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UK Farmers Receive £2.3 Million to Trial Greener Technologies

Prime Highlights:

  • Farmers are leading the way in testing sustainable technologies to cut emissions and boost productivity.
  • The ADOPT Fund supports practical, on-farm trials to ensure new ideas can be adopted successfully.

Key Facts:

  • Nearly £2.3 million has been awarded to 30 projects through the ADOPT Fund.
  • Projects include peat-free compost, green methanol tractors, and digital farm management tools.

Background:

UK farmers are being supported with almost £2.3 million in funding to trial greener and smarter technologies on working farms, as part of a new wave of farmer-led innovation. The announcement was made on Monday (15 December) by Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle, marking the first round of the government’s Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) Fund.

The ADOPT Fund, delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, is designed to help farmers test new ideas in real farm conditions, providing practical evidence of what works before technologies are rolled out more widely. Unlike short-term experiments, the programme focuses on long-term adoption and impact.

The first round of projects includes a variety of innovations, from cleaner machinery to digital tools for managing farms. J&E Graham will test peat-free compost made from willow and local materials to reduce the use of peat and chemical fertilizers. W.S. Furnival Limited will look at converting an older Massey Ferguson 290 tractor to run on green methanol as a low-carbon alternative where electric tractors aren’t practical.

At the same time, DigiTwinFarm, led by G J Jelley & Sons, will trial a Farm Digital Twin Platform on beef and sheep farms, using drone images, farm records, and on-site testing to improve nutrient planning, monitor the environment, and manage the farms more effectively.

Dame Angela Eagle said the initiative “puts farmers at the heart of change” and supports innovation that enhances both productivity and resilience in the sector.

Dr Stella Peace, Managing Director at Innovate UK, added that the programme “bridges the gap between innovation and implementation,” helping promising technologies move from development into practical use on farms.

The ADOPT Fund is part of the government’s £20 million programme for 2025–26, under the Modern Industrial Strategy and the wider Plan for Change, aimed at ensuring farming technologies are fully tested and ready for adoption across the sector.