Government to allocate £20m through ADOPT funding
16th December 2025
Farming minister Dame Angela Eagle has announced the launch of a new round of the Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) funding.
The programme is aimed at British farmers interested in driving the next wave of greener, smarter farming, with new technology trials tackling emissions, productivity, and resilience.
ADOPT, delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, is a £20 million programme for the 2025/26 financial year supporting the next wave of farmer-led innovation.
Grants offered through ADOPT support on-farm trials to develop and test new solutions to farming challenges, DEFRA explained.
Backed by nearly £2.3 million across 30 projects through the first round of the government’s ADOPT Fund, the trials explore new ideas in real working farm conditions, from lower emission machinery to digital tools that support day-to-day farm management.
One project led by J&E Graham will trial peat-free compost made from short rotation coppice willow grown in agroforestry systems and blended with other local materials.
Different compost mixes will be tested as growing media to assess performance and suitability, with the aim of cutting reliance on peat and artificial fertilisers.
Alongside this, W.S. Furnival Limited will test retrofitting an older Massey Ferguson 290 tractor to run on green methanol, assessing whether conversion could offer a practical low-carbon alternative where electrification is not yet viable.
DigiTwinFarm, led by G J Jelley & Sons, will also trial a Farm Digital Twin Platform on two contrasting beef and sheep farms, using drone imagery, farm records and on farm testing to support nutrient planning, environmental monitoring, and day-to-day farm management.
‘Turning brilliant ideas into real-world solutions’
Farming minister Dame Angela Eagle said: “By backing innovative ideas that boost productivity and resilience, we’re helping farmers lead the way in shaping a modern, sustainable agricultural sector.
“This fund sits at the heart of our Industrial Strategy and are turning brilliant ideas into real-world solutions.”
DEFRA explained that by funding practical trials, the government aims to ensure that new technologies are properly tested on farms before wider take up.
Find more information here.
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