Discovery Trials
Meaningful innovation in agriculture doesn’t always start with a research grant or a five-year plan. We created the Discovery Trial grant to provide an incentive for farmers to try something unusual on a small piece of ground — not because it's proven, but because it might work. Discovery Trials exist to make more of those experiments possible.
Discovery Trials support farmer-driven experiments in new crops, new practices, and new markets that are just crazy enough to work. These trials take place on real farms, under real conditions, at a scale designed to learn. We’re not looking for polished proposals or guaranteed outcomes. We’re looking for clear thinking, grounded logic, and the courage to test an idea that others wouldn’t.
Each Discovery Trial is an intentional, limited experiment: small enough to fail safely, large enough to generate insight that other farmers can use. Failure is acceptable — silence is not. Grant recipients commit to documenting what they try and sharing what they learn, because the real value of Discovery Trials isn’t just the outcome on one farm, but the knowledge that spreads to many.
If you’re a farmer with an idea you can’t shake — Discovery Trials are for you. This is how Farmer-Driven Innovation begins: one acre, one season, and a willingness to learn in public.
Discovery Trials
Discovery Trials put lightweight capital directly in the hands of farmers to explore new crops, practices, and markets that existing systems won’t touch. Apply for the opportunity to win $10,000 to run a one-year Discovery Trial through the season. The winner will be announced at the Annual Meeting on Wednesday, March 25th, 2026. Share your journey with us throughout the trial season. Results and recommendations of your findings will be presented post-harvest.
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What's your idea?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Discovery Trial?
A Discovery Trial is a farmer-led experiment focused on learning. It is designed to explore early-stage or uncertain ideas before committing more acres, animals, capital, or reputation.
Who are Discovery Trials for?
Discovery Trials are for curious, thoughtful farmers who want to test ideas responsibly and share what they learn—regardless of outcome.
Do I need to be confident the idea will work?
No. Discovery Trials exist because the outcome is uncertain. Honest curiosity matters more than confidence.
Does a Discovery Trial need to be profitable?
Not immediately. The goal is insight. However, the learning should be relevant to long-term farm profitability, resilience, or decision-making.
What if the trial fails or produces negative results?
That is an acceptable and often valuable outcome. Learning what does not work can prevent costly mistakes later.
How big or small should a Discovery Trial be?
Discovery Trials should be intentionally contained—small enough to fail safely, but large enough to generate real-world learning.
What kinds of ideas are eligible?
Discovery Trials may include crops, livestock, grazing systems, equipment, infrastructure, business models, or ideas that don’t yet fit a clear category (the “???”).
How much time and reporting is required?
Reporting is intentionally light. Participants provide brief updates during the season, a short written summary at the end, and two presentations.
Who owns the data and ideas?
Farmers retain ownership of their ideas and data. AgVentures Alliance receives permission to share learnings in aggregate or case-study form.
What happens after a Discovery Trial is completed?
Some Discovery Trials conclude with clear insights. Others may evolve into future Discovery or validation efforts. All outcomes are valuable if documented.
What if I’m not sure my idea fits?
If you’re unsure, apply anyway. Discovery Trials are designed for ideas that are not fully formed.