The Administrative Council of the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program announces the call for proposals for Research to Grass Roots Grants for 2021.

Research to Grass Roots Grants are aimed at helping agricultural professionals, farmers, ranchers and others in the Western Region increase their understanding and proficiency in sustainable agriculture.

Proposals are evaluated by a Review Panel against the criteria outlined in this call and in comparison with other grant proposals. The Western SARE Administrative Council – a board of agricultural producers, scientists, educators and business leaders – will then make the final selections of projects to fund. The Council typically selects proposals diverse in subject matter and geography and that demonstrate outcomes farmers and ranchers in the region can successfully adopt.

SARE is a USDA competitive grants program that supports agricultural systems that are economically viable, environmentally sound and socially responsible.

Goals

• Promote good stewardship of the nation’s natural resources by providing site-specific, regional, and profitable sustainable farming and ranching methods that strengthen agricultural competitiveness; satisfy human food and fiber needs, maintain and enhance the quality and productivity of soil; conserve soil, water, energy, natural resources and fish and wildlife habitat, and maintain and improve the quality of surface and ground water.
• Enhance the quality of life of farmers and ranchers and ensure the viability of rural communities, for example, by increasing income and employment, especially profitable self-employment and innovative marketing opportunities in agricultural and rural communities.
• Protect the health and safety of those involved in food and farm systems by reducing, where feasible and practical, the use of toxic materials in agricultural production, and by optimizing on-farm resources and integrating, where appropriate, biological cycles and controls.
• Promote crop, livestock and enterprise diversification.

Funding Information

Funding limit $100,000 per project.

Eligibility Criteria

• Research to Grass Roots Grants is designed to educate agricultural professionals and producers on critical issues in sustainable agriculture. Projects must be based upon related and previously completed research by the SARE program.
• Projects must improve the ability of agricultural professionals, farmers, and ranchers to put in place systems or methods that will enhance the sustainability of agriculture.
• Multi-faceted proposals are encouraged. Projects using multiple techniques or methods are preferred, as are efforts whose results can be applied to diverse audiences.

For more information, visit SARE.