The Western SARE Research to Grassroots grant program is intended to address the barrier(s) to application/adoption of sustainable agriculture practices as identified in previous SARE research by clearly demonstrating to agriculture professionals and/or producers the environmental, social, and economic viability of the previous research and the benefits and challenges that selected previous work may present.
Donor Name: Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
State: Selected States
County: All Counties
Territory: American Samoa, Guam, Federated States of Micronesia and Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 11/01/2023
Size of the Grant: $100,000
Grant Duration: 3 years
Details:
The Research to Grassroots (RGR) grant program is built on the SARE concept that results of applied research are used to train agricultural professionals and farmers/ranchers in the latest practices of sustainable agriculture. Successful proposals must incorporate the research results from SARE-funded research projects and bring those results into the field through education for ag professionals and producers, emphasizing the strengths and barriers to adoption of the selected previous work, ultimately helping to increase producer confidence in adopting sustainable agriculture practices.
Results from the previous SARE-funded research must be the basis of the RGR project, and the connection to the previous research must be documented in the proposal. Examples of possible educational projects under RGR grants would include, but not restricted to, local demonstrations, trainings, focus groups, and application of research results by farmers or ranchers on their own operations.
Each RGR proposal must include a team comprised of producers, ag professionals, and/or researchers. Representatives from land grant Universities, NGO’s, agency employees (such as state departments of agriculture or NRCS), or producers may lead the project. The team must have a structured plan, indicating activities such as meetings, trainings, outreach, and/or demonstrations. The role of each team member should be well explained in the proposal.
Successful proposals for the RGR grant program should:
- Bring previously funded SARE research into field application and education with a specific focus on barriers to adoption for the results of previous SARE work.
- Have outreach plans that demonstrate how the project will increase the knowledge, skills, and adoption of sustainable agriculture practices.
- Demonstrate the environmental, social, and economic relevance of the project.
Project approaches can include but are not limited to the formats provided below:
- Workshops
- Conferences
- Development of materials or curricula
- Demonstrations
- Tours
- Web-based courses, activities, and materials (podcasts, videos, self-taught lessons, etc.)
High priority regional topics include but are not limited to:
- Water for agriculture
- Ag resiliency and climate change
- Cover crops and soil health
- Local food systems
- Grazing and range issues
- Integrated crop-livestock operations
- System and enterprise diversification
- Invasive species and integrated pest management
- The human element of agriculture including families and communities
- Enhancing the profitability of agriculture.
Project Personnel Roles
- Principal Investigator (PI): person who has the authority to write and submit a proposal and carry out its contractual provisions.
- Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI): responsible for duties as outlined by the project proposal and for assisting the PI in project execution. The Co-PI typically brings a background or skillset different from the PI that complements the project.
- Cooperator(s): may represent an educator, researcher, business, corporation, producer, or others that supports and participates in efforts outlined in the project and can provide meaningful insight to the project; roles should be clearly defined in the proposal.
Funding Information
The funding limit for the Professional Development Program grant is $100,000. These grants are cost reimbursable only.
Project Length
Projects may be 1-3 years in length. Project start and end dates are chosen by the PI with the earliest start date being April 1, 2024 and cannot exceed 36 months.
Geographical Areas
The Western region includes: Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Micronesia, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.
For more information, visit Western SARE.
