Apply for North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Grants

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Timeline
Timelines are subject to change. Always adhere to the due date listed in the current Call for Proposals.

• August - Call for Preproposals Released
• October- Preproposals Due
• January - Full Proposals Invited
• March - Full Proposals Due
• July - Funding Decisions
• Fall - Funds Available to Recipient

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About the Research and Education Grant Program
The North Central Region SARE (NCR-SARE) Research and Education (R&E) Grant Program is a competitive grant program for researchers and educators involved in projects that explore and promote environmentally sound, profitable, and socially responsible food and/or fiber systems.

Research and Education projects include a strong outreach component and significant farmer/rancher or other end-user involvement from the inception of the idea through the implementation of the project. Generally:

• Research and Education grant awards range from $10,000 to $250,000.
• Projects may last up to 36 months or may choose to propose a long-term project.
• NCR-SARE anticipates funding 10-14 Research and Education projects per year.
• The NCR-SARE Administrative Council makes Grant-making decisions.
• Collaborative teams build research and Education grants.
• Producers are key participants in grant activities.
• Coordinators are encouraged to explore social, environmental, AND economic aspects of whole systems.
• All projects include a strong outreach component.
• A sample call for preproposals is available throughout the year, but you should always consult the current call for preproposals when applying.
• The portfolio of research grants is reviewed and awarded on an annual timeline.
• Take a look at grants that have been previously funded.
• View the grants funded in the last grant cycle.

Many projects are interdisciplinary and/or multi-institutional, involving a broad range of agricultural interests. Project coordinators in the past have explored sustainable agriculture under the following topics:

• Sustainable pest and weed mgmt.
• Marketing and local food systems
• Water quality and nutrient mgmt.
• Systems research
• High tunnels and season extension
• Crop diversification
• Cover crops and soil health
• Small ruminants/poultry/cattle
• Pastured livestock/grazing systems
• Pollinators and biodiversity
• Urban agriculture

NCR-SARE can provide grant applications, reports from other projects, lists of funded projects, or other sustainable agriculture information. To receive more information about the NCR-SARE Research and Education Program preproposal/proposal process and timeline, contact the NCR-SARE office.
Funding decisions are made by a regional Administrative Council (AC), with a review from a Technical Committee. The Administrative Council is a collection of producers, university representatives, nonprofit group interests, Extension and NRCS people, other government employees, and agribusiness representatives. This group sets research priorities and recommends projects for funding.

NCR-SARE's Long-Term Funding Option for the Research and Education Grant Program
NCR-SARE recognizes that some research/extension systems work is complex and requires a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach that takes many years to complete. To be effective, these projects are likely to exceed the time limits of North Central SARE’s normal one-to-three year funding cycle. Projects that apply under the long-term (more than 3 years) option in the preproposal will be asked to briefly describe why this is a longer-term project and the project's estimated duration. The justification might include the complexity of the project's set-up or relationship building, the ecosystem processes at play, or the need for longer-term data collection/analysis. 
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Presentation
This 2022 Research and Education Grant Program presentation was prepared by NCR-SARE.

• Download PowerPoint slides about the Research and Education Grant program. 

Personal Contact
A unique aspect of NCR-SARE is our personal contact with grantees involved in the program. Contact Beth Nelson, the Research and Education Program Coordinator, if you have questions about the Research and Education Grant Program.

• Beth Nelson, Ph.D. Regional Coordinator (Chapter 1) and Director of Research and Education Programs, 612-626-4436, bethnelson@umn.edu
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Recent Grant Projects
Click on the links below to access lists of funded project information. You can also view lists of projects that have been funded in your state.

Professional Development
List of 2020 Professional Development Program Projects

​Research and Education
List of 2021 Research and Education Projects

Youth Educator
List of 2021 Youth Educator Projects

Graduate Student
List of 2021 Graduate Student Projects

Farmer Rancher
List of 2021 Farmer Rancher Projects

Partnership
List of 2021 Partnership Projects