Category: BOFIN

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ADOPT BOFIN

Let’s talk about ADOPT

ADOPT fund enables farmers to ‘harness innovation’

Farmers are invited to register for a webinar exploring the opportunities created by the Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) Fund, which launches on 28th April.

The funding is part of Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme which is delivered by Innovate. It aims to accelerate the adoption of cutting-edge practices, from sustainable techniques to agri-tech solutions by providing grants of up to £100,000. Support grants of £2,500 are also available to kickstart applications.

The British On-Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN) is one of the programme’s approved project facilitators and is ready to encourage farmers to explore the opportunities through a free one-hour webinar on 1st May 2025, starting at 8.30am. It follows the official Innovate UK launch webinar the previous day.

The BOFIN webinar will include a panel discussion chaired by managing director Tom Allen-Stevens. Experts taking part are Kate Pressland of CEIA, Belinda Clarke of Agri-TechE, Becky Swinn of Innovative Farmers, Siwan Howatson of Farming Connect and Holly Shearman of Innovation for Agriculture.

Belinda Clarke, Agri-TechE
Kate Pressland, CEIA
Holly Shearman, Innovation for Agriculture
Becky Swinn, Innovative Farmers
Siwan Howatson, Farming Connect

They will discuss the details of the programme, opportunities for farmers, and give advice on how to develop ideas into projects.

“The long-awaited ADOPT Fund puts farmers in the driving seat of innovation, enabling them to harness the new technologies or innovations they believe could bring productivity gains,” said BOFIN’s Tom Allen-Stevens. “We want to make sure all farmers are aware of the opportunities this fund creates, which is why we are hosting this webinar. I encourage anyone interested to register to learn more and start developing their ideas.

“Going forward, our role as facilitators will be firstly to help farmers apply for grants. Then, for those that are successful, to ensure farmers can focus on what matters – running trials that boost productivity and sustainability for their own businesses and the wider industry – while we handle the paperwork, partnerships and project management.”

Register for the webinar at www.tinyurl.com/ADOPTwebinar or for information on working with BOFIN visit www.bofin.org.uk/adopt

Further information:

The ADOPT Fund is part of Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme, with £20.6m allocated. For further information click HERE.

The ADOPT Support Hub is delivered by ADAS, UK Agri-Tech Centre and the Soil Association. Visit FarmPEP for more information. 

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BOFIN PROBITY

Politics, pesticides & precision breeding:

In Conversation with George Eustice

Join the British On-Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN) for an exclusive webinar on Wednesday 21st May (6.30pm), offering insight from former Defra secretary George Eustice. 

In a discussion with BOFIN managing director Tom Allen-Stevens hear George Eustice’s views on the legislation that has challenged and shaped farming including the ban on neonicotinoids and metaldehyde, and why he believes the rules around biopesticides should be changed. 

They will also explore the background to the Genetic Technologies Act (2023), why it was prioritised and what government hoped it would enable. 

Tom will also raise questions on the Farming Innovation Programme which Mr Eustice put in motion, and his thoughts on the ADOPT programme and how farmers can benefit from the new scheme. 

Participants will have the opportunity to put forward their own questions on policy, innovation, and the future of farming.

Register now and join us for an enlightening discussion!

About George Eustice 

George Eustice was Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from 13 February 2020 to 6 September 2022. He was previously Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) from 11 May 2015 to 13 February 2020.

He was elected as the Conservative MP for Camborne and Redruth in 2010 and served on the EFRA Select Committee from 2010.

George is from a farming background, and his family still run a fruit farm, restaurant and farm shop in Cornwall where they also have a herd of South Devon cattle and the country’s oldest herd of British Lop pigs. 

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BOFIN Blog PROBITY

BOFIN Blog:

What can farmers learn from Bovaer?

When Arla announced towards the end of November it was to trial Bovaer, a feed additive used to reduce methane emissions from dairy cows, it prompted a maelstrom of concern from consumers and some farmers. This was reportedly fuelled by misleading information designed to debunk the technology.

The question is why? And following on from that, was it a step backwards for advances in farming or were there lessons learned?

An important question – not just for partners in The PROBITY Project but the wider industry too – is whether there will be a similar backlash when precision-bred crops are introduced into commercial field trials for the first time here in England later this year.

Here’s some information about Bovaer from the Food Standards Agency, the NFU, AHDB, the manufacturer DSM-Firmenich, and Arla. 

BBC Verify has looked into the media storm that followed the announcement of the trial. It has also received coverage in The Guardian, among others.

It will be a matter of personal choice for dairy farmers as to whether they use it. For some, adding a small amount of 3-Nitrooxypropanol to the feed intake of their herd is no different to an arable farmer who applies a small amount of isoflucypram (as in Iblon) to their wheat crop. It’s a simple solution to quite a major problem with clear benefits.

For others this is meddling with nature. It’s a cheat, which introduces an imbalance that is not sustainable. There are other ways for dairy farmers to reduce emissions, as there are other ways to reduce disease pressure on wheat crops.

What lies at the heart of this is the gut microbiome. Like the soil microbiome it is incredibly complex. Science is only just beginning to understand them.

For farmers, we know the two are inextricably linked. Both the soil and gut microbiomes have a massive influence on the performance of farming systems. Use the soil microbiome effectively to grow nutrient-dense food and this will engender a healthy gut microbiome, both for the livestock in our care and for those we feed.

But we actually know precious little about how to do this, nor how to use potentially powerful technologies in our quest to do it better.

Take gene-editing for example. 

Bold claims are made by scientists about how plant signalling pathways can be influenced and the extraordinary abilities to interact with the soil microbiome this then confers.

So how should farmers respond? We can choose to take the scientists at their word. They are the experts. We can rely on them to develop commercial products with industry partners. We don’t need to know how they work, just how they add to our profitability.

Or we are better off without this technology. We can work with scientists to gain knowledge about these complex natural systems without creating an imbalance and skewing our view of what’s truly sustainable.

Or we can work with scientists as they introduce these new traits. We can use the technology to understand this complex science better. We can co-develop the products and tailor them to how we’d like them to work in the field.

It’s an important choice. Because until farmers truly understand the living organisms in our care, and that’s all of them – animals, plants, microbes – we will continue to be misunderstood by consumers and misrepresented by our politicians.

And it’s the backlash that we witnessed with Bovaer, and a rational perspective on how a new technology is perceived was lost in a noisy, thrashing sea of misinformation.

There is more information on the Sequence Circle about gene-editing and precision-bred crops. How do we do better with gene-editing and precision-bred crops this than we did with Bovaer?

Join the discussion on The Sequence Circle.

Tom Allen-Stevens is founder of the British On-Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN), which leads PROBITY, a £2.2M Defra-funded project bringing precision-bred crops to commercial farms in England for the first time in Europe

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BOFIN Event

Genomics: A new frontier in crop production

Webinar will examine how the world of plant genomics is shaping modern farming

Farmers have the chance to explore the fascinating world of genomics with the help of an expert panel of leading crop specialists and researchers alongside agroecology consultant Ben Taylor-Davies at a free webinar taking place on 27 February.  

The British On-Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN) and Unium Bioscience will host the webinar, called ‘Genomics: A new frontier in crop production’ on Thursday 27 February 2025 to explore how plant genomics – studying how gene expression and targeted biological solutions – are driving innovation. From advanced biostimulants to sustainable strategies for boosting crop resilience and productivity, attendees will gain insights into cutting-edge developments shaping modern farming.

register for webinar

Speakers: 

Layne Ellen Harris PhD, owner and research consultant at foresight agronomics, with a PhD in plant molecular biology and over a decade of experience in agricultural research, will outline how nutrition and bioactive compounds influence gene expression and how this insight helps optimise plant growth and health naturally.

Tim Eyrich, head of agronomy and Innovation at HELM Agro, will give insight into the practical application of biological solutions in the field, delving into independent trials conducted by Unium Bioscience, which involve extracting plant DNA, analysing genome sequencing to understand plant functions, and evaluating how biological products influence these traits.

Farmer and agroecology consultant Ben Taylor-Davies will offer his own insights, having used biological products on his own farm, and will join the experts to chair the closing interactive panel session. 

John Haywood and Andrew Cromie of Unium Bioscience will also be available to address research-related questions.

The webinar is being organised by Unium Bioscience to highlight groundbreaking research into how the analysis of plant genomics can boost crop production on farms in collaboration with BOFIN. 

“Nutrigenomics studies how nutrition and bioactive compounds influence gene expression. Researchers can observe which genes are upregulated or downregulated under different conditions,” explains Unium Bioscience director, John Haywood. 

“Pioneering research has shown how targeted nutrition and biostimulants can enhance plant performance. 

“For example, they can enhance stress tolerance, improve water use efficiency, and boost yields. Nutrigenomics provides the scientific foundation to understand and refine how these compounds work at the genetic level. By tailoring biostimulants to specific crop needs, farmers can achieve targeted outcomes, such as higher quality produce or greater resistance to environmental challenges,” says John. 

“It’s so important to stay in touch with the latest advances and this is an opportunity for farmers to learn and ask questions about genomics, including how farming practices affect them and how effective they are, direct from the expects,” says BOFIN Founder Tom Allen-Stevens. 

To register for the webinar, which takes place on Thursday 27th February, click the button:

register for webinar

Notes to editors

Press release issued by Sophie Robinson at Wilesmith Ltd e: sophie@wilesmith.co.uk t: 07837852673

About Unium Bioscience 

Unium Bioscience is a science lead innovator in the biologicals, bio stimulants, specialty fertiliser and alternative crop protection industry, located in Howden, UK.

The company mission is based on plant physiology, linking research with practical modern agriculture providing growers with hi-tech affordable ways to maximise crop production. Unium is very aware of the changing needs in the global agricultural market and strives continually to provide innovative solutions.

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BOFIN Event

Detecting nitrogen in crops from space – for the first time ever!

Join us at the upcoming webinar: ‘Satellite 2.0: Detecting nitrogen in crops from space’

Farmers interested in cutting-edge technology are invited to a webinar exploring the potential opportunities of hyperspectral satellite imaging for optimising fertiliser use.

As the only satellite technology able to detect the specific wavelengths required for remote crop nitrogen analysis, hyperspectral imaging has ‘game-changing potential’ believes UK agri-tech start-up Messium, which is co-hosting the webinar with The British On-Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN).

REGISTER FOR WEBINAR

“Previous generations of satellites couldn’t detect nitrogen in the crop – only biomass,” said Messium CEO George Marangos-Gilks. “Hyperspectral satellites are able to do both making this a game changer for farmers wanting to make best use of nitrogen applications.

“Whats more, commercial hyperspectral satellites are now available at scale, meaning that the value is there for farmers now.” 

Integrating this data with leading crop growth models and real-time weather information, gives farmers actionable insight to improve the Nitrogen Use Efficiency of their crops, he explained.

The virtual event ‘Satellite 2.0: Detecting nitrogen in crops from space’ at 8.30am on Wednesday 29thJanuary will explain the science behind the technology and optimal fertiliser use. Attendees will also hear from a farmer involved in Messium’s 2024 commercial pilot which involved 40 farms and saw an average 29% improvement in Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE).

“This led to an average uplift in profit of 7%, where the technology was correcting under-fertilisation, and 12% where cropped areas had previously been over-fertilised,” continued George Marangos-Gilks.

Tom Allen-Stevens, Founder of BOFIN said: “It’s essential that farmers can make best use of the latest technology if they are to increase productivity and sustainability in 2025 and beyond. Satellite technology has become part of the toolkit for UK farmers seeking precision application, so hyperspectral imaging should be of huge interest to those wanting to take their production to the next level.” 

To register or for more information click the button below:

REGISTER FOR WEBINAR

Notes to editors

Press enquiries to Clemmie Gleeson clemmie@bofin.org.uk

Photo of George Marangos-Gilks and a QR code for the booking page are available HERE

About BOFIN:

  • The British On-Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN) was founded in September 2020 by Tom Allen-Stevens to represent farmers who carry out their own on-farm trials.
  • The network currently has over 500 farmers within a total membership of around 3500. The rest are scientists, knowledge exchange managers, industry innovators and a large following of citizen scientists.
  • Membership of BOFIN is free and there is no obligation to carry out on-farm trials, or to get involved. But for those who do, the aim for BOFIN Farmers is to seek a more scientific approach to on-farm trials. We encourage collaboration, discussion, and offer a platform to share ideas and for these to be valued.
  • BOFIN Farmers have a bent for pre-commercial technology. We seek a more sustainable, resilient path for agriculture, both for the UK and worldwide. But the journey to get there should be exciting, inspiring and exhilarating. 
  • Find out more and join at www.bofin.org.uk 

About Messium:

  • Messium is an agri-tech start-up backed by Innovate UK, and the UK & European Space Agencies. 
  • It uses cutting-edge hyperspectral satellites and crop models to offer accurate and frequent insights to growers on the level of Nitrogen in wheat crops. With these insights, growers can optimise their fertiliser regimes to maximise yield and protein, minimise waste, and reduce harmful emissions. 
  • The Messium model has been rigorously trained on 13,000+ samples from more than 300 trial sites in 23 countries, including 50 strip trials with rate-specific recommendations. 
  • It’s 2024 commercial pilot involved 40 farms with more farms taking part in 2025.
  • Find out more at www.messium.co.uk  
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BOFIN

Funding boost for farmer-led trials through ADOPT fund 

The long-awaited ADOPT fund will launch this spring, but the government has not confirmed if it will commit the previously promised £44 million.

The fund was first announced in November 2023 as part of the Farming Innovation Programme, by former Environment Secretary Steve Barclay. Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT), promised businesses the opportunity to apply for a share of £44 million to test and trial new technology and techniques on farms. However, the new government put it on hold.

Speaking at Oxford Farming Conference today Defra Secretary of State Steve Reed confirmed that ADOPT would go ahead this spring. It would fund farmer-led trials “to bridge the gap between new technologies and their real-world application” he said. However, when questioned he failed to confirm the value of the total fund, saying that the Treasury would confirm this in subsequent announcements. 

Defra Secretary of State Steve Reed

“Our intention is to support these schemes and innovation because the future of the sector is dependent on getting that right,” he said.

Oxfordshire farmer and founder of the British On-Farm Innovation Network Tom Allen-Stevens said: “This fund is desperately needed and should never have been put on hold, so it is welcome news that it is now finally being rolled out. 

“Farmers need access to the latest technology and innovation which is most appropriate to their businesses. ADOPT is a very exciting programme which should make it possible to bring new tech onto farms to thoroughly test what does and doesn’t deliver.

Tom Allen-Stevens

“While Reed acknowledged the role of innovation in agriculture, he failed to commit to restarting other measures of the Farming Innovation Programme, importantly the Farming Equipment Technology Fund,” he continued. 

“This stimulus is desperately needed as we have already seen manufacturers diverting investment in innovation away from the UK since it went on hold last year.”

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BOFIN

CropTec 2024

The CropTec Show 2024 at NAEC Stoneleigh on November 27 and 28, brings together industry professionals, researchers and innovators to explore the latest advances in arable technology. 


This year’s show will feature three theatres focusing on Innovation, Knowledge, and Profit. Here are a few CropTec highlights for BOFIN members…


Gene-editing panel
BOFIN’s Tom Allen-Stevens and PROBITY Technical lead Prof Nigel Halford of Rothamsted Research will join other experts to discuss the transformative potential of gene-editing technologies. Head to the Innovation Theatre at 2pm on 27thNovember to hear how precision breeding can improve crop resilience and yield, addressing both opportunities and regulatory challenges. 


Soil Health
Soil Health is the focus of a session starting at 10am on day 2. Tom Allen-Stevens will reveal highlights from the TRUTH project and BOFIN trialist Tim May will share how his transition from conventional broad acre farming to mixed farming has impacted the health of his soils at Kingsclere Estate, Hampshire. 


Exhibitor highlights
More than 150 arable focussed businesses and research organisations can be found in the exhibition halls including BOFIN research partners UK Agri-Tech Centre (stand 1.456) and Rothamsted Reseach (stand 1.452). 


BOFIN events
Don’t miss BOFIN’s own events at CropTec. As well as launching The Sequence Circle and our new #PROBITYPledge campaign we will showcase the latest findings from the NCS and TRUTH projects. These special events being held in The Oak Tree room adjacent to the main hall. Read more HERE.
 
CropTec links
Full the conference programme click HERE
To register for your free CropTec tickets click HERE

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BOFIN

Free soil analysis opportunity

Free soil analysis opportunity

Farmer members of BOFIN are invited to take part in a free soil analysis offer.

PES Technologies is partner in the TRUTH Project which is helping develop a special soil sensor which can ‘smell’ a soil’s biological profile.

The project’s Root Rangers are already helping by supplying samples, but PES has identified that it needs an additional 500 samples to validate the sensor. 

The PES team is particularly keen to receive samples of lighter, low organic matter soils. 

Therefore all BOFIN farmer members are being given the opportunity to receive detailed analysis of their soil. Participants will need to supply samples from three in-field points (1kg per sample), plus one reference point (1kg). Boxes, shipping, sample bags and protocols will all be provided. 

In return the farmers will receive the following results: pH, Organic Matter %, P mg/l,  K mg/l, Mg mg/l, P index, K index, Mg index, O.M. LOI %, Bulk Density kg/l, Carbonate Class, Soil Inorganic Carbon (SIC) %, Total Carbon %, Total Nitrogen %, C:N Ratio, Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) %, Organic Carbon Stock t/ha, Sand 2.00-0.063mm % w/w, Silt 0.063-0.002mm % w/w, Clay <0.002mm % w/w, Textural Classification, Nitrate Nitrogen mg/kg, Ammonium Nitrogen mg/kg, and Dry Matter %.

Anyone interested in taking part should contact Dominic Edwards at PES directly on d.edwards@pestechnologies.com

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BOFIN

Make the most of knowledge exchange opportunities

‘Make use of knowledge exchange opportunities’

Farmers are being encouraged to take part in sharing knowledge and ideas via a series of specialist online forums.

Exchanging knowledge is a key part of the projects coordinated by the British On-Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN).

Founder Tom Allen-Stevens said: “On-farm trials are advancing expertise in sustainable farming, but we don’t want to keep our findings to ourselves. As well as hosting in-person events and publishing knowledge guides, leaflets and articles we have the Knowledge in Farming section on The Farming Forum to enable online discussion.”

This is a dedicated section for farmers – and anyone else interested – to learn from the BOFIN trials but also to host wider discussion around specific areas of interest.

Sections on the forum are the Soil Circle, Slug Circle and Pulse PEP reflecting the work being carried out within the TRUTH, SLIMERS and NCS projects respectively. Each Circle has a resource hub hosting a range of useful resources as well as the discussion forums. A fourth Circle to host discussion and resources on precision bred crops will be launched later this year.

Expert input

“This month our research partners are launching a new series of discussion threads to bring in their areas of expertise,” added Tom. “It’s an excellent opportunity to learn from scientists, researchers and other innovative farmers. I strongly encourage farmers to make time to use of this fabulous resource.”

BOFIN members are automatically registered and allocated a username and password for The Farming Forum when their first join the network, allowing them to access and join in the discussions straight away. Anyone who has mislaid their log-in details can enter their email address and click on ‘forgotten password’ at The Farming Forum for a reminder via email.

For tips on engaging with forum discussions read ‘Online discussion top tips’ and visit www.thefarmingforum.co.uk to get involved.

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BOFIN

Knowledge in Farming:

‘Top tips’ for online discussions

The Knowledge in Farming section of The Farming Forum is BOFIN’s online platform for farmers to enhance their expertise and engage in meaningful discussion about agricultural practices and policy. Here, BOFIN’s Community Manager Skye Melita shares her ‘top tips’ for getting started and making the most of online discussions on the Soil Circle, Slug Circle and PulsePEP.

Create your profile

BOFIN members are automatically sent a username and password for The Farming Forum when they first join the network. When you first log in you should change your password to something you will remember. You can also change your username if you wish, add an image and further details to your profile. What you include is entirely up to you, but could reflect your farming business, including the types of crops or livestock you manage and – if you are BOFIN trialist – indicate which of our trials you are involved in.

Your profile is what others see and helps them understand your perspective, making it easier to connect with like-minded people. If you’re not a BOFIN member already you can sign up here for free.

Active participation

Engagement is key to benefiting from the forum. Start by reading existing threads to understand ongoing conversations. Then, contribute by sharing your experiences or asking questions about topics that interest you – anything goes (within reason)! Your insights will be valuable to others, and asking questions can lead to really informative exchanges.

Use the resources

The Knowledge in Farming section also hosts a hub of resources aimed at enhancing knowledge exchange. Have a look through these sections to find webinars, articles, and research reports which can help you stay informed about best practices and the latest innovations.

Build relationships

Networking is another essential element of knowledge exchange. Reach out to other members through direct messages or by commenting on their posts. Whatever your query you will find someone on the Circles who has the experience to help you.

Be open-minded

In any discussion forum, people will have differing opinions. Approach conversations with respect and an open mind. Engaging constructively with diverse viewpoints can be just as useful as finding people who share your views.

Follow up on discussions

After participating in discussions consider following up with members who provided valuable insights or resources. This could involve thanking them for their contributions or asking further questions based on what you’ve learned. 

By actively engaging with the Circles you can enhance your knowledge, share valuable experiences, and contribute to a vibrant community of innovative farmers.

Get involved at: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?categories/knowledge-in-farming.265/