UKRI-3131 Innovation Support Hub for Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) Farming Innovation Programme ADOPT Fund.

Tender description

The ADOPT fund aims to support on-farm trials to evaluate tools, technology, systems, and approaches that can enhance the profitability, productivity, and sustainability of farmers, growers, and foresters in England. The funding aligns with the broader goals of the Farming Innovation Programme (FIP), with a specific focus on 1-to-2-year projects that meet these criteria: Innovative Solutions: Funding is provided for practices or technologies that aren't widely used but show potential to improve farm productivity and sustainability. Farmer-Led: Projects are centred on groups led by farmers. Collaborative: They involve cooperation among farmers, industry, and researchers. Scientifically Grounded: Trials are based on rigorous scientific methods with detailed measurement and recording. Knowledge Sharing: Projects are open to sharing results and lessons learned with others. Innovate UK oversees the scope of competitions and project eligibility Lot 1: The UK is focusing on innovation and technology to increase agricultural productivity, improve environmental sustainability, and meet the demands of a growing global population. The country has strong capabilities in bioscience and research, supported by notable institutions and innovative farmers. The UK Government has invested significantly in agricultural technology through the £270 million Farming Innovation Programme (FIP), managed by the Department for Food, Environment, and Rural Affairs (Defra) in partnership with UKRI Innovate UK, which oversees funding and grant competitions. A grant support hub is being established to complement the grant competitions for the ADOPT fund. This hub aims to guide applicants and is considered vital for the fund's success. Its role is to encourage more on-farm trials and innovation in agriculture and horticulture. Previous experiences with the European Innovation Partnership for Agriculture Productivity and Sustainability (EIP-Agri) showed that inconsistent support and knowledge-sharing limited the effectiveness of the program. The new grant support hub is designed to address these issues by providing consistent guidance and facilitating better knowledge exchange among participants. The support hub for the ADOPT fund has several key objectives: Raise Awareness: Promote the ADOPT fund to the target market to increase awareness and generate interest. Encourage Quality Applications: Drive a high number of quality applications to ensure a competitive selection process and support impactful projects. Provide a Supportive Interface: Act as a friendly and accessible 'front door' to help applicants understand the ADOPT fund and have a positive initial experience. Offer Specialist Advice: Give guidance to potential applicants on how to gather insights, find partners, and access resources for their applications. Direct Unqualified Applicants: Signpost other relevant services for those whose proposals don't fit the ADOPT fund's criteria. Enhance Project Success: Advise funded projects on effective trial management, open innovation, and peer-to-peer knowledge exchange to maximise success. Promote Knowledge Sharing: Support projects in communicating and sharing their research findings with farmers and other stakeholders during and after project completion to maximise the fund's impact. Additional information: To respond to this opportunity please click here: https://ukri.delta-esourcing.com/respond/7Y995DHD55