Farmers can benefit from £20.6m innovation fund

The Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies Fund (ADOPT) provides collaborative farmer-led, innovation grants to farmers and farm businesses trialling new technology and practices on their farm. 

Defra explained that the fund, which will commit up to £20.6 million of funding in 2025/26, supports the introduction of innovative technologies aimed at improving productivity, resilience, and sustainability. 

The first step ahead of the ADOPT Fund opening is the publication of guidance, which provides the information they need to access funding and trial innovative solutions on their farms. 

Speeding up development and use of new technologies

A spokesperson for Defra said: “We’re pleased to say this guidance is now available for:  

• The full ADOPT grant for on-farm trial and demonstration projects to improve adoption of new ideas or solutions in the agricultural sector. These projects must have total costs of between £50,000 and £100,000. 
• The ADOPT facilitator support grant of £2,500 for a farmer, grower or forester based in England to engage an external project facilitator to support with submissions into the Full ADOPT Grant competitions. 

“From 28 April 2025, you will be able to apply for both. They will be delivered through our partner, Innovate UK.” 

Defra said that the fund aims to speed up the development and use of new technologies, allowing more farmers to implement them faster.  

The funding is designed to support long-term adoption and impact, rather than short-term trials or experiments.   

The projects funded through ADOPT will focus on finding solutions that address on-farm challenges, enhance productivity, and contribute to environmental outcomes. The fund also seeks to improve resilience in the face of global food security challenges, the government confirmed. 

Projects must focus on improving one or more of the following areas:  

• Productivity and profitability  
• Resilience to challenges such as climate change and market volatility  
• Progress towards reducing emissions from farming 

In addition to the main funding, support grants of £2,500 are available to help applicants engage an external project facilitator to assist with the application process, which we expand on below.   

Get support

Projects may include, for example: 

• Robotic harvesting: This technology can complement manual labour by improving efficiency and helping growers make the most of their workforce. Robotic harvesting systems can take on repetitive or time-sensitive tasks, allowing skilled workers to focus on more complex or higher-value activities. By integrating robotics, farmers can optimise harvest timings, reduce waste and crop damage and produce better quality crops
• Early detection of lameness in dairy herds. These systems use sensors and data analysis to identify early signs of lameness in cattle before it becomes a major issue. This allows farmers to treat problems early, reducing the need for more expensive veterinary care and minimising the impact on herd productivity. Preventing lameness can also improve the overall health of the herd and reduce the risk of culling animals prematurely
• A focus on renewable energy and the circular economy. For example, producing water-soluble fertiliser from biogas digestate by turning anaerobic digestion (AD) waste into fertiliser for crops

Defra added that a support hub has been set up to help farmers and growers access the ADOPT Fund and make the most of the insights generated by successful projects.   

The support hub features project ideas, ongoing initiatives and other resources.  

Led by ADAS, with support from the UK Agri-Tech Centre and the Soil Association, the hub will connect farmers with potential project partners and provide additional support, including access to Project Facilitators.   

Project facilitators could be involved in project management, reporting, and ensuring overall success, adapting to project needs and budget.  

Farmers can apply to be included in the directory of potential project facilitators, through Innovate UK Business Connect.  

In May, a further two competitions will open under the Farming Innovation Programme (FIP), bringing the combined commitment for FIP thematic competitions and the ADOPT Fund to £45.6 million in the 2025/26 financial year, Defra concluded.

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