Dear Colleagues,
The Western Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) is a program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that functions through competitive grants conducted cooperatively by farmers, ranchers, researchers and ag professionals to advance farm and ranch systems that are profitable, environmentally sound and good for communities.
Western SARE provides grants in several categories, and is currently soliciting applications for the following upcoming grants with 2020 deadlines:
- Professional Development Program grantsfocus on training agricultural professionals to help them spread knowledge about sustainable agriculture concepts and practices. Grants can run for up to three years, with the final year to be focused on project evaluation. Applications are due November 12, 2020.
- Farmer/Rancher Grants involve agricultural producers (main applicants) and technical advisor(s) implementing projects to address identified needs in sustainable agriculture. With the support and guidance of the technical advisor, producers must integrate research and education to conduct on-site/on-farm experiments to improve production, marketing, and the environment. It is expected that outcomes of funded projects will result in quantifiable benefits for producers, increase the preservation of the natural and social resources upon which agriculture relies, and be shared with other producers. Applications are due November 2, 2020
- Professional + Producer Grants involve agricultural professional (main applicant) and producers implementing projects to address identified needs in sustainable agriculture. With the collaboration of producers, projects must integrate research and education aiming to advance the three components of sustainable agriculture- environmental, economic, and social- and use innovative educational outreach to disseminate new knowledge to producers and other agricultural stakeholders. It is expected that outcomes of funded projects will result in quantifiable benefits for producers, increase the preservation of the natural and social resources upon which agriculture relies, and be shared with other producers. Applications are due November 4, 2020.
- Research to Grass Roots Grants build on the SARE concept that results of applied research are used to train agricultural professionals and producers in the latest principles of sustainable agriculture. Successful R2GR projects will take the research results from previously funded SARE projects and bring those results into the field through education to ag professionals and producers. Applications are due November 18, 2020.
- Sabbatical Research and Education grants provide an opportunity for faculty around the world to partner with farmers, ranchers, agricultural professionals, and researchers of the Western U.S. region for conducting research, education, and Extension activities. Projects focused on unexplored topics in underserved communities and understudied geographic locations are of special interest. Applications are due January 11, 2021.
To learn more about these funding opportunities, review application requirements, and apply for funding, please visit the Western SARE website: https://western.sare.org/Grants/
Thank you.
Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)