Defra doubles Adopt funding cap to £200,000

Defra has doubled the maximum grant available through its Adopt farmer-led innovation programme from £100,000 to £200,000, following industry calls for support for larger and more ambitious on-farm trials.

The new funding cap applies from Round 8, which is open for applications until 29 July 2026.

Defra said the increase will enable projects involving multiple farms, larger datasets and greater technical input to test new technologies and practices.

Adopt (Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies) is part of Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme and is delivered by Innovate UK. 

See also: Defra publishes guidance for 2026 Capital Grants scheme

The scheme funds farmer-led projects aimed at improving productivity, resilience and sustainability through practical on-farm trials.

Projects must be led by farmers, growers or foresters in England, although partners from across the UK, including researchers, agritech firms and advisers, can take part.

Funding covers up to 80% of eligible costs.

Collaboration and knowedge sharing are core tenets of the Adopt programme © Twig PR

While the minimum project size remains £50,000, the higher funding ceiling is expected to broaden the scope of trials that can be undertaken.

Defra has also confirmed the programme will continue beyond its previously published timetable.

Round 9 offers grants of £2,500 to help applicants work with external facilitators to develop full Adopt applications, while Round 10 opens on 9 July 2026.

Further rounds (11 and 12) are planned, with details to be released later.

£5m funding available now

A total of £30m has been allocated to Adopt through to 2028-29, with about £5m available in current individual funding rounds.

More than 150 projects are already under way.

Defra said the programme’s core principles remain unchanged, with all projects required to be farmer-led, practical and focused on generating evidence that can be shared across the sector.

Applicants can also access support through the Adopt Support Hub, delivered by Adas, the UK Agri-Tech Centre and the Soil Association.