The Full ADOPT grant: round eight provides an Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) grant for on-farm trial and demonstration projects in the agricultural sector. Farming, growing or forestry businesses based in England can apply for a share of up to £5 million to improve adoption of new ideas or solutions.

Overview

This funding opportunity is delivered by Innovate UK, with co-funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The programme supports collaborative projects that test and demonstrate innovative practices or technologies on working farms. Projects should aim to increase the uptake of proven solutions across the agricultural sector, helping to drive productivity, sustainability, and resilience.

Funding and Benefits

A total fund of £5,000,000 is available for round eight. The grant supports collaborative, on-farm trial and demonstration activities. Applicants may apply for a share of this fund; the exact grant amount per project is not specified in the opportunity details. Further information on funding levels can be found in the full competition details on the Innovation Funding Service.

Eligibility

This competition is open to collaborations only. To lead a collaborative project, an organisation must:

• be an active farming, growing or forestry business based in England
• be able to evidence that it is an established business, including sole traders and partnerships
• collaborate with at least one other farming business based in the UK

Deadline and Timeline

Key dates for this opportunity are:

• Opening date: 4 June 2026 at 9:30am UK time
• Publication date: 8 June 2026
• Closing date: 29 July 2026 at 11:00am UK time

Application Process

Full opportunity details and application materials are available through the Innovation Funding Service. Applicants are advised to review the complete guidance before submitting a proposal.

Apply at: Innovation Funding Service – Full ADOPT grant round eight