Federal grant programs / Department of Agriculture

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (10.215)

Also known as (SARE)

• Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$226 million
• Grant awards26
• Typical award$10.2 million
• Awarded in FY 2025$44.7 million
• Size rank581 of 1,823
• Type of assistanceProject grants

Key findings

• Annual funding rose from $38.1 million in fiscal 2021 to $44.7 million in fiscal 2025.
• It is the 581st largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
• The 5 largest recipients received 101% of the money.
• Awards went to recipients in 5 states and territories.

What the program funds

The purpose of the SARE program, under assistance listing 10.215, is to encourage research and extension projects designed to increase knowledge concerning agricultural production systems that: (1) maintain and enhance the quality and productivity of the soil; (2) conserve soil, water, energy, natural resources, and fish and wildlife habitat; (3) maintain and enhance the quality of surface and ground water; (4) protect the health and safety of persons involved in the food and farm system; (5) promote the well-being of animals; and (6) increase employment opportunities in agriculture. For purposes of this program, sustainable agriculture is defined by section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension/outreach and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 USC 3103(19)) as an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that over the long-term will satisfy human food and fiber needs; enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agriculture economy depends; make the most efficient use of nonrenewable and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls; sustain the economic viability of farm and ranch operations; and enhance the quality of life for farmers and ranchers and society as a whole.

From the federal Assistance Listing. Read the full listing on SAM.gov.

Open opportunities

No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.

Rules from the program listing

Who can apply

Land-grant colleges or universities, other universities, State agricultural experiment stations, State cooperative extension services, nonprofit organizations, and individuals with demonstrable expertise, or Federal or State governmental entities.

What the money can and cannot pay for

USES: Grant funds must be used for allowable costs necessary to conduct approved fundamental and applied research, extension and education objectives to address food and agricultural sciences. RESTRICTIONS: 1.) Indirect cost rates for this program are limited to 10 percent of the total direct costs under each cooperative agreement. Therefore, when preparing budgets, applicants should limit their requests for recovery of indirect costs to the lesser of their institution’s official negotiated indirect cost rate or the equivalent of 10 percent of total direct costs of the agreement awarded. 2.) Successful applicants must not use grant funds awarded under the authority of this RFA to renovate or refurbish research, education, or extension space; purchase or install fixed equipment in such space; or to plan, repair, rehabilitate, acquire, or construct buildings or facilities. 3.) Given that the primary source of funding for the SARE program is Federal funds, RHIs and the NRCCO should contract with hotels for lodging at or below the Federal per diem rate for workshops, administrative council meetings, and any other meetings that require travel. NIFA retains the right to disallow use of NIFA funds for any travel that does not meet these requirements;

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Award range and average, in the agency's words

If minimum or maximum amounts of funding per competitive and/or capacity project grant, or cooperative agreement are established, these amounts will be announced in the annual Competitive Request for Application (RFA). The most current RFA is available via: https://nifa.usda.gov/funding-opportunity/sare-regional-host-institution

Examples of funded projects

Fiscal Year2025: Fiscal Year 2025: The four SARE Host Institutions are currently running their regional grant programs to select projects utilizing FY25 funding. Example projects selected for FY25 funding will be provided by program at a future date. Several examples of similar types of regional projects from FY24 funding are provided below. An example of a Research and Education project from the North Central region - Optimizing Water and Nitrogen Requirements with Cover Crops for Sustainable and Profitable Irrigated Cropping Systems. An example of a Farmer/Rancher grant from the Northeast region - Forced Air Cooling for Moisture Control on Fresh Wild Blueberries. An example of a Graduate Student grant from the Western region - The impact of colony food reserves on honey bee foraging distance and seed crop isolation.

Quoted from the program's federal Assistance Listing. The notice of funding opportunity is the official source for each competition's rules.

Who usually wins

Colleges and universities received 74% of the money, nonprofits 26%.

By state

Each state below has its own page for this program, with its recipients and yearly totals.

Award amounts are federal obligations reported to USAspending.gov for fiscal 2021 to 2025; see how our data works.