Full ADOPT grant: round six
Innovate UK / Defra · England
Grant funding for collaborative farmer led on farm trials or experiments. Aims to improve adoption of new ideas or solutions in agriculture. Part of Defra Farming Innovation Programme under the ADOPT Fund.
Summary
Deadline
8 Apr 2026
Complexity
Medium
Time to apply
20-60 hours
Updated
9 Jun 2026
Grant funding for collaborative farmer led on farm trials or experiments. Aims to improve adoption of new ideas or solutions in agriculture. Part of Defra Farming Innovation Programme under the ADOPT Fund.
Eligibility
Applicant types
Business
Business size
Micro, SME, Large
Industries
Agriculture. Horticulture. Agro forestry.
Match funding
Required
Requirements
Lead must be an active farming, growing or forestry business based in England. Must be an established commercial business. Must collaborate with at least one other UK farming, growing or forestry business. Active farming, growing or forestry business based in England; must evidence established business (sole traders and partnerships included). On farm trials or experiments. Must test ideas or s...
Eligible applicants
Lead must be an active farming, growing or forestry business based in England. Must be an established commercial business. Must collaborate with at least one other UK farming, growing or forestry business.
Funding and scope
Benefit amount
Total project costs must be between £50,000 and £100,000
Total fund available
£5,000,000
Funding intensity
Up to 80% for active farming, growing or forestry businesses based in England, Wales or Scotland. Up to 70% for micro or small organisations in Northern Ireland. Up to 60% for medium organisations. Up to 50% for large organisations. Research organisations undertaking non economic activity can share up to 60% of total eligible project costs.
Payment type
Reimbursement (in arrears)
Eligible scope
On farm trials or experiments. Must test ideas or solutions that are new or not yet widely used. Must address productivity, resilience or sustainability including progression to net zero farming. Must demonstrate benefit to other English farmers, growers or foresters. Must embrace open innovation and share results. Must include an approved ADOPT Project Facilitator.
Eligible expenses
- Eligible project costs only. Farmers may calculate trial expenses based on labour day rate or rate per hectare. Subcontractor costs allowed.
Ineligible costs
- Costs not eligible under Full ADOPT grant round six IFS competition guidance.
Application and risks
Application platform
Innovation Funding Service
Competitiveness
Closed / Not accepting applications
Decision timeline
Applicants notified 15 May 2026.
Assessment process
Reviewed by three independent assessors. Portfolio approach may be applied.
Application sections
- Project details. Application questions. Finances.
Application components
Not specified
Required documents
Not specified
Appendices
- Appendix for trial design. Team summary appendix. Project plan or Gantt chart. Risk register.
Assessment criteria
Not specified
Decision risks
Portfolio approach may limit awards. Funding may be adjusted. Outstanding payments to Innovate UK may affect decision. Financial viability checks apply.
Timeline and partners
Opening date
5 Feb 2026
Project duration
6 to 24 months
Project start
31 Aug 2026
Project end
30 Aug 2028
Co-funders
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Collaboration rules
- Collaboration only competition. At least one other UK farming, growing or forestry business must collaborate. No single partner may account for more than 70% of total eligible costs.
Consortium requirements
- Collaborations only; lead must collaborate with at least one other UK farming business.
Additional guidance
[{"label":"Ineligible Leads","value":"Community Interest Companies. Charities. Academic institutions working alone. Organisations that are not profit driven."},{"label":"Application Limit","value":"A farmer, grower or forester can lead one application and collaborate in two further applications. If not leading, can collaborate in any number of applications."},{"label":"Research Category","value":"Industrial research"},{"label":"Subcontractors","value":"Allowed. Overseas subcontractors must be justified. Lower cost alone is not sufficient reason."},{"label":"Subsidy Scheme","value":"Provided under the Subsidy Control Act 2022. Classified as a Subsidy. Not part of Minimal Financial Assistance or De Minimis allowance."},{"label":"Sanctions Rule","value":"Funding will not be provided where it breaches UK sanctions."},{"label":"Animal Research Rule","value":"Projects involving animals must comply with UKRI animal welfare guidance. Additional information may be required at project start up."},{"label":"Interview Stage","value":"Not specified"},{"label":"Key Requirements","value":"Must include approved ADOPT Project Facilitator. Must share outputs during and after project. Must allocate at least 50% of total farmer grant requested to farmers based in England. Must not start before Grant Offer Letter approval."},{"label":"Renewal Rules","value":"Previously assessed applications may be resubmitted once if not materially different."},{"label":"Important Notes","value":"Project must start on first of the month. Grant subject to sufficient high quality applications. Award subject to green box exemption under WTO Agreement on Agriculture where applicable."}]
Quick facts
- Status
- Closed
- Deadline
- 8 Apr 2026
- Funding amount
- Total project costs must be between £50,000 and £100,000
- Funding band
- Large (£5M+)
- Funding type
- Grant
- Payment type
- Reimbursement (in arrears)
- Audience
- Business
- Industry
- Agriculture. Horticulture. Agro forestry.
- Last updated
- 9 Jun 2026
- Published
- 9 Feb 2026