UK Environment Secretary Michael Gove has launched a new scheme to provide grants to improve the processing of milk, meat and fruit in the country.

Under the Countryside Productivity Scheme, £40m will be provided to farmers and food processors to invest in new farm equipment and machinery.

The grants will allow livestock, dairy, arable and horticultural farmers to invest in new technology such as robotics to improve farm productivity.

The funding will support the acquisition of robotic milking machines and green technology to reduce cost or enhance product quality.

Gove said: “Farmers truly are the backbone of our rural economy and, as the original friends of the earth, we want to support them to grow more, sell more and export more great British produce - all while doing good for our environment.

"The grants will allow livestock, dairy, arable and horticultural farmers to invest in new technology such as robotics to improve farm productivity."

“This new funding is a wonderful opportunity for our farmers and food processors to invest in the technology they need to boost productivity, competition and, of course, sustainability as a key factor in future proofing our world-leading food and farming industry.”

The scheme forms part of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) and provides funding for water resource management and reservoirs, improving forestry productivity, adding value to Agri-food and developing farm productivity.

Phase one of the scheme provided £6m in funding for advancing forestry productivity and £14m for water resource management.