The Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) 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 & Education (SARE)
State: Selected States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 06/07/2024
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
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.
SSARE encourages applications for the Research and Education program that focus on resilience to climate change. Projects that explore the social, economic, and environmental issues are encouraged, including climate mitigation strategies, interventions for farmers, ethical issues, consumer behavior, renewable energy, and branding.
Priority Areas
Projects in all areas of sustainable agriculture are always welcome and are encouraged, especially emerging new ideas not covered by the following list. For the information, they ask that you choose only one of the following Project Areas. Pick the one that best fits your project:
- 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.
Funding Information
Research Grant project maximums are $400,000, limited to three (3) years.
Eligibility Criteria
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 Requirements
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, even if 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.
For more information, visit SARE.
