Farming in Herefordshire has never been more rewarding – or more challenging. While the region is known for its rich soils and thriving agriculture, many local farmers are under pressure from rising input costs, stricter regulations, and the growing urgency to reduce phosphorus and nitrogen runoff into rivers like the Wye and Lugg. And now, there’s something new on the table: the ADOPT Fund – a Defra-backed grant that offers up to £100,000 to help farmers test innovative, sustainable practices right on their own land.
Farm Smarter, Not Harder – With ADOPT Funding
Got a smart idea to fix your soil, cut fertiliser use, or clean up river runoff? The ADOPT Fund gives farmers up to £100k to test sustainable solutions – right on their own land. No lab coats required.
Whether you’re dealing with soil degradation, fertiliser costs, or the fallout from water quality restrictions, this fund could be a game-changer. Even better? The types of eco-friendly, microbial-based solutions we offer at BactoTech are a perfect fit for trialling through this programme.
Key Facts: What the ADOPT Fund Is All About
Supports farmer-led trials – Designed specifically for practical, on-farm innovation, not just lab-based research. You can test solutions that solve real problems.
Focuses on sustainability – Encourages farming practices that protect soil, reduce fertiliser reliance, and lower environmental impact.
Builds farm resilience – Helps farmers adapt to challenges like climate change, rising costs, and market pressure through low-input, nature-based strategies.
Backs collaboration – Projects must involve at least one other farming business, promoting knowledge-sharing and stronger rural networks.
Funds the “missing middle” – Aims to close the gap between great ideas and real-world adoption by giving farmers the tools to test, prove, and scale up innovative solutions.
In this post, we’ll walk you through:
- What the ADOPT Fund is and how it works
- Why it’s especially relevant to Herefordshire farmers
- Examples of how our bio-based products can be included in your trial project
- How to apply – with or without experience in writing grant bids
Let’s explore how this opportunity could help you build a more sustainable, profitable, and resilient farm – starting now.
The Problem: Herefordshire’s Farming Pressures Are Reaching a Breaking Point
Herefordshire farmers are proud stewards of some of the UK’s most productive land – but they’re under more pressure than ever before. From pollution-linked planning blocks to rising costs and shifting policies, running a farm today is a constant balancing act.
Here’s what farmers across the region are facing:
River Pollution and Runoff Restrictions
Intensive livestock systems – especially poultry – are a major source of phosphorus in the River Wye. This has triggered development moratoriums and stricter scrutiny on land use, even for well-managed farms. Many fields already contain high levels of “legacy” phosphorus, making nutrient planning even trickier.
Rising Input Costs
Fertiliser prices have soared in recent years. Many arable and mixed farms are looking for alternatives that won’t break the bank – or the soil.
Soil Degradation
Decades of tillage, monoculture, and chemical inputs have taken a toll. Compacted, nutrient-poor soils make crops more vulnerable to disease and drought, while reducing yield potential.
Farmer Wellbeing
Add in changing inheritance tax rules, unpredictable weather, and inconsistent government support, and it’s no surprise that mental health has become one of the biggest hidden crises in British farming.
A Call for Change
Farmers want to do the right thing – for their land, their livestock, their communities. But they need support to trial real-world, science-backed solutions that don’t just tick boxes but truly work in the field.
The ADOPT Fund was created with exactly this need in mind.
Coming up next: we’ll break down what the ADOPT Fund is, who it’s for, and how it could support Herefordshire farmers ready to explore nature-based, sustainable innovations. 🌿
The Opportunity: What Is the ADOPT Fund and Why Should Farmers Care?
The ADOPT Fund – short for Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies – is part of Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme, and it’s one of the most practical and accessible grant schemes available to UK farmers in 2025.
Rather than funding tech startups or distant research projects, the ADOPT Fund is designed for farmers who want to test real-world solutions on their own land – solutions that could boost sustainability, cut input costs, and improve long-term resilience.
What’s on offer?
- Support Grant – up to £2,500 to help you develop a full application with help from a professional facilitator
- Full Grant – funding from £50,000 to £100,000 for on-farm trials or demonstrations that last 6–24 months
- Free advice and matchmaking via the ADOPT Support Hub, run by RSK ADAS
Who can apply?
- Farmers, growers, or foresters based in England
- Sole traders, partnerships, or limited companies
- Projects must involve at least one other farming business (perfect for neighbours or grower groups)
- You don’t need research experience – just a good idea and a willingness to test it
What kinds of projects are eligible?
The fund is focused on practical, farmer-led innovation, especially in areas like:
- Sustainable fertiliser use and nutrient efficiency
- Soil health and structure
- Reducing emissions and runoff
- Enhancing farm resilience to climate change and market uncertainty
- Improving productivity through low-input or regenerative practices
💡 That’s exactly where BactoTech products come in – but more on that shortly.
📅 When do you apply?
- Applications open: 28 April 2025
- Deadline: 25 June 2025, 11:00am
🔗 Apply here via the UKRI portal
This is a rare opportunity to access substantial funding, with genuine flexibility and expert support.
➡️ Next up, we’ll show you why our microbial biopreparations are a natural match for ADOPT trials, especially for farms tackling soil fatigue, river pollution, or fertiliser dependency.
Why Eco-Friendly Biopreparations Are the Perfect Fit for ADOPT
At BactoTech, we’ve spent years developing microbiological solutions that work with nature – not against it. Our range of eco-friendly, bacteria-based biopreparations is designed to improve soil health, cut chemical inputs, and make farms more resilient to climate and market stress.
And that’s exactly what the ADOPT Fund is all about.
If you’re thinking of applying, here’s why including our products in your trial could give your project real impact – and long-term benefits.
BactoRol Nitrogen
A microbial preparation that contains free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria. It boosts natural nitrogen availability in the soil, reducing the need for synthetic fertilisers while supporting stronger plant growth.
Perfect for ADOPT projects focused on:
- Cutting input costs and emissions
- Increasing nutrient-use efficiency
- Improving yields under low-input conditions
🔗 Learn more about BactoRol Nitrogen
BactoFos
Contains phosphate-solubilising bacteria that unlock bound phosphorus in the soil, making it available to crops. This means better fertiliser efficiency, reduced runoff, and improved root development.
Ideal for trials aimed at:
- Reducing phosphorus runoff into local rivers
- Improving soil structure and uptake
- Testing low-input strategies in maize, cereals or grassland
🔗 Discover BactoFos
RhizoPlus
A powerful microbial preparation for root zone enhancement, particularly effective in vegetable and row crops. Promotes stronger roots, better water use, and faster growth.
Best for trials focused on:
- Improving drought resilience in high-value crops
- Reducing root disease pressure naturally
- Supporting early crop establishment in challenging soil conditions
🔗 View RhizoPlus
Agro SanitoBac (Starter & Continuer)
A microbial solution for slurry and manure management, helping to liquefy solids, reduce odours, and improve nutrient value of stored organic matter.
An ideal fit for ADOPT projects that:
- Aim to improve slurry handling and nutrient recycling
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from storage
- Enhance on-farm circularity and reduce reliance on synthetic fertilisers
🔗 Learn about Agro SanitoBac
Whether your focus is improving water quality, building soil health, or cutting chemical dependency – our products give your ADOPT application scientific credibility and practical value.
In the next section, we’ll share trial ideas you could submit through the ADOPT Fund.
Example Trials You Could Run With ADOPT
One of the best things about the ADOPT Fund is that it supports real, practical innovation – driven by farmers, not researchers in labs. That means if you have a challenge on your farm and an idea to tackle it, you could secure funding to trial it with support and expertise.
If you’re considering applying, here are some ready-to-go trial concepts using BactoTech products – all aligned with the fund’s core goals of improving sustainability, productivity, and resilience.
1. Reducing Fertiliser Use in Cereal Crops with BactoRol Nitrogen
Goal: To test whether microbial nitrogen-fixing bacteria can maintain yields in wheat while reducing synthetic nitrogen application by 30–50%.
Why it fits: Addresses ADOPT’s focus on nutrient-use efficiency, soil health, and cutting emissions.
📍 Ideal for mixed or arable farms in NVZs or phosphorus-sensitive areas.
2. Reducing Phosphorus Runoff in Silage Maize Fields with BactoFos
Goal: To evaluate how much plant-available phosphorus can be recovered from bound soil reserves using phosphate-solubilising microbes, without overapplying fertiliser.
Why it fits: Targets key environmental priorities in Herefordshire – especially in the Wye & Lugg catchment.
📍 A strong fit for dairy or maize growers near river systems.
3. Boosting Root Health and Water Efficiency in Vegetables with RhizoPlus
Goal: To improve root structure and reduce early-season stress in carrots, brassicas, or salad crops using beneficial microbes.
Why it fits: Supports sustainable horticulture, reduced irrigation, and stronger plant development.
4. Improving Slurry Management and Nutrient Use with Agro SanitoBac
Goal: To enhance slurry breakdown and nutrient recovery, reducing odour, emissions, and runoff risks from stored manure.
Why it fits: Perfect for livestock farms looking to reduce environmental impact and maximise on-farm nutrient reuse.
How to Apply – And Get Help Along the Way
If you’ve got an idea worth testing – whether it’s restoring soil health, cutting fertiliser use, or improving manure handling – the ADOPT Fund is your chance to make it happen, with real backing.
The good news? You don’t need to be a grant-writing expert to apply. In fact, the programme is designed for practical, hands-on people who know what’s working (and what isn’t) in the real world.
Step-by-Step: How to Apply
1. Use the £2,500 Support Grant
Before you even apply for the full grant, you can claim up to £2,500 to hire a registered Project Facilitator. They’ll help you develop your trial idea, fill in the application, and make sure everything meets the fund’s requirements.
💡 This is especially useful if you’re new to grant funding – or just don’t want to get bogged down in paperwork.
2. Build Your Trial Idea
Think about a challenge you’re facing – like high fertiliser bills, poor soil performance, or slurry that’s hard to manage. Then look at a natural, microbial solution (like BactoRol Nitrogen, BactoFos, or Agro SanitoBac) that could help you fix it.
Need help shaping your trial? We’d love to collaborate.
3. Apply for the Full Grant
Once your project plan is ready, submit it through the official UKRI application portal. Grants of £50,000 to £100,000 are available for projects that run between 6 and 24 months, with flexible timelines and farmer-led designs.
📅 Applications open: 28 April 2025
📅 Deadline to apply: 25 June 2025 at 11:00am
🔗 Apply here
Let’s Work Together
BactoTech products are a natural match for ADOPT-funded projects – and we’re here to support you with:
- Trial ideas tailored to your farm
- Product guidance and field support
- Advice on how to show your project meets ADOPT goals (productivity, sustainability, resilience)
📩 Email us ur send us a DM on Instagram
🌱 Explore our full product range: bactotech.co.uk/farming
Conclusion: A Smarter, Greener Future Starts Now
Herefordshire’s farmers are ready for change. The pressure is real – runoff rules, fertiliser prices, tired soils – but so is the opportunity.
With the ADOPT Fund, you now have a chance to trial nature-based solutions that work, backed by real funding, expert support, and proven science. Whether you’re tackling phosphorus pollution near the Wye, struggling with soil fatigue, or just looking to reduce inputs while protecting your margins, this is your moment.
💡 And with BactoTech’s eco-friendly microbial products, you’re not starting from scratch – you’re building on solid, tested innovations already delivering results across the UK.
Let’s make it happen – together:
- Want to reduce your reliance on synthetic fertilisers?
- Interested in cutting runoff and improving soil health?
- Ready to lead the way in regenerative farming?
📩 Get in touch with us today and start your ADOPT Fund journey here: ADOPT Fund Application
🌍 The future of farming in Herefordshire is green, regenerative, and farmer-led. Let’s grow it – one trial at a time.
