The UK Government has announced more than £45million in funding to revolutionise how farms operate with ground-breaking technology at the forefront to boost Britain’s food security.
Here Megan Rogers, a Chartered Surveyor with Berrys, one of the UK’s leading farm consultancies, outlines what funds are available and how farmers can use it to deliver technical improvements on farm.
Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner said the grants will help drive innovation on the ground, equipping farmers with cutting-edge tools to increase food production, safeguard natural ecosystems, and boost profitability.
The funding will be distributed across three initiatives totalling £45.6 million, supporting multiple projects across the research and development lifecycle, from early-stage concepts to on-farm trials. Ranging from robots carrying out delicate fruit picking, to health monitors for cows, right through to variable irrigation systems to maximise water usage.
Aiming to bring cutting-edge technologies into everyday use with a particular focus on reducing on-farm emissions and capitalising on new opportunities made possible by the Precision Breeding Act, which could supercharge food production by increasing crop yields, reducing pesticides, and enhancing disease resistance.
These funds aim to help strengthen food security, increase farmers’ profits, and protect nature as part of the government’s Plan for Change. Supporting the development of a wide-range of projects and products.
Applications are now open for the new Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) competition, which will commit up to £20.6 million of funding in 2025/2026. This grant will support farmers looking to test new technologies on their own farms and bridge the gap between innovation and real-world application.
Farmers can also access tailored advice and apply for a £2,500 support grant at the ADOPT Support Hub to help them through the application and trial process.
Two further competitions opened on the 5th May under the Farming Innovation Programme (FIP):
1. The first £12.5 million to support collaborative research into ways to reduce on-farm emissions, helping farms to become more sustainable and climate-resilient.
2. The second £12.5 million competition will fund research and development using precision-bred crops to improve yield, reduce chemical inputs and enhance disease resistance. This builds on the new opportunities enabled by the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023.
With this substantial funding now available, UK dairy farmers are in a unique position to lead the way in adopting transformative technologies that not only future-proof their businesses but also contribute to the wider goals of sustainability and food security.
Whether it’s implementing health-monitoring systems for livestock, trialling innovative feed solutions, or exploring precision-breeding techniques, these grants present a real opportunity to improve efficiency and profitability.
To start, dairy farmers can take full advantage of the support on offer, including the £2,500 grant from the ADOPT Support Hub. By coming together, sharing ideas, and collaborating through these initiatives, the UK dairy sector can drive meaningful change from the ground up—ensuring a resilient, productive, and environmentally conscious farming future.
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