GRIFFIN, Georgia – The Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SSARE) program has announced the proposals selected for funding for the 2025 Professional Development Program.
The SSARE Administrative Council recently selected 9 projects totaling $725,151. Professional Development Program Grants further education and outreach strategies for professionals and educators who work directly with farmers and ranchers.
The projects awarded for FY2025 include:
SPDP25-033 Developing a Hydroponic Training Program for Southeastern Extension Agents and Mentor Farmers, $80,000, Mississippi State University
SPDP25-034 Soil Life / Suelo Vivo: Training Resources for Identifying and Supporting Soil Invertebrates for Soil Health, $79,900, Xerces Society
SPDP25-035 Organic Systems Training for Southern Technical Service Providers and Extension Specialists, $79,975, Organic Farming Research Foundation
SPDP25-036 Supporting Expansion of Agrivoltaics Using Smart Solar Principles: Training for Agriculture Professionals and Educators in North and Central Texas, $80,000, American Farmland Trust
SPDP25-037 Expanding awareness and participation in the Eastern North Carolina aquaculture industry, $89,285, Carteret Community College
SPDP25-038 A S.E.A.T. (Strategic Empowerment of Agriculture Teachers) at the Table with MANRRS, $79,970, Tuskegee University
SPDP25-039 Creating an Ag Professional Support System for Refugee and Immigrant Farmers, $77,042, University of Kentucky
SPDP25-040 Building educational capacity to enhance the implementation of sustainable livestock production strategies in the Southeast region, $79,165, Clemson University
SPDP25-041 Training county extension agents to assist and educate homesteaders on sustainable agriculture and family and consumer sciences skill sets, $79,814, University of Arkansas
Professional Development Program Grants are one of six grant opportunities offered by Southern region SARE to support sustainable agriculture research, outreach and education. The Call for Proposals for Professional Development Program Grants usually opens in July.
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Southern SARE is a USDA-funded program that provides funding opportunities for researchers, farmers, Cooperative Extension, NGOs, government agency personnel, and other ag professionals to conduct research in sustainable agriculture. Authorized in the 1985 Farm Bill, the mission of the SARE program is to promote sustainable agriculture practices throughout American agriculture that are profitable for the farmer, protect the environment, and promote community quality of life over the long term.
For more information on Southern SARE, visit http://www.southern.sare.org.Published by the Southern Region of the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. Funded by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Southern SARE operates under cooperative agreements with the University of Georgia, Fort Valley State University, and the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture to offer competitive grants to advance sustainable agriculture in America's Southern region.
View Related SARE Grants:
- Developing a Hydroponic Training Program for Southeastern Extension Agents and Mentor Farmers (SPDP25-033)
- Soil Life / Suelo Vivo: Training Resources for Identifying and Supporting Soil Invertebrates for Soil Health (SPDP25-034)
- Organic Systems Training for Southern Technical Service Providers and Extension Specialists (SPDP25-035)
- Supporting Expansion of Agrivoltaics Using Smart Solar Principles: Training for Agriculture Professionals and Educators in North and Central Texas (SPDP25-036)
- Expanding awareness and participation in the Eastern North Carolina aquaculture industry (SPDP25-037)
- A S.E.A.T. (Strategic Empowerment of Agriculture Teachers) at the Table with MANRRS (SPDP25-038)
- Creating an Ag Professional Support System for Refugee and Immigrant Farmers (SPDP25-039)
- Building educational capacity to enhance the implementation of sustainable livestock production strategies in the Southeast region (SPDP25-040)
- Training county extension agents to assist and educate homesteaders on sustainable agriculture and family and consumer sciences skill sets (SPDP25-041)