Full ADOPT Grant Round Six

Animal Research Rule: Projects involving animals must comply with UKRI animal welfare guidance. Additional information may be required at project start up.

Appendices Required: Appendix for trial design. Team summary appendix. Project plan or Gantt chart. Risk register.

Application Limit: 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.

Application Platform: Innovation Funding Service

Application Sections: Project details. Application questions. Finances.

Assessment Process: Reviewed by three independent assessors. Portfolio approach may be applied.

Co-Funder: 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.

Competitiveness: Funding limit applies. High scoring projects may not be funded due to portfolio approach.

Decision Risks: Portfolio approach may limit awards. Funding may be adjusted. Outstanding payments to Innovate UK may affect decision. Financial viability checks apply.

Decision Timeline: Applicants notified 15 May 2026.

Eligible Expenses: Eligible project costs only. Farmers may calculate trial expenses based on labour day rate or rate per hectare. Subcontractor costs allowed.

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.

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.

Important Notes: 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.

Ineligible Leads: Community Interest Companies. Charities. Academic institutions working alone. Organisations that are not profit driven.

Ineligible Projects: Projects not benefiting farmers in England. Existing demonstration trials. Funded crop variety plot trials. Cultivated meat. Equine systems. Wild caught fisheries. Aquaculture for human consumption. Fermentation systems for bacteria, yeast or fungi for human consumption. Medicinal or pharmaceutical crop production. Projects dependent on export performance or domestic input usage.

Interview Stage: Not specified

Key Requirements: 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.

Match Funding Requirement: Required. Organisation must fund the balance of eligible project costs not covered by grant.

Project Duration: 6 to 24 months

Project End Date: Must end by 31 August 2028

Project Start Date: Must start by 1 September 2026

Publication Date: 2026-02-10 00:00:00

Renewal Rules: Previously assessed applications may be resubmitted once if not materially different.

Research Category: Industrial research

Sanctions Rule: Funding will not be provided where it breaches UK sanctions.

Subcontractors: Allowed. Overseas subcontractors must be justified. Lower cost alone is not sufficient reason.

Subsidy Scheme: Provided under the Subsidy Control Act 2022. Classified as a Subsidy. Not part of Minimal Financial Assistance or De Minimis allowance.

Total Fund Available: £5,000,000