Deadline: 4-Jun-21
The Southern SARE is accepting applications for its Research Grant program- a competitive grant for teams of interdisciplinary researchers that encourage a systems approach in sustainable agriculture.
Southern SARE’s Research Grants are the flagship grants of the program.
They were the first grants offered when the program was launched in 1988, and were the only sustainable grants available to researchers and educators until additional grant programs were added to SSARE in 1994.
The Call for Proposals includes relevant priority areas that allow researchers to more accurately categorize their research project. These categories include: Emerging area, minority and limited resource farmers; organic farming systems; environmentally sound practices/agriculture ecosystems; marketing/economic development; policy, project evaluation and quality of life; and women in sustainable agriculture.
Categories
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, post harvest-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.
- Post harvest/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 post harvest/food systems research: While some research can be separated into production and post harvest 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
- Research Grant project maximums are $400,000, limited to three (3) years.
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.
- 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.
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 consultants are eligible to apply for Research Grants.
For more information, visit https://southern.sare.org/grants/apply-for-a-grant/research-education-grants/