The Perry Foundation is the successor body to the Henry Ford Institute of Agricultural Engineering that was founded in 1937 to further develop mechanised farming in the UK. The Henry Ford Institute was based at Boreham House, near Chelmsford and in 1970 the charity was renamed the Perry Foundation in recognition of the important role played by the first Lord Perry of Stock Harvard in the development of the Ford Motor and Fordson tractor businesses in Europe.

The collaboration between Henry Ford and Lord Perry can be traced back to the First World War.

In 1914, it was estimated that one third of all land was needed for the production of feed for farm horses. With the additional need to feed horses that were part of the war effort, a Ministry of Munitions (MoM) committee on tractor development was established led by Percival Perry, later the first Lord Perry, . The aim was to secure home food production in the face of the loss of horses to the Western Front and the sinking of allied shipping transporting food products.

Henry Ford, who had starting producing tractors alongside his Model T car, fully co operated with this venture to the point where he allowed components and blueprints of his new model, the Fordson F, to be displayed in London. This was endorsed by the MoM and an order for 500 machines (later increased to 1000) was made.

This transformed farm mechanisation, often with newly qualified women driving the tractors. The Fordson F continued in production through to the late 1940's and formed the basis for all subsequent tractor design. Preserved models can be seen working in Vintage classes at ploughing matches.