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ADOPT funding: Turning innovative farm ideas into reality

England
Policy & Views
Defra
Funding

Got an idea to improve your farm? Find out how Defra’s ADOPT scheme can help you test new technologies and approaches, with funding and support.

ADOPT, short for the Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies Fund, is a Defra grant scheme designed to help farmers, growers, and foresters in England test new technologies and on-farm approaches on their own land.

The aim is to give farmers the backing they need to try out innovative ways of tackling challenges such as climate change, while sharing what works with other farmers across the country. It’s all about practical, on-the-ground knowledge sharing and bringing researchers closer to real-world farming experience.

Our hopes for ADOPT funding 

At the NFFN, we believe the ADOPT programme offers a real opportunity to encourage the uptake of innovative nature-friendly practices and techniques on farms. By funding projects and ideas developed and championed by farmers, the programme can help ensure that new approaches are tested in real farming conditions.

We know how important peer-to-peer learning is, and how valuable it can be to test ideas at farm and field scale. We believe these projects can benefit not only farmers’ businesses and their resilience, but also help deliver wider environmental goals, including nature recovery, biodiversity and services such as natural flood management and carbon sequestration.

How do you know if you are eligible to apply?

To be eligible to lead an application you must:

  • Be an active farming, growing or forestry business of any size based in England

  • Be able to demonstrate that you are an established commercial business

  • Have an eligible UK bank account

  • Collaborate with at least one other farming, growing or forestry business of any size, based in the UK

Please note: You can only lead on one application, but you can be a collaborator on up to two other grant applications. 

You can also visit the ADOPT Grant information pages for a full breakdown of the eligibility criteria. 

What type of projects can you apply for?

Projects should focus on new or not widely used technologies or on-farm techniques, and must link to one of three key themes:

  1. Productivity 

  2. Resilience

  3. Sustainability and progression towards net zero farming

Defra has deliberately kept these themes broad, giving farmers the freedom to get creative with project ideas and partnerships. Examples of approved projects include using biological controls for pests, testing how cover crops can reduce carbon footprints, and integrating agroforestry into livestock systems.  

You don’t have to tackle the application on your own. In fact, there’s funding specifically available to help you work with a project facilitator. They can support you throughout the proces, acting as a project manager from start to finish. This might include helping you complete the application, sharing expert advice to develop your idea and keeping the project running smoothly and on track. 

To find out more about how facilitators work, head over to the ADOPT Support Hub or take a look through the Project Facilitators Directory.

How much funding can you apply for?

There are two types of grant provided through ADOPT: the Facilitator Support Grant and the Full ADOPT Grant.

The Facilitator Support Grant provides £2,500 towards the cost of an external Project Facilitator to support with a Full ADOPT Grant application.

The Full ADOPT Grant provides funding for project costs, with grants of between £50,000 and £200,000 available, depending on the project size and scope.

When can you apply?

ADOPT funding is available through a series of application rounds, giving farmers, growers and foresters regular opportunities to put forward project ideas. When one round closes, the next is often due to open shortly afterwards.

Deadlines vary between the Full ADOPT Grant and the Facilitator Support Grant, so it's worth checking the ADOPT funding pages for the latest application dates and guidance.

How can you find out more?

If you have an idea for a project and are interested in applying, you can find out more about the ADOPT funding by signing up to the Defra Farming Blog. You’ll receive updates about future application windows, deadlines and information webinars.

You can also read our case study about how NFFN farmers Sam and Claire Beaumont secured ADOPT funding through collaboration.

 

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