Companies in England can secure up to £80,000 in grant funding for on-farm demonstration projects.
Closing on 20 August 2025, Round 2 of the Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) grant will help businesses showcase solutions that address major farm or immediate post-farmgate challenges or opportunities.
Below are the key things you need to know about this Defra-funded competition, including which companies and projects are eligible and, if you are eligible, how to apply.
Want to know whether you’re eligible for this and other grants? Book your free Eligibility and Competitiveness Assessment. In just 30 minutes, our grants experts will tell you:
- Whether you’re eligible for this competition
- Your chances of winning
- What other grants you should apply for
- Other types of government funding you’re eligible for, such as R&D Tax Credits and Innovation Loans
Who is eligible for Full ADOPT?
Your Organisation
To apply to Full ADOPT, which is part of Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme, you must partner with other organisations in a consortium.
Consortia can include any type of organisation, so long as they’re registered in the UK.
Consortia must be led by an active farming, growing or forestry business that:
- Is based in England
- Can prove they’re an established commercial business
- Will collaborate with at least one other farming or growing business of any size
Your Project
To qualify for this grant, your project must:
- Cost £50,000 to £100,000
- Last 6 to 24 months
- Start by 1 January 2026
- End by 31 December 2027
- Address at least one of agriculture, horticulture or agro-forestry
In addition, you will need to:
- Carry out all of your project work in the UK
- Intend to exploit the results of your project in the UK
- Appoint a Project Facilitator from Innovate UK’s database
How much funding can I apply for?
The amount of funding you can apply for depends on your company’s size and where you are based. Here’s a summary.
| Type of organisation | % of project costs funded |
|---|---|
| An active farming, growing or forestry business based in England, Wales or Scotland | 80% |
| Micro or small organisations, including active farming, growing or forestry businesses based in Northern Ireland | 70% |
| Medium-sized organisation | 60% |
| Large organisation | 50% |
Read more about the definition of micro, small, medium and large organisations for the purposes of grant funding.
If you are an RTO, charity, not-for-profit organisation, public sector organisation or research organisation, you’ll receive a grant covering up to 100% of your eligible project costs.
Je-S-registered institutions like universities will receive funding covering up to 80% of their full economic costs (FEC).
How do I apply for the Full ADOPT competition?
The application for Full ADOPT has three sections:
1. Project details – This section is not scored and provides your assessors with background on your application.
2. Application questions – This section has 13 questions, the first six of which are not scored. It also includes appendices.
3. Finances – This is where you and your project partners break down your individual costs.
Applications are made via the Innovation Funding Service (IFS) portal and are judged by three independent assessors.
Secure your Full ADOPT grant with GrantTree
The Full ADOPT Grant is a great opportunity to secure essential funding to demonstrate a cutting-edge farming or forestry innovation to prospective customers.
However, like all innovative grant competitions, it is bound to be extremely competitive, with only a handful of projects receiving funding. That’s where we come in.
GrantTree’s innovation grants experts can maximise your chances of success, using our unmatched experience to prepare the strongest possible application, surpassing the competition and demonstrating your suitability for funding.
To find out if you’re eligible for this competition and get expert help, just get in touch.
