Farming and Countryside Programme: Tests and Trials

Tests and Trials provide evidence to help shape the development and delivery the environmental land management schemes and others that are part of the Farming and Countryside Programme. They are aimed at conducting research to contribute to our understanding of how parts of environmental land management schemes (Sustainable Farming Incentive, Countryside Stewardship and Landscape Recovery) work in a real-life environment. We are using Tests and Trials to support the delivery of the schemes by working with farmers to identify issues and develop solutions. Our work also feeds into wider policy areas.

Costs will be awarded based on funds from the Reimbursement Fund. Proposal holders will be responsible for the implementation of their test and/or trial. We have agreed to make limited funding available to meet some of the expenses incurred to enable proposal holders to implement their proposals, and to help them meet the costs to deliver their test or trial.

We will only support proposal holders to conduct trials where we need to provide evidence and learning of the feasibility of new or innovative delivery mechanisms, such as reverse auctions and payments by results. Please see attachment 6 for more information