The Northeast SARE Research for Novel Approaches grant program funds ‘proof of concept’ applied research projects that are designed to confirm the benefits and/or feasibility of new practices and approaches—i.e., Novel Approaches—in agriculture.
Donor Name: Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)
State: Selected States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 02/02/2026
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: 3 Years
Details:
These applied research projects must have some existing evidence from previous experiments or pilot projects (your own or others) suggesting that the practice or approach is beneficial and feasible, but further testing, data, and refinement are needed before it can be recommended for widespread adoption by farmers.
Research for Novel Approaches Grant projects require an explicit connection to the needs and interests of farmers in the Northeast. All proposals must include documented interest among farmers and service providers in utilizing or promoting the novel approach should it be proven beneficial and feasible.
This program encourages innovative solutions to challenges in farming and food systems in the Northeast USA, including but not limited to the areas of:
- Marketing and business
- Crop production
- Raising livestock
- Aquaculture
- Economic and social sustainability
- Ecological knowledge
- Projects related to climate and/or bioenergy work that provide direct or indirect benefits to farmers, ranchers, and private foresters
Funding Information
There is no cap on total grant requests, however, requests typically fall between $30,000 and $200,000. A total of $1,300,000 has been allocated to fund projects this cycle.
Project Period
Projects must conclude by November 30, 2029 and the typical project length is 3 years.
Geographic Area
Geographic area Northeast SARE grants must engage communities in the Northeast USA, which includes the following areas: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Vermont, and Washington, D.C.
Eligibility Criteria
Members of the Northeast SARE Administrative Council, SARE staff, and SARE State Coordinators are not permitted to be funded or named in proposals.
Project Leader Eligibility
The Project Leader can be anyone who works with farmers, including personnel at:
- Nonprofit organizations
- For profit businesses (including farms) that provide agricultural consulting, veterinary services, etc.
- Farms, farmers, farm employees and farming community groups
- Communities committed to building the capacity and resilience of sustainable agriculture
- Colleges and universities
- Cooperative Extension
- Municipalities
- State Departments of Agriculture
- Federal agencies like NRCS
Organization Eligibility
The Project Leader must be housed at an organization that:
- Can sign and commit to a contract with Northeast SARE
- Has enough funds to cover at least the first two months of project expenses. Northeast SARE grants are reimbursement-based. Advance payments are not possible. Reimbursements can be made as frequently as monthly. The reimbursement from the first month can be used toward future month’s expenses.
- Can register in SAM.gov to get a required Unique Entity Identifier, if your project is awarded.
- Will respond promptly to communications from Northeast SARE.
- Is able to implement the project as outlined in the proposal.
- Can submit annual reports each year of the project, plus a final report within 60 days of the project end date.
For more information, visit Northeast SARE.
