Accelerating the adoption of innovation on-farm – UKRI

The Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) fund is part of the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs’ (Defra) Farming Innovation Programme.

The programme, delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, supports farmer-led, collaborative on-farm trials and experiments.

ADOPT plays a key role in the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, advancing agri-tech as part of the Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan.

By accelerating the adoption of new technologies and practices, ADOPT contributes to national missions on productivity, sustainability and food security set out in the government’s Plan for Change.

Advancing sustainability and profitability

These projects boost innovation across farming and also contribute to regional economic development and resilience, ensuring the UK remains competitive in a rapidly evolving global market.

The projects showcase a wide range of innovative approaches to crop resilience, animal health and sustainability, while driving farm profitability and supporting long-term economic growth across UK agriculture.

Rapid dairy diagnostics

Mastitis costs the UK dairy industry millions annually impacting farm profitability as well as cow welfare and milk yield.

The RapidPath project introduces an on-farm diagnostic tool that identifies mastitis pathogens within two hours, enabling timely, targeted treatment and reducing unnecessary antibiotic use.

Already validated in labs with previous Innovate UK funding, the system will be tested for practical farm deployment, with the potential to cut costs, enhance sustainability, and enhanced antimicrobial stewardship.

UV-C crop defence

Fungal diseases pose a major challenge for UK carrot production, driving pesticide use and causing significant post-harvest losses.

Traditional chemical treatments face growing resistance and environmental concerns, creating an urgent need for sustainable alternatives.

One project will trial ultraviolet C (UV-C) light as a non-chemical protection method, using tractor-mounted and robotic platforms to deliver targeted light doses, reducing fungal disease, stimulating plant immunity, and improving root quality.

By cutting pesticide use and post-harvest losses, the project offers a sustainable alternative to conventional fungicides, with findings shared to encourage wider adoption.

Sheep health protection

Sheep scab is a highly contagious disease that severely impacts animal welfare and farm economics.

This project focuses on the safe disposal of contaminated dipping water used in treatment, preventing disease spread between farms.

By addressing environmental and biosecurity challenges, this approach strengthens farm resilience, enhances animal welfare, and supports long-term productivity and environmental sustainability in UK sheep farming.

Smart bird control

Bird damage to brassicas and salad crops causes significant losses for UK growers.

The SCARE project offers an artificial intelligence (AI) powered deterrent system combining lasers, predator sounds, and randomised noise to prevent birds adapting to control measures.

Multi-site trials will refine the technology and share insights with growers, aiming to secure yields, reduce waste, and improve sustainability without harming wildlife.

Catalyst for growth and resilience

Andy Cureton, Director of AgriFood Systems said:

Through our partnership with Defra, we are driving growth in the UK agri-tech sector by accelerating the development, commercialisation, and adoption of technologies that help create a more sustainable and efficient farming sector.

These innovations have the potential to boost productivity, strengthen resilience and support national priorities on food security, ensuring long-term benefits for farmers and the wider economy.