Last Updated on July 27, 2026 by Sophie Wilesmith
Terravesta has secured funding through Innovate UK’s ADOPT (Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies) programme for a project that will explore how Miscanthus can be refined on farm to create higher-value, sustainable fibre products.
The project, MORF – Miscanthus On-farm Refining for Sustainable Fibre, received funding through the Full ADOPT Grant: Round 7, with assessors praising the proposal for its potential to create new income opportunities for UK Miscanthus growers.
The project will investigate decentralised fibre processing, enabling growers to move beyond supplying raw biomass into lower-value markets and instead produce feedstock for a range of higher-value bio-based applications, including sustainable packaging and medical materials.
The funding award follows a highly competitive application process, with the project receiving an overall assessment score of 77.6%. Assessors described the proposal as an “incredibly compelling” project, recognising its potential to improve farm productivity, resilience and sustainability while helping develop new markets for Miscanthus.
Florian Ilias, chief executive officer at Terravesta, said: “This project is about creating new opportunities for Miscanthus growers.
“By exploring on-farm fibre refining, we’re aiming to demonstrate how growers can move beyond supplying raw biomass and access higher-value markets. The ADOPT funding gives us the opportunity to test the concept under commercial farming conditions and share the findings with the wider industry.”
MORF was recognised for its potential to deliver significantly greater value for Miscanthus growers by supporting the development of new fibre supply chains closer to the farm.
Field trials will take place with William Cracroft-Eley and Marcus Bristow, whose farms will play a key role in demonstrating the practical application of on-farm fibre refining and its potential to increase the value of Miscanthus crops.
The MORF project represents another important milestone in Terravesta’s mission to develop new, sustainable markets for Miscanthus, creating greater value for growers while supporting the transition to a more circular, bio-based economy.
More updates on the MORF project and opportunities for growers to follow its progress will be shared over the coming months.
