The new farmer-focused program ADOPT, which is being administered by Innovate UK with funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), is scheduled to debut in April 2025.

As a component of Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme, ADOPT (Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies) has conducted 21 competitions for 270 projects since 2021, allocating GBP139m in Defra financing and drawing GBP51m in private investment.

The ADOPT fund offers farmer-led, smaller-scale innovation grants to farmers, growers, and farm companies so they can test new technologies and farming practices on their property through a specialized consortium that operates the Support Hub.

“ADOPT will empower farmers to trial, test, and adopt cutting-edge ideas, tools, and techniques that boost productivity, sustainability, and resilience,” according to a recent announcement.

The responsibility of overseeing the ADOPT Support Hub, a centralized support system created to assist farmers, growers, and foresters throughout England in accessing ADOPT, has been given to ADAS in collaboration with the UK Agri-Tech Center and the Soil Association.

The Support Hub will provide expert assistance to help farmers navigate the process, connect with facilitators, and share knowledge that benefits the wider sector.

ADOPT is intended to give farmers immediate access to innovative and useful on-farm experimentation. It welcomes a wide range of innovations, such as environmentally friendly agricultural methods and workable answers to pressing issues on the farm.

“This is designed to complement the larger technological advances being driven under other innovation initiatives,” the UK Agri-Tech Center representatives recently mentioned.

The fund prioritizes accessibility and real-world impact, ensuring that farmers of all types, from small family operations to larger enterprises, can easily engage, test, and scale solutions that work for them.

The initiative aims to empower farmers, cutting through complexity and making innovation work at the field level—driving profitable, resilient, and sustainable agriculture across England.

Simplifying Access to Innovation for Farmers

“ADAS is delighted to be selected to lead this project. We will bring our farm-focused expertise, supported by knowledge of practical innovation, to help farmers improve their businesses. Our own staff and consortium members already ‘think farmer’ and look forward to assisting applicants focus on what matters to them,” ADAS MD, Jackie Evans, mentioned.

“We know that farmers are busy, and applying for funding can often feel overwhelming. The ADOPT Support Hub is here to provide straightforward, step-by-step support—whether it’s developing trial ideas, applying for funding, or sharing knowledge with the wider community, including farming groups and stakeholders,” Phil Bicknell, CEO at the UK Agri-Tech Center, added.

The Support Hub will make it easier for farmers to: apply for ADOPT funding with simple, user-friendly guidance; access expert support to help set up and manage on-farm trials successfully; find the right people—connecting with facilitators, advisors, and peers for collaboration; share insights and results to benefit the wider farming community and ensure continuous improvement.

Designed for Farmers, Led by Farmers

What makes ADOPT different is its farmer-first approach and the Support Hub ensures that support is practical, accessible, and tailored to the realities of farming—helping all types of farmers, from small-scale operations to larger enterprises, engage with innovation in a way that works for them.

“Farming knowledge is best shared firsthand. That’s why our focus is on peer-to-peer learning, real-world case studies, and easy-to-use resources that make applying for and running trials as simple as possible. Our role in the project builds on our 13 years of supporting farmer-led research and knowledge sharing, and our relationship with ADAS and the UK Agri-Tech Centre to help farmers design and deliver projects that improve their businesses,” Rebecca Swinn, Innovative Farmers Manager, concluded.

Last year, a consortium of project collaborators including Produce Solutions, UK Agri-Tech Centre, Harper Adams University, and VCS Potatoes, alongside several progressive potato growers, spearheaded efforts to refine and optimize trap cropping practices, to unlock the full potential of DeCyst solanaceous trap crops, specially tailored to outmaneuver Potato Cyst Nematodes (PCN) infestations.