Get a Share of £4.5M for On‑Farm Trials: Full ADOPT Grant Round Five (Grant for Farming, Growing and Forestry Businesses)

If you run a farm, grower business, or forestry enterprise in England and you have a practical idea that could help other producers adopt a new technique, tool, or system — this is the competition you want to know about. Innovate UK is offering a pot of up to £4.5 million in total for on‑farm trial and demonstration projects that show how innovations can move from proof‑of‑concept to the real world where neighbours and supply chain partners can see and adopt them.

This is not research for research’s sake. ADOPT funds are about showing that something actually works on a working farm, under real weather, pests, business pressures and messy human decisions. If your proposal can prove adoption pathways, show measurable benefits (economic or environmental), and recruit other farmers to try or observe the approach, you have a shot. The deadline is 11:00 on 15 January 2026 — but start preparing now.

At a Glance

Why this opportunity matters (and when to bother applying)

Money for on‑farm demonstration is rare and valuable. Most development funding pays for prototypes, lab testing or modelling. ADOPT pays to put those ideas on the ground where real variables matter: soil type, labour availability, supply chain constraints, unpredictable weather and the peculiarities of neighbours. The result is credibility. When a fellow farmer sees a practice increase net margin while saving time or inputs, adoption follows much faster than an academic paper ever will.

If your innovation already has positive signals — pilot data, a working prototype, or small‑scale trials — and the missing piece is convincing wider industry to change behaviour, this is the right competition. The grant supports the kind of applied work that unlocks commercial uptake: demonstration strips, farmer workshops, on‑farm monitoring and clear business case development.

This opportunity also rewards projects that plan for scale. Funders will want to know not only that something works on your field but how it can be replicated across regions, crops and business sizes. That often means designing simple decision tools, cost comparisons, and training materials alongside the demonstration itself.

What This Opportunity Offers

This competition offers direct funding to run on‑farm trials and demonstrations designed to increase adoption of new practices, technologies or approaches. The money can be used for things like establishing demonstration plots, purchasing or renting equipment necessary to run the trial, paying for temporary labour or technical help to run complex measurements, and running outreach events for other producers.

Beyond cash, ADOPT projects give you a platform. Successful projects typically get visibility through Innovate UK networks, press outreach, and industry partner channels. That kind of credibility — a public demonstration endorsed by a respected funder — helps with future investment, commercialisation and securing buyers for new products or services.

Expect funders to require structured monitoring and evaluation. You’ll need to capture baseline metrics, ongoing measurements (yields, input costs, labour hours, GHG emissions if relevant), and post‑trial analysis that translates outcomes into the language producers understand: cost per hectare saved, return on investment, or reduction in pesticide applications.

Finally, the competition prioritises collaboration. You’re not selling a one‑farm vanity project. The point is to demonstrate a replicable pathway for other businesses to adopt the solution, and that typically means partnering with other farms, advisors, supply chain actors or technology providers.

Who Should Apply

This competition is tailored for active farming, growing or forestry businesses based in England — that includes sole traders and partnerships as long as you can evidence the business is established. The lead applicant must be England‑based, but collaborators can be elsewhere in the UK. Importantly, the call is for collaborations only: the lead must be working with at least one other farming business in the UK.

Good applicants have a few things in common. First, they are pragmatists: they want to test how an innovation performs under commercial constraints. Second, they are connectors: they can recruit neighbouring farms or supply chain partners to observe and take up the approach. Third, they keep good records: they can collect the monitoring data Innovate UK will expect.

Examples of projects that typically fit:

• A dairy herd trialling a new robotic feeding system that promises labour savings and reduced feed waste, with two additional dairy farms committed to replicate the setup.
• A grower network running demonstration beds for a novel soil amendment that aims to reduce irrigation needs in arable rotations, with clear, measured water use and yield data.
• A forestry business trialling a different tree spacing or species mix designed to increase resilience to pests, with an extension programme to nearby woodlands.

If you’re a consultant, university or supplier, you can be a partner — but you cannot lead unless you meet the lead eligibility (active farm/grower/forestry business based in England).

Insider Tips for a Winning Application

1. Start with the adoption story, not the science. Funders want to know who will change practice because of your project. Describe the chain: demonstration -> convinced adopter -> replication. Quantify how many farms you expect to influence and how you will reach them (open days, videos, extension kits).

2. Recruit the right collaborators early. Include at least one other farming business that will replicate the approach during the project or host a follow‑up demonstration. Letters of commitment must be specific: dates, tasks, what data they will collect, and the decision criteria they will use.

3. Show baseline data and a practical measurement plan. If you claim “reduced fertiliser use,” supply baseline usage figures and a clear method for measuring changes. Use short, simple metrics that farmers understand: £/ha saved, percentage reduction in chemical inputs, time saved per week.

4. Budget as a farmer would. Funders look for realistic budgets. If you need a specialist installation or temporary labour, cost it correctly. Explain why each cost is necessary for the demonstration and how it ties to outcomes. Don’t hide capital costs without explanation; if equipment could be reused or rented, say so.

5. Plan outreach from day one. Many applications fail on dissemination. Build in farmer open days, short how‑to videos, one‑page farm business case summaries, and follow‑up surveys. Make it easy for other producers to replicate what you’ve done.

6. Tackle risks with contingencies. Farming is messy. If weather or pests could derail your demonstration, explain the backup: repeat plots across sites, staged planting windows, alternate measurements. Funders respect applicants who have thought about failure modes.

7. Use plain language. Your reviewers will include industry advisors and farmers, not only academics. Explain technical terms, avoid unnecessary jargon and keep the narrative farmer‑facing.

These steps will cost time but they move proposals from “interesting” to “useful”.

Application Timeline (Work backwards from 15 January 2026)

A realistic timeline gives you time to recruit collaborators, draft technical sections, and secure letters of commitment.

• Early November 2025: Form your core team. Secure at least one collaborator and begin drafting the project summary and objectives.
• Mid November 2025: Collect baseline data and costings. Draft a clear measurement plan and risk register.
• Late November 2025: Request letters of support from partner farms and supply chain players. Draft outreach and dissemination plans.
• Early December 2025: Finalise budget and schedule. Circulate full draft to external reviewers (other farmers, the farm accountant, an agronomist).
• Mid December 2025: Revise based on feedback. Prepare supplementary materials (maps, equipment quotes).
• Early January 2026: Final proof and compliance check. Submit at least 48 hours before the deadline to avoid IT issues.

Submitting a polished application takes several weeks. If you’re applying with partners for the first time, add extra lead time to align schedules.

Required Materials and How to Prepare Them

You’ll need to prepare several documents that collectively tell the story of what you’ll do, who will be involved, and how you’ll measure success. Typical materials include:

• A clear project summary (objectives, expected outcomes, and why it matters to other producers).
• Detailed project plan and timeline (Gantt chart is helpful).
• Budget and justification (explain each line item and include quotes for capital or specialist services).
• Letters of support/commitment from collaborator farms and key partners (specific commitments, not vague endorsements).
• Baseline data and measurement protocols (what you’ll measure, how often, and who will collect the data).
• Risk assessment and mitigation plan (weather, biosecurity, staffing).
• Evidence of your business status (registration, tax reference, or similar proof appropriate to sole traders/partnerships).
• Data management and dissemination plan (how you’ll store and share data, and how you’ll run demonstrations and follow‑ups).
• Any required permits or approvals (for example, if your trial involves regulated inputs or animal procedures).

Prepare each document with the reader in mind. For letters of support, include a short template that spells out the commitments you need so responders provide useful, specific statements.

What Makes an Application Stand Out

Applications that win clearly connect demonstration activities to real adoption. Don’t make the judges infer the pathway — show it. A standout proposal will include:

• Measurable outcomes with farmer‑friendly metrics (e.g., net margin change per hectare, irrigation reduction in cubic metres, time saved per labour hour).
• A replication plan with realistic numbers: how many farms will observe, how many will adopt within 12 months, and what scaling processes you’ll use.
• Strong, specific partner commitments: partners who will collect data, host visits, or contribute match funding.
• Cost transparency: a budget that reflects true costs and explains why each expense is necessary.
• Practical dissemination: concise outputs (fact sheets, one‑page business cases, short videos) that other farmers can use immediately.

If you can show an early adopter who is already persuaded and will commit to adopting beyond the funded period, that significantly strengthens your case.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Vague partner letters. A letter that simply says “we support this” is useless. Get partners to confirm what they will do, when, and what they will measure.

2. No baseline data. Statements like “we expect to reduce fertiliser use” need backing figures. Provide past usage or short pre‑trial measurements.

3. Overcomplicated metrics. Don’t make it hard for farmers to understand results. Present outcomes in simple monetary or labour terms as well as technical terms.

4. Underestimating time and cost. Farming is seasonal. If your trial crosses harvest windows requiring extra labour, budget for it.

5. Ignoring regulatory requirements. If your trial uses new inputs or animal work, check permits early. A late regulatory snag can kill a project.

6. Poor dissemination planning. If the project demonstrates well but nobody learns about it, the objective fails. Allocate budget and time to outreach.

Each mistake is avoidable with early planning and clear communication.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can a non‑farm business (consultant, supplier, university) be the lead?
A: No. The lead must be an active farming, growing or forestry business based in England. Non‑farm partners can be collaborators but not the lead.

Q: Can collaborator farms be outside England?
A: Yes — collaborators can be UK‑based farming businesses, but the lead must be based in England.

Q: Do I need to provide match funding?
A: The opportunity details don’t mandate match funding in the summary provided, but show where costs are covered and why the requested grant is necessary. If match funding strengthens the feasibility, include it and specify its source.

Q: Can a sole trader lead?
A: Yes. Sole traders and partnerships can lead if you can evidence an established business.

Q: Will Innovate UK provide technical support?
A: Typically, Innovate UK programmes have support channels and guidance documents. Use the official opportunity page and contact points for clarification; they often answer applicant queries.

Q: Are capital items allowed?
A: Capital can be included where necessary and justified — for example, equipment needed to run the demonstration. Explain reuse, depreciation and why rental isn’t a better option.

Q: How long will results need to be reported?
A: Expect requirements for monitoring during the project and a final report. The funder will want clear, auditable data to justify the outcomes and lessons learned.

Next Steps — How to Apply

Ready to get moving? Here’s a straightforward action plan:

1. Read the full official competition guidance on the Innovate UK page to confirm eligibility and any recent details.
2. Convene your core team and at least one collaborator farm right away.
3. Gather baseline data, quotes and letters of commitment.
4. Draft your project summary, measurement plan and budget. Keep the adoption story front and centre.
5. Submit through the Innovation Funding Service well before 11:00 on 15 January 2026.

Apply now or review the full guidance: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/full-adopt-grant-round-five/

If you want, tell me about your idea and I’ll help sketch a one‑page project summary and a checklist of what to include in partner letters.