ADOPT Funding for on-farm innovation

The government has committed £20.6 million in 2025/26 to support innovative technologies that improve productivity, resilience and sustainability. This funding is part of Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme, delivered with Innovate UK.

Funding is allocated via the ADOPT Fund, which is a rolling competition – as one round closes, the next opens immediately. Confirmed dates are listed at the bottom of this page.

ADOPT funds on‑farm trials and experiments that test new or under‑used ideas or solutions. Projects must show clear benefits for English farmers, growers or foresters, addressing major on‑farm or immediate post‑farmgate challenges.

Types of available grants

ADOPT has two different types of grants available; both can be applied for sequentially or concurrently.

Facilitator Support Grant: a small grant to access professional help from an industry expert to support you in making an application for the Full ADOPT Grant. Designed to support applicants who are less familiar with Innovate UK systems. *You do not need to apply for a Support Grant to apply for a Full Grant.

The full ADOPT grant for on-farm trial and demonstration projects. Project costs must be £50,000 – £100,000.

Innovate UK Business Connect will host the ADOPT Project Facilitator database, listing individuals who can help farmers develop ideas and support ADOPT applications. Farmers, growers and foresters can request this list directly from Innovate UK Business Connect.

Innovate UK have put together a helpful FAQ guide.

What will be funded

Projects must significantly improve agriculture, horticulture, and/or agro-forestry in one or more of the following areas:

• productivity
• resilience
• sustainability and progression towards net zero farming

Projects must:

• Test or trial new or not widely used ideas or solutions.
• Demonstrate clear benefits to other English farmers, growers or foresters
• Fit the definition of industrial research (= planned research or investigation to gain new knowledge and skills for developing or improving products, processes or services. It can include the creation of component parts or prototypes in a laboratory or simulated environment, particularly for generic technology validation.

To lead a project you must:

• be an active farming, growing or forestry business based in England.
• Follow open innovation principles ie share results with others
• Have a Project Facilitator who is listed in the ADOPT Innovate UK Business Connect database.

Projects that will not be funded

• do not benefit farmers, growers or foresters in England
• are based on equine systems ​
• involve wild caught fisheries
• are for the production of crops or plants for medicinal or pharmaceutical use
• are based on funded crop variety plot trials
• are based on existing demonstration trials or projects
• include aquaculture, such as algae and seaweed, for human consumption
• fermentation systems for bacteria, yeast or fungi​ or cultivated meat

Funding details and How to Apply

Your project’s total costs must be between £50,000 and £100,000. At least 50% of the total grant amount must be allocated to farmers, growers or foresters based in England. Projects will be funded at 50-80% depending on business type and size.

The ADOPT programme will run continuous competitions across the financial year. Rounds are expected to continue on a rolling basis until 2027.

The ADOPT Support Hub, run by ADAS, provides support for applicants and funded projects/

Full eligibility, scope/criteria, facilitator support info, and application form are available oat the Innovation Funding Service.

Confirmed future dates

Facilitator Support Grant

• Round 6: 15th January 2026 – 25th February 2026

Full ADOPT Grant

• Round 6: 5 February 2026 – 8 April 2026