The Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education is requesting pre-proposals for Systems Research Projects that address issues of sustainable agriculture of current and potential importance to the region and the nation.
Donor Name: Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
State: Selected States
Territory: Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 06/02/2023
Size of the Grant: $400,000
Grant Duration: 3 years
Details:
Southern SARE seeks projects that explore a systems approach to sustainable agriculture. Systems research is based on the concept that a system is a function of its parts, or components, and that each component interacts, interconnects, interrelates, and in some cases influences each other. Interaction and dependency between system parts, in essence, add to the whole. From this perspective, breaking a system into components actually causes the researcher to lose some of what is under investigation. Researchers need to study systems intact. How much those parts and their interactions do or do not relate to agricultural sustainability is the question the researcher must answer.
Southern SARE accepts proposals from applicants in the Southern region: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
To retain their historical strengths, to advance sustainable agriculture, and to encourage a systems approach to research, SSARE offers three categories for Research Grants: production research, postharvest-food systems research, or a continuum that spans both.
- Production research—Focused on actual production methods, this kind of research has made up the bulk of SARE’s project portfolio in the past and has developed techniques that have become common tools for farmers. SSARE continues to fund these types of research proposals as they provide key parts of a larger holistic system, particularly as they relate to farmer participation in their program and complement the Producer, On-farm, Professional Development, and Graduate Student grant programs.
- Postharvest/food systems research—These projects examine what happens past the farm gate such as in the markets, distribution systems and policy making. This category can serve as a funding path for social science researchers to also make a difference in their farm and food systems.
A combination of production and postharvest/food systems research—While some research can be separated into production and postharvest levels, they also seek to encourage attempts to provide integration of the different levels of the agricultural system, as well as the different sciences that lend more value to the results. The ultimate in systems research would connect what goes on in the ground with everything that happens after a crop is harvested, including adding value, marketing, infrastructure for processing and transportation, as well as policy making.
Funding Information
- Maximum funding amount for Systems Research Projects is $400,000. Pre-proposals with smaller funding requests are welcomed and encouraged.
- Systems Research Project duration is limited to three (3) years.
Who can apply?
Researchers from public and private institutions, such as 1862 and 1890 land-grant universities or other colleges and universities; government agencies, such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service or USDA-ARS; non-governmental organizations; community-based organizations; agribusiness; and individuals such as ag consultants are eligible to apply for Research Grants.
Grant Requirement
Research Grant proposals must meet the following basic requirements in order to be considered for funding:
- Project outcomes must focus on developing sustainable agriculture systems or moving existing systems toward sustainable agriculture.
- Projects must involve a systems research approach to sustainable agriculture. Emphasis in Research Grants is placed on farmer participation, particularly for the production projects, on the relevance to sustainable agriculture, and on the strength of a holistic approach.
- At least three (3) cooperating farmers must be involved in the project, each with a unique and detailed role. For farmers involved in your project, the primary occupation is farming/ranching or part-time farming. Producers run their farm alone or with family or partners and have a least $1,000 of documented annual income from the operation, as defined by USDA. SSARE also considers proposals with farmers from indigenous agriculture that produces products for community food systems.
- These enterprises may be eligible where the production activity has an annual value of less than $1,000, but products are not sold due to cultural factors. The project’s central purpose must be research-based with an educational/outreach component to extend the project findings to the public, with specific applicability for and potential adoption by farmers.
Project Area
Projects in all areas of sustainable agriculture are always welcome and are encouraged, especially emerging new ideas not covered by the following list:
- Emerging Area
- Minority and Limited Resource Farmers;
- Environmentally Sound Practices/Agricultural Ecosystems;
- Marketing/Economic Development;
- Organic Farming Systems;
- Policy, Program Evaluation, Quality of Life;
- Women in Sustainable Agriculture.
For more information, visit Southern SARE.
