Help shape the future with on-farm trials

Farmers across the South East are being urged to play their part in supporting innovation by taking part in DEFRA-funded, on-farm trials.

The British On-Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN), founded by Oxfordshire farmer Tom Allen-Stevens to represent farmers who carry out their own on-farm trials, is behind the call for farmers to be at “the forefront of innovation”.

BOFIN wants farmers to take part in four trials which the organisation believes “will give them a hands-on role in shaping the future of UK agriculture while being paid for their contribution”.

The projects include PROBITY, which is bringing precision-bred crops onto farms for the first time in Europe and will involve growing varieties produced through a process known as TILLING (Targeting Induced Local Lesions in Genomes) to test traits also being introduced by gene editing.

With two of the three TILLING varieties resulting in deeper rooting, the project team is particularly interested in hearing from growers in drought-prone areas to test these varieties.

Andrew Newby, who drafted the guidelines for the trials, pointed out that there were important stipulations for growers interested in taking part, including a requirement for separate storage for the PROBITY grain and the ability to clean down all farm equipment used in the trial after use. “We will also need them to be meticulous with their record-keeping and happy to share their experiences with other farmers,” he added.

Other opportunities include becoming a ‘pulse pioneer’ or joining the SLIMERS project as a ‘slug sleuth’, which in 2025/26 will involve patch-treating against the pest this autumn, guided by novel, risk-prediction maps.

BOFIN is also interested in hearing from farmers intending to grow spring wheat in 2026 who would like to join the TRUTH project as a ‘root ranger’ to explore soil and root health.

Tom Allen-Stevens, whose network currently has more than 3,500 members, including 700-plus farmers, commented: “The future of farming is being shaped right now. BOFIN trialists have the opportunity to lead the field – taking part in vital research and driving agricultural innovation – while getting paid for their time.

“Our on-farm trials are opening doors for forward-thinking growers to test cutting-edge innovations, influence research and directly benefit from the results as well as from collaboration with leading scientists.”

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