GRIFFIN, Georgia -- The Southern region of the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program has released its Call for Pre-proposals for the 2021 Research & Education Grants program.
Applicants have a choice of whether they want to submit a systems research-based pre-proposal, or an education-based pre-proposal.
Education-based grants are different than the Professional Development Program Grant -- Southern SARE’s other education-based grant program. PDP grants are train-the-trainer grants designed for ag professionals to conduct sustainable ag education and outreach activities for the benefit of fellow colleagues.
Southern SARE’s Education Grant, falling under the Research & Education Grant Program, is a broader education and outreach effort. The grant is open to anyone in agriculture interested in conducting education and outreach activities for the benefit of the greater sustainable ag community. Non-governmental organizations are especially encouraged to apply for this grant for their education and outreach activities.
Examples of Education Grant projects funded for 2019 include educating farmers on the fundamental roles of microbes, providing opportunities for women landowners, IPM on-farm demonstrations, addressing food deserts in urban areas, and an organic seed summit.
Research pre-proposals focus on sustainable agriculture based on a systems approach to research, which aims to understand how the components of a system interact with each other and function as a whole. The central purpose of research proposals is research-based projects with an educational/outreach component involved. SSARE is looking for systems research pre-proposals of around $400,000, though smaller proposals are also welcomed.
Education pre-proposals allow applicants to focus on educational activities, in which their cooperating partners and intended audiences would be involved. Education proposals provide a synopsis of the proposed educational approach to mitigate or solve a problem and encourage farmer adoption of recommended practices or strategies. SSARE is looking for Education pre-proposals of around $50,000.
Download the Call for Pre-proposals and follow the guidelines for writing and submitting the grant application. The deadline for submitting pre-proposals is 5 p.m. EST, June 5, 2020. If selected, applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal in August. Grants will be announced in February of 2021.
The objective of the SARE program is to enable farmers and ranchers to move profitably toward production systems compatible with the goal of sustainable agriculture, including promoting good land stewardship, protecting the health and safety of people and animals, enhancing quality of life, and strengthening rural communities.
For more information on research and education projects, completed or ongoing, search the national SARE database.
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. This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, through Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.