By Simon Craven, Bielsbeck Farm, East Yorkshire.
How PAW Works
Plasma-activated water (PAW) mimics lightning by using non-thermal plasma to convert air and water into nitrate-rich fertiliser (NO₃⁻), with traces of H₂O₂, NO₂⁻, and NH₄⁺. Farmer-friendly systems (e.g., Debye Ltd’s Electric Nitrogen™, FirewaterAg UK’s affordable on-farm units) run on renewable electricity for on-site, zero-carbon production—equivalent to UAN 28. Applied via irrigation/foliar spray, it boosts bioavailable nitrogen, root growth, stress tolerance (e.g., drought/heat), and acts as a natural antimicrobial to reduce pathogens and synthetic inputs—far greener than Haber-Bosch.
Why PAW Fits ADOPT Grants
ADOPT (Defra/Innovate UK, via Farming Innovation Programme) funds farmer-led on-farm trials for productivity, sustainability, and emissions reduction. PAW trials excel here: cut fertiliser costs/imports, minimise runoff, enhance soil health/resilience, enable circular nutrients. FirewaterAg UK stands out as a very affordable UK solution with ultra-low running costs—primarily electricity (~500 watts, £1,000–£2,000/year at current rates) and minimal maintenance (~£500/year)—producing ~36,500 gallons/138,000 litres per year of equivalent fertiliser. This delivers major savings (£70,000+ annually vs. volatile UAN prices), quick payback (3–7 years), and easy integration for trials.
• Full ADOPT Grant: £50,000–£100,000
• Facilitator Support Grant: up to £2,500
Why These Opportunities Are Endless
PAW adapts to any farm scale, optimises for higher nitrates or low H₂O₂, integrates with renewables/AI for precision, and supports regenerative trends (low inputs, biodiversity, net-zero). Providers like FirewaterAg UK make it very affordable with low running costs (no fossil fuels, just cheap electricity—ideal for solar/wind pairing), while global momentum and UK projects (e.g., Electric Nitrogen™) ensure ongoing iterations for ADOPT trials.
Possible ADOPT Trial Scenarios
Arable Crops (test nutrient efficiency, yield, disease/pathogen reduction with FirewaterAg UK’s low-cost PAW):
• Wheat: foliar N boost + drought/fusarium resistance.
• Barley: seed treatment for germination/malting quality.
• Oats: growth enhancement + fungal control.
• Oilseed rape: N-efficiency + clubroot reduction.
• Potatoes: tuber health/blight control.
• Sugar beet: root stimulation + nematode resistance, in collaboration with BBRO (British Beet Research Organisation) sugar beet trialing programs for low-carbon nitrogen compatibility.
• Field vegetables (brassicas, carrots, peas/beans): germination + post-harvest decontamination.
Livestock (forage enhancement, water/hygiene treatment using FirewaterAg UK solutions):
• Poultry: drinking water/barn disinfection (Salmonella/Campylobacter reduction).
• Pigs: sanitation + wound healing.
• Dairy/beef cattle: forage nutrition + udder/wound hygiene (methane/milk benefits).
• Sheep: pasture improvement + lamb wound/parasite control.
• Other (goats/deer): niche water/forage sanitation.
Highlighted Successful ADOPT Projects (from early rounds, inspiring PAW/FirewaterAg UK proposals)
1. Mastitis Detection in Dairy Herds: Farmer-led trials of AI/rapid diagnostics to cut antibiotics, improve welfare, and lower emissions—demonstrates health/sustainability focus.
2. UV-C Light for Crop Protection (salads/brassicas/carrot production): On-farm pathogen control with reduced chemicals, plus bird deterrents—shows antimicrobial/resilience parallels to FirewaterAg UK PAW.
Key ADOPT Facilitators (May 2025 database; request updated list via ADOPTfacilitator@iukbc.org.uk)
• Daniel Kindred (ARC Agronomic Sciences, East England): Crop nutrition/on-farm trials.
• Paul Rhodes (Future Food Solutions, Yorkshire): Regenerative/sustainable systems—ideal for Yorkshire/Shropshire farmers.
• Elizabeth Stockdale (NIAB, East England): Soil/nutrient management.
• Caroline Hobson (Soilplan Ltd, Yorkshire): Agronomy/soil science.
• Stuart Knight (NIAB, East England): Applied crop research.
• Tom Allen-Stevens (BOFIN, South East): Farmer-led innovation.
Others: Alice Mauchline, Ana Reynolds, Arran Redman, Deborah Crossan, Dominic Amos, Emily Pope, Richard Meredith.
Agricultural Trial Companies/Entities Interested in ADOPT/PAW Proposals
• RSK ADAS (ADOPT Support Hub lead).
• UK Agri-Tech Centre (Electric Nitrogen™ plasma partner with Debye).
• NIAB (crop/soil trials, with regional centres in Shropshire/Telford).
• Innovation for Agriculture (regenerative focus).
• Debye Ltd (plasma nitrogen tech).
• Agua DB (NTPlus nitrate recovery plasma).
• FirewaterAg UK (very affordable PAW/on-farm nitrate solutions with low running costs; strong UK presence for bioavailable nitrogen, reduced synthetics—ideal ADOPT partner for cost-conscious trials in Yorkshire/Shropshire).
• The Soil Association, BOFIN (farmer networks).
• BBRO (British Beet Research Organisation): Leads sugar beet-specific trials, including nitrogen, drought, variety, and seed treatments—perfect for PAW testing in low-carbon fertilisers for sugar beet.
Major Arable Trial Sites (relevant to Yorkshire/Shropshire areas)
• Rothamsted (Harpenden, Hertfordshire; Brooms Barn, Suffolk; Woburn, Bedfordshire): Classical/long-term arable.
• NIAB (Histon/Cambridge; Morley/Norfolk; East Malling/Kent; Headley Hall/Yorkshire; regional centres including Shropshire/Telford, Hampshire, Devon, Lincolnshire, etc.).
• Strategic Cereal Farm East (Morley, Norfolk).
• Scottish Agronomy sites (cereals/oilseeds).
• Agrii iFarms/Technology Centres (UK-wide, with northern focus).
Major Livestock Trial Sites
• Rothamsted North Wyke (Devon): Grassland/beef/sheep GHG/nutrient studies.
• CIEL network (UK-wide, e.g., Roslin/Edinburgh-linked): Beef/dairy/sheep/pigs/poultry.
• SRUC farms (Scotland): Forage/livestock integration.
Guidance for Facilitators & Farmers
1. Request facilitator list from Innovate UK Business Connect.
2. Assess farm fit (e.g., N-demand crops in Yorkshire/Shropshire → Yorkshire/NIAB Headley Hall or Shropshire/Telford sites + FirewaterAg UK’s affordable, low-running-cost setup).
3. Use Facilitator Grant for proposal help.
4. Partner with UK Agri-Tech Centre/ADAS/FirewaterAg UK/BBRO for plasma/tech support, especially for sugar beet trialing.
5. Emphasise metrics: yield/emissions/water quality + knowledge sharing (open days/case studies) and cost savings from low ops.
Mention Tim Ellis, Simon Craven, and Christopher Coates of The First Farms as pioneers to try out the new tech in the UK from Firewater UK—they could lead early ADOPT trials in Yorkshire or Shropshire.
PAW, powered by affordable innovators like FirewaterAg UK (very low running costs, high ROI), is a scalable green nitrogen breakthrough—perfect for ADOPT. If you’re in Yorkshire, Shropshire, or nearby, connect with facilitators like Paul Rhodes or Caroline Hobson (Yorkshire focus) or NIAB Shropshire centres today. Apply now via Innovation Funding Service—let’s spark sustainable, cost-effective farming!
