• Author

    ADAS

  • Date

    4 June, 2026

  • Categories

    Agriculture

The ADOPT funding, part of the Farming Innovation Programme funded by Defra and delivered by Innovate UK, is opening Round 8 with a significant increase in project size, giving farmers the opportunity to deliver bigger, more collaborative on-farm trials

For ADOPT Full grants, the project cost limit has been increased from £100k to £200k. This change responds to feedback from the farming community. A larger project budget means a single application can bring in more farming partners, so more farmers can benefit from the funding. It creates scope for greater impact from each project — more ambitious trials, tested across more farms — and makes it easier to engage research organisations, technology providers and the wider industry where that strengthens the work.

While the funding ceiling has doubled, the core of ADOPT remains unchanged. Projects must still be farmer-led and focused on practical trials that can deliver tangible outcomes for farm businesses. If you have applied to previous ADOPT rounds, don’t worry, you can apply again with a new idea or a new context.

Building on strong foundations

The opening of Round 8 builds on a growing portfolio of over 150 ADOPT-funded projects already delivering results on the ground.

These include farmer-led trials exploring:

Across the programme, these projects demonstrate how practical experimentation, grounded in real farm conditions, is helping to tackle key challenges such as input costs, soil health, resilience and productivity.

See ADOPT in action this summer

Farmers and industry stakeholders will have several opportunities to engage with ADOPT in person over the coming months.

The AHDB and ADOPT Field Tested Roadshow has already visited farms across the country, showcasing live trials and giving farmers the chance to hear directly from those running ADOPT projects. One final event remains:

  • 24 June – Strategic Cereal Farm North, York
    Focused on soils, nutrients and crop productivity, with live demonstrations and opportunities to meet project teams. Register your place here.

ADOPT will also be present at major industry events:

  • Cereals 2026 (10–11 June, Oxfordshire)
    Including a panel discussion in the Young Farmer’s tent on on-farm innovation featuring farmers involved in ADOPT projects.
  • Groundswell 2026 (1–2 July, Hertfordshire)
    With a strong programme of activity, including farmer-led discussions, project showcases, and opportunities to meet the ADOPT team at The Study and The Snug.

These events offer a chance to see ADOPT-funded innovation in practice, connect with other farmers, and explore ideas for future projects.

Start shaping your idea

With larger project funding available and strong support in place, Round 8 presents a major opportunity for farmers ready to test new ideas.

The ADOPT Support Hub, led by ADAS in collaboration with UK Agri-Tech Centre and Soil Association is free to use and open to anyone considering an application.

Find out more or speak to the team:
farmpep.net/adopt | adoptsupport@adas.co.uk | 0800 987 8006