ADAS, in partnership with the UK Agri-Tech Centre and the Soil Association, has been awarded the role of managing the ADOPT Support Hub—a centralised support system designed to help farmers across England access ADOPT.
The support hub will provide expert assistance to help farmers navigate the process, connect with facilitators and share knowledge that benefits the wider sector.
“ADAS is delighted to be selected to lead this project” says ADAS MD Jackie Evans. “We will bring our farm-focused expertise, supported by knowledge of practical innovation, to help farmers improve their businesses. Our own staff and consortium members already ‘think farmer’ and look forward to assisting applicants focus on what matters to them.”
ADOPT is a new farmer-focused initiative, funded by Defra and delivered by Innovate UK, set to launch in April 2025. Through a dedicated consortium running the support hub, the ADOPT fund provides farmer-led, smaller-scale innovation grants, for farmers, growers and farm businesses to trial new technology and methods on their farm.
ADOPT will empower farmers to trial, test, and adopt cutting-edge ideas, tools, and techniques that boost productivity, sustainability, and resilience. “We know that farmers are busy, and applying for funding can often feel overwhelming,” says Phil Bicknell, CEO at the UK Agri-Tech Centre. “The ADOPT support hub is here to provide straightforward, step-by-step support—whether it’s developing trial ideas, applying for funding or sharing knowledge with the wider community, including farming groups and stakeholders.”
Full details of ADOPT are yet to be finalised with more details to be announced in due course. For those wanting more information visit; www.farmpep.net/adoptsupport
