines. While general-purpose computing is not eligible, computing equipment directly supporting DoD-relevant AI research programs qualifies. No cost sharing is required.