Category Archives: Agriculture

Patrick Leahy Farm to School Turnkey Grant Program

The Patrick Leahy Farm to School Turnkey Grant Program supports Action Planning, Agricultural Education, and Edible Gardens programs in the U.S.

The USDA Food & Nutrition Service expects to award 60 grants of $5,000 – $50,000 each for 24 months. There is a 25% matching requirement and applicants must commit to operating one or more federal Child Nutrition Programs. Applications are due by January 10, 2025 at 11:59 PM ET.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

K-12 schools, including nonprofit private and charter schools, that operate the National School Lunch Program and/or the School Breakfast Program
Non-school based child care centers that have an agreement with the State agency to operate the Child and Adult Care Food Program
Non-school based summer sponsors that have an agreement with the State agency to operate the Summer Food Service Program
Local agencies
Nonprofit organizations
Native American Tribal Organizations and Alaska Native Corporations
Agricultural producers

Grant Tracks

The Farm to School Turnkey program has three tracks:

Action Planning for developing a roadmap for launching or enhancing farm to school activities
Agricultural Education for incorporating agricultural education into curricula
Edible Gardens for implementing a food production operation

Required Activities

All grantees, regardless of track, are required to:

Attend at least one national or regional-level networking and training event

Action Planning

https://pixabay.com/photos/meeting-adults-business-people-4784909/

Grantees in the Action Planning Track are required to:

Form and regularly convene a diverse farm to school planning team that represents the community served
Conduct an inclusive and comprehensive action planning process
Draft a plan that identifies at least one community need that the project will address and gather input/feedback from the community
Compile and share a final action plan
Submit a Farm to School Action Plan by the end of the 24 month grant period

Agricultural Education

Grantees in the Agricultural Education Track are required to:

Establish a vision, goals, and objectives for the curriculum, including if and how local foods will be incorporated
Establish the desired outcomes and competencies to be achieved
Identify connected State Standards
Identify the student population who will participate
Develop or procure the curriculum and gather input/feedback from relevant stakeholders
Determine how the curriculum will be integrated into participating CNP sites and then carry out that plan
Develop strategies for maintaining the curriculum in the school/site beyond the grant period
Perform an evaluation of the project

Edible Gardens

*USDA Farm to School Grantee: Mancos Conservation District, Mancos, Colorado*

Grantees in the Edible Gardens Track are required to:

Form a diverse edible garden team that represents the community served, including school/site food service professionals
Establish a vision, goals, and objectives for the edible garden project, including how you will comply with any applicable Federal, State, and/or local regulations
Create a garden food safety plan
Determine the processing, storage, and ultimate use of school garden foods
Procure supplies, install, and execute the edible garden project
Perform an evaluation of the project

Allowable Expenses

Grant funds may be used for:

Equipment and supplies
Greenhouses
Food – up to 10% of federal share and only for educational purposes
Partnerships – subgrantees, contractors, and others providing a service to the project
Evaluation
Promotional items – individuals items up to $5 each; no advertising or public relations
Staff development and/or Substitute pay
Stipends
Travel

NIFA Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program

The Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program is offered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture to support projects that address food insecurity. Grants will be awarded for Planning Projects and Community Food Projects.

Applications are due by November 7, 2024 at 5:00 PM ET.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

Private nonprofit entitities
Tribal organizations
Public food program service providers

Applicants must also:

Have experience in a) community food work, b) job training and business development activities for food-related activities in communities with low incomes, or c) efforts to reduce food and nutrition insecurity in the community
Demonstrate their ability to competently implement the project, manage the finances, collect data, and prepare relevant reports
Demonstrate their willingness to share information with researchers, practitioners, and other interested parties
Collaborate with one or more local partner organizations using one or more of the Steps for a Hunger-Free Community

Program Goals

Short Term

All projects must meet at least one of the following:

Meet the needs of food-insecure individuals through food distribution.
Develop community outreach to assist in participation in Federal nutrition assistance programs
Improve access to nutrient dense food as part of a comprehensive service

Long Term

All projects must meet at least one of the following:

Develop long-term sustainable projects that increase the ability of communities to provide for their own food needs
Develop long-term projects that promote comprehensive responses to local food, food access, farm, and nutrition issues
Meet specific State, local, Tribal, Territory, or neighborhood food and agricultural long term needs including needs for equipment necessary for the efficient operation of a CFPCGP project
Develop a comprehensive plan for long-term solutions to food and nutrition security.
Develop long term projects that lead to the creation of innovative marketing activities that mutually benefit agricultural producers and income-eligible consumers

Program Preferences

Preference will be given to applications that include:

Linkages between two or more sectors of the food system
The development of entrepreneurial projects
Innovative linkages between for-profit and nonprofit food sectors
Long-term planning activities and multisystem, interagency approaches with multi-stakeholder collaborations
The development of new resources and strategies to help reduce food and nutrition insecurity and prevent insecurity in the future
Actionable plans or activities to reduce food loss and waste within the local food system

Project Types

Planning Projects

Planning Project funds should be used to develop plans that can be employed to implement successful Community Food Projects. NIFA expects to award 5 Planning Projects in 2025 and 5 in 2026. Requests must be $25,000 – $50,000 over 12-36 months with a required 1:1 match of non-federal funds.

Community Food Projects

Community Food Projects should focus on long-term solutions to food and nutritional insecurity by working will all levels of food systems, from farmers to consumers. NIFA expects to award 15 Planning Projects in 2025 and 15 in 2026. The minimum request is $125,000 over 12 months; the maximum is $400,000 over 48 months. A 1:1 match of non-federal funds is required.

SeedMoney Garden Grant Challenge

SeedMoney helps public food garden projects raise funds through their combination grant and crowdfunding Garden Grant Challenge. Applicants have 30 days to reach their fundraising target and receive one of 432 grants ranging from $100 to $1000. The amount of grant funding received depends on how much money is raised in comparison to other applicants.

Applications, which also serve as the fundraising page, are due by November 12, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET. The fundraising period starts on November 15th and ends on December 15th. Participants keep all money raised regardless of whether they reach their goal or qualify for a grant.

Eligibility

This grant is open to public food garden projects anywhere in the world.

Allowable Expenses

Photo by Soo Ann Woon: https://www.pexels.com/photo/selective-focus-photography-of-green-vegetables-3265437/

Use of grant funds is quite open with the only stipulation being that money go toward a public garden project. Possible expenses include:

Seeds
Compost
Tools
Irrigation
A greenhouse

Grant Types

It is possible to win more than one grant type.

Challenge Grants

Challenge Grants will be awarded to 288 organizations based on where they rank in amount of funds raised.

Rank	Grant Amount	Awards
1st	$1,000	1
2nd	$900	1
3rd	$800	1
4th – 9th	$600	6
10th – 18th	$500	9
19th – 36th	$400	18
37th – 72nd	$300	36
73rd – 144th	$200	72
145th – 288th	$100	144

Strong Start Grants

Fifty awards of $100 each will be given to the organizations who raise the most money in the first week. An additional $400 will go to the project that raises the most in the first 24 hours.

Geographic Interest Grants

Seventy grants of $150 – $300 will be awarded to organization in either Maine, where SeedMoney is headquartered, or in a developing country. There is no crowdfunding requirement for a GIG award.

Strong Finish Grants

Twenty-three grants of $100 – $500 will be awarded to the organizations that raise the most money in the last 7 days of the campaign.

Rank	Grant Amount
1st	$500
2nd	$300
3rd	$200
4th – 23rd	$100

Rockstart

Rockstart funds startups who are creating a sustainable future through Agrifood, Energy, and Emerging Technology. Applications are accepted from around the world on a continual basis.

Eligibility

This funding opportunity is open to early stage startups from anywhere in the world who are focused on one of the program areas.

Program Areas

Agrifood

The Agrifood Fund supports new technologies and business models to improve the food supply system. This includes:

Restoring soil and oceans for carbon capture
Reducing food waste
Increasing access to high quality, nutritious food

They are particularly interested in companies working on:

Alternative packaging and proteins
Smart fulfillment and logistics
Bio-alternatives to chemicals and plastic
Precision food production
Data and vertical data libraries
Production capacity growth tools
Upcycled products
Carbon sequestration
Supply chain traceability
Molecular farming and genomics
Impact certification in carbon markets
Human health

Energy

The Energy Fund supports new technologies and business models to slow climate change. This includes:

Optimizing renewable energy supplies
Helping energy-intensive industries reach net zero emissions
Making cities smarter

They are particularly interested in companies working on:

Renewable energy
Energy storage
Smart grid
Energy efficiency
Smart mobility
Decentralized energy systems

Emerging Technology

The Emerging Technology Fund supports new technologies and business models to solve universal problems. This includes:

Improving production facilities
Innovations in healthcare delivery
Data privacy and security

They are particularly interested in companies working on:

Photo by Jo McNamara: https://www.pexels.com/photo/mask-made-in-3d-printer-11288657/

ML / AI
Computer vision
web3 and Blockchain
Biometrics
Geospatial tech
IoT and Edge computing
Additive manufacturing

Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge

The Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge is an early stage deep tech startup competition. Applicants may submit in one of 11 track for the chance to win the €100,000 Grand Prize or €25,000 Second Prize. An additional €25,000 will be awarded to one Emerging Pioneer and customized prizes will be given in the different tracks in cooperation with corporate partners.

Applications are due by September 22, 2024. Eight hundred Deep Tech Pioneers will be announced on October 30 and have until November 15 to update their applications before finalist selection.

Eligibility

This challenge is open to startups that:

Are in early stage development, including before incorporation
Have developed/are developing new technology, a scientific discovery, or a complex engineering process
Have a proof of concept, prototype, solid scientific validation for their product, or are developing one
Have a team of at least 2 people
Are not a subsidiary or offshoot of another, existing company
Expect their product to be economically viable within 15 years
Have the potential to significantly impact their industry, society, or the environment in general

Tracks

https://builtin.com/robotics/microrobotics

Applicants may submit in any of the 11 tracks.

Aerospace
Advanced Computing & Electronics
Industry & Machines
Sustainable Construction & Infrastructure
Energy
Environment & Biodiversity
Food & Agriculture
Industrial Biotech & New Materials
Digital Health & Medical Devices
Medical Biotech & Pharmaceuticals

Award

All 800 Deep Tech Pioneers will be invited to attend Investor Day in Paris on March 12, 2025 where they’ll be able to meet with over 300 venture capitalists and corporate venture capitalists.

Seven finalists per track plus an additional seven finalists for the Emerging Pioneers Prize will pitch their idea during the Global Summit in Paris on March 13 and 14, 2025. The Grand Prize, Second Place, and Emerging Pioneer Prize as well as the corporate prizes will be chosen from these presentations.

The International Foundation

The International Foundation supports U.S. based organizations working with communitities in Africa, Latin American & the Caribbean, and South & Southeast Asia. Their focus areas are Agriculture, Education, Environment, and Health.

Letters of Inquiry are due by June 30, 2024. If invited, applications for up to $50,000 will be due by October 31, 2024.

Eligibility

This grant is open to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations headquarted in the U.S., but working with communitities in Africa, Latin American & the Caribbean, and South & Southeast Asia.

Focus Areas

Applicants may submit requests for one or more focus area.

Agriculture – Projects should focus on helping smallholder farms in countries impacted by population growth and climate change.
Education – Projects may provide formal or informal educational services to rural and underserved populations, especially women and girls.
Environment – Projects may address a range of environmental issues including climate change, air and water pollution, soil degradation, and deforestation.
Health – Projects may extend healthcare services into rural areas, provide maternal and child healthcare, and/or provide health education on topics such as hygiene and family planning.

Funding Limitations

Grant funds may not be:

Tutition and scholarships
Emergency or disaster relief
Films, exhibits, books, or radio programs
Endowments or capital/building campaigns
Biomedical research projects

Farmers Market Promotion Program

The Farmers Market Promotion Program from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service supports projects that increase access to producer-to-consumer markets.

Grants are available in four categories: Capacity Building, Community Development Training and Technical Assistance, Turnkey Marketing and Promotion, and Turnkey Recruitment and Training. Awards vary by category, but all grants require a non-federal match equal to at least 25% of the requested amount. Applications are due by May 14, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

Agricultural businesses or cooperatives
Producer networks or associations
CSA networks or associations
Food councils
Local governments
Nonprofit corporations
Public benefit corporations
Economic development corporations
Regional farmers market authorities
Tribal governments

Applicants may also subaward or subcontract with partners or collaborators.

Program Goals

The primary goals of the FMPP are:

Connect and cultivate regional food economies through public-private partnerships
Support the development of business plans,feasibility studies, and strategies for value-added agricultural products and local and regional food system infrastructure
Strengthen capacity and regional food system development through community collaboration and expansion of mid-tier value chains
Improve income and economic opportunities for producers and food businesses through job creation
Simplify the application and the reporting processes for the grants administered under the Program.

Grant Categories

Capacity Building

Capacity Building grants are available for $50,000 – $250,000 over 36 months to increase an organization’s ability to sustain direct producer-to-consumer markets or to expand existing markets. Possible projects include, but are not limited to:

Developing tools and practices that may be replicated
Market analysis and strategic planning
Training and education for local farmers, ranchers, and market managers
Recruitment of historically underserved producers

Community Development Training and Technical Assistance

Community Development Training and Technical Assistance grants are available for $100,000 – $500,000 over 36 months to provide training and technical assistance to producers serving local markets. Possible projects include, but are not limited to:

Creating and sharing tools and practices
Assisting producers with marketing and promotion through training and technical assistance
Creating or expanding producer-to-consumer networks
Helping producers comply with regulations

Turnkey Marketing and Promotion

Photo by RDNE Stock project: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-woman-in-knitted-sweater-and-denim-jeans-sitting-near-the-cart-with-woven-baskets-8540262/

Turnkey Marketing and Promotion grants are available for $50,000 – $100,000 over 24 months to conduct at least 3 of 5 pre-defined activities. Applicants must use the FMPP Turnkey Marketing and Promotion Project Narrative Form.

Identify and analyze new or improved market opportunities
Develop or revise a marketing plan
Design or purchase marketing and promotion media
Implement a marketing plan
Evaluate marketing and promotion activities

Turnkey Recruitment and Training

Turnkey Recruitment and Training grants are available for $50,000 – $100,000 over 24 months to conduct at least 3 of 5 pre-defined activities. Applicants must use the FMPP Turnkey Recruitment and Training Project Narrative Form.

Identify and analyze new or improved strategies for vendor and producer recruitment, training, or both
Develop or revise strategies or plans for vendor and producer recruitment, training, or both
Design materials for vendor and producer recruitment, training, or both
Implement plans for vendor and producer recruitment, training, or both
Evaluate outcomes related to vendor and producer recruitment, training, or both.

NIFA Veterinary Services Grant Program

The Veterinary Services Grant Program from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture will support projects to develop and sustain food animal veterinary services and alleviate vet shortages in the United States.

Grants will be awarded in two categories – Education, Extension, and Training (EET) and Rural Practice Enhancement (RPE). Approximately 10 awards will be made in each category. EET applicants may request up to $250,000; RPE applicants may request up to $125,000. There is no matching requirement. All applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by March 21, 2024 at 5:00 PM ET.

Education, Extension and Training Grants

EET grants are intended for programs to assist veterinarians, vet technicians, and students gain the skills needed to alleviate the shortage of veterinary services in the United States and Insular Areas.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

Colleges or schools of veterinary medicine accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association
Departments of veterinary science or departments of comparative medicine accredited by the U.S. Department of Education
University research foundations or veterinary medical foundations
State, regional, or national organizations supporting food animal veterinary programs.
Allied or professional food animal veterinary organizations recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association
State agricultural experiment stations or Research Farms
State, local, or tribal government agencies

Potential Activities

https://vet.purdue.edu/hospital/farm-animal/

Potential uses of grant funds may include:

Training in food safety, public health, or food animal medicine
Modifying veterinary courses, including updates for remote learning and faculty recruitment and retention
Training vet residents, interns, and externs
Continuing education, including remote learning opportunities
Outreach to 11th and 12th grade students on education and career opportunities in food animal medicine

Rural Practice Enhancement Grants

RPE grants will support private clinics in Veterinarian Shortage Situations expand their capacity to provide food/large animal veterinary services.

Eligibility

This grant is open to clinics in rural veterination shortage situtations as definded by the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP). Type II shortage situtations are rural. Type I and III situtations will need to consult the USDA’s Rural Community Development Initiative to determine eligibility.

Applicants may include:

For-profit or nonprofit vet clinics and hospitals
Clinics or hospital that employ a current VMLRP grantee

Potential Activities

https://vetmed.iastate.edu/vmc/large-animal/food-animal-camelid

Potential uses of grant funds may include:

Veterinary office equipment
Clinical equipment
Overhead expenses associated directly with providing services in the shortage area (up to 50% of total budget)
Establishing mobile vet facilities
Outreach to 11th and 12th grade students on education and career opportunities in food/large animal medicine and herd health management

Natoora Farm Fund

Natoora is on a mission to preserve the flavor in food by protecting the planet and its people. They do this through supply chains that source ingredients directly from growers and supporting young farmers with their Farm Fund.

The Farm Fund helps farmers 35 and under in the United States, United Kingdom, and Europe overcome financial barriers to establishing sustainable farming practices. Applications for up to $12,500 are due by February 2, 2024.

Eligibility

This grant is open to farmers in the US, UK, and Europe who are:

Individuals aged 35 and under
A cooperative or partnership primarily made up of individuals aged 35 and under

Key Areas

Grantees must be committed to agroecological methods that preserve rather than deplete the environment. Projects must address at least one key focus area and be able to measure progress in achieving their goals.

Key areas:

Soil Health
Cultural Preservation
Innovation
Biodiversity
Education
Access to Land
Accessible Scale

Grantee farms are also expected to keep synthetic interventions as a last resort, if they use them at all.

Partnerships for Local Agriculture & Nutrition Transformation in Schools (PLANTS)

Partnerships for Local Agriculture & Nutrition Transformation in Schools (PLANTS) supports projects working to change school food systems. The program is administered by the Chef Ann Foundation and funded by the USDA Food & Nutrition Service Healthy Meals Incentives for Schools.

Grants of $500,000 – $600,000, with no matching requirement, will be awarded to eight projects. Applications are due by January 22, 2024 at 10:00 PM ET.

Eligibility

This grant is open to groups of local partners:

With 3-5 partners, including the Lead Partner
Which include at least one School Food Authority
With a Lead Partner who has a demonstrated history of working with school nutrition programs
Who are all located within 250 miles of the Lead Partner
Who are all located in the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands

Other potential partners might include:

Food producers
Cooperative Extension Services
Local government entities
Community-based food support organizations

Objectives

The objectives of the PLANT program are to:

Build and strengthen relationships
Improve school food supply chain coordination
Increase awareness of and access to K-12 markets
Expand scratch cooking operations in K-12 schools
Establish a sustainable approach and best practices

Additional Benefits

In addition to financial support, grantees will receive technical assistance, tools, training, and resources from: