NRCS is announcing the availability of Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) State Program funding to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies.
Donor Name: U.S. Department of Agriculture
State: Texas
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 04/24/2023
Size of the Grant: $200,000
Grant Duration: 3 years
Details:
The purpose of CIG is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies in conjunction with agricultural production. CIG projects are expected to lead to the transfer of conservation technologies, management systems, and innovative approaches (such as market-based systems) to agricultural producers, into government technical manuals and guides, or to the private sector. CIG generally funds pilot projects, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research. On-farm conservation research is defined as an investigation conducted to answer a specific applied conservation question using a statistically valid design while employing farm-scale equipment on farms, ranches or private forest lands.
CIG Priorities for FY 2023
Urban & Small Farm Agriculture Conservation
Food security and knowledge of where food is produced has become an increasing concern, particularly in urban environments. Urban and small farm agriculture has dramatically increased over the years and represents a new customer eligible for conservation technical and financial assistance. The nine-step planning process for planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating individual conservation plans. The plans are used by agriculture and forest producers to protect, conserve, and enhance natural resources within a social and economic perspective. The conservation planning process includes using tools to measure benchmark conditions and address resource concerns in diverse operations and includes urban and community agriculture systems. These tools were developed for application over a large-scale area and may be challenging to apply in the smaller setting commonly found within the urban and small farm agriculture environment.
Example of topics which Priority will be given are those that:
- Expand tools and support for training and technical assistance
- Provide new tools or methods to aid in urban conservation planning identification of resource concerns
- Provide new tools or methods to aid in urban conservation planning resource concern data collection
- Applying conservation practices in urban and community agricultural systems
- Innovative technologies to promote, coordinate, plan and implement urban conservation
- Promote urban and community agriculture and conservation systems, especially in underserved communities
Innovation in agricultural systems, technology, testing, outreach, and partnerships for the Broad-Scale Application of Climate Smart Agriculture
Climate smart agriculture conservation practices have documented environmental benefits but also have economical and working lands productivity benefit Climate smart agriculture conservation practices have documented environmental benefits but also have economical and working lands productivity benefits.
Examples of topics in which priority will be given are those that:
- Demonstrate Innovative use of climate smart conservation practice
- Develop tools to streamline soil health and climate assessments and monitoring
- Develop, demonstrate, and promote design and implementation of climate smart management systems documenting the ability of conservation practices to sequester carbon, economic viability, and effect on soil functions
- Innovative approach for adopting climate smart practices in arid environment
Innovation in natural resource assessment leading to improved conservation planning and application efficiency
Looking for projects which:
- Provide new tools or methods to aid in conservation planning inventory and assessments of soil, water, air, plants, animals, and energy resource concerns.
- Formulate new methods to develop solutions for addressing resource concerns and assist with conservation planning and implementation in emerging agricultural opportunities.
- Assist with evaluating the success of conservation practice implementation.
Proposed projects must be performed in Texas.
Funding Information
- Estimated Funding Amount: $1,000,000
- Maximum Funding Amount: $200,000
- Minimum Funding Amount: $50,000
Project Period
Projects may be between 1 and 3 years in duration. Applicants should plan their projects based on an estimated project start date of September 30, 2023.
Innovative Conservation Projects or Activities
CIG funds the development and field testing, on-farm research and demonstration, evaluation, implementation of:
- Approaches to incentivizing conservation adoption, including market-based and conservation finance approaches; and
- Conservation technologies, practices, and systems.
- Projects or activities under CIG must comply with all applicable federal, tribal, state, and local laws and regulations throughout the duration of the project; and
- Use a technology or approach that was studied sufficiently to indicate a high probability forsuccess;
- Demonstrate, evaluate, and verify the effectiveness, utility, affordability, and usability of natural resource conservation technologies and approaches in the field;
- Adapt and transfer conservation technologies, management, practices, systems, approaches, and incentive systems to improve performance and encourage adoption;
- Introduce proven conservation technologies and approaches to a geographic area or agricultural sector where that technology or approach is not currently in use.
Technologies and approaches that are eligible for funding in a project’s geographic area using an EQIP contract for an established conservation practice standard are ineligible for CIG funding, except where the use of those technologies and approaches demonstrates clear innovation.
Eligibility Criteria
All U.S. domestic, non-Federal entities and individuals are eligible to apply for projects carried out in Texas. US Federal agencies are not eligible to apply to this opportunity or impart their work to non-federal portion of the budget.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
