New tool makes complex funding applications for nature recovery accessible to all landowners

Glafos, a climate tech startup, announces the launch of the beta version of Grant, an AI-powered conversational assistant designed to simplify the complex process of understanding and applying for all tree-related grants in England, such as woodland, hedgerow, and agroforestry.

 The UK government committed over £500 million for woodland creation between 2020 and 2025 as part of its Nature for Climate Fund, establishing a specific goal to plant 7,500 hectares annually in England.  However, actual tree planting rates have fallen significantly short of these targets. Between 2021 and 2024, England faced a cumulative shortfall of approximately 13,000 hectares. The shortfall persists despite the availability of hundreds of national, regional and local schemes, some offering as much as £13,000 per hectare for woodland creation.  

 A key factor in this underperformance is the complexity of the grant landscape. Information about available grants and the eligibility criteria, requirements, and application processes is scattered across a labyrinth of websites, with no centralised source of information. The Environmental Audit Committee  2023 report outlined the bureaucratic and time-consuming nature of the application and approval processes, along with processing delays, as major factors limiting uptake.

 "Grant is that single point of access, cutting through the noise and complexity of the funding landscape to provide clear, actionable information," Triin Uustalu, the CEO and co-founder of Glafos, highlights the value of the new tool. "Without specialist knowledge, deciphering grant documentation and requirements, often packed with jargon and bureaucratic language, is nearly impossible. With Grant, all landowners, whether they're managing one acre or hundreds, have access to user-friendly advice."

 In the UK, there are 220,000 agricultural landowners and significantly more recreational landowners who could benefit from these grants.  While Grant is not a replacement for professional advice, it serves as a crucial first step in making information more accessible.

 During onboarding, Grant gathers relevant location-based information and creates a personalised dashboard with tailored grant options, suggested prompts, materials, and user-friendly guidance. The tool can also suggest ways to combine different schemes, like woodland creation with carbon sequestration incentives, maximising both environmental and financial benefits.

 Grant's Large Language Model (LLM) was trained on publicly available information and guidelines from UK agencies such as the Forestry Commission, Defra (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs), and Natural England. The model is updated daily to ensure accuracy and alignment with the latest guidelines. 

 Currently, Grant can provide information on all major tree-related funding programs in England and plans to expand coverage to the rest of the UK in the coming months.  Premium features for professional landowners are slated for a November release and include financial planning and modelling capabilities.

 Grant's freemium beta version is accessible through the Glafos website to ensure wide accessibility during the testing phase. A paid membership for advanced features and more comprehensive support is available at £32 per month.