Search Through Aquaculture Grants in the U.S.

About Us

Vision

WSG envisions healthy, vibrant and productive marine ecosystems together with resilient, prosperous and engaged coastal communities in Washington state. 

Mission

The WSG mission is to help people and marine life thrive by supporting research, technical expertise and educational activities that foster the responsible use and conservation of ocean and coastal ecosystems.

Values

To accomplish its mission and achieve its vision, WSG adheres to a set of core values focused on achieving positive environmental and societal impact. It seeks to forge tools, foster insights, build capacity and invest in relationships for sustainable management, enjoyment and use of Washington’s marine resources to support safe and prosperous fisheries and aquaculture, rich cultural and maritime heritage, resilient communities, and biologically diverse ecosystems. Facilitating practical and collaborative solutions to today’s ocean and coastal issues, WSG supports a culture of scientific integrity and serves as a trusted source of place-based information and real-world expertise that honors the history, people and places of Washington.

WSG seeks to create access to resources and opportunities for everyone in Washington, and to incorporate the breadth of the state’s perspectives and priorities in all that we do. WSG’s work is based on a culture of trust, respect, partnerships and accountability.

 Specifically, WSG strives to:

• ensure the right of all people to live and work in a clean environment;
• create fair access to natural resources, opportunities, decision-making processes and protection from environmental hazards;
• foster learning by encouraging open, honest and respectful exchange that honors differences in experience, background, interests and values;
• build community and collaboration by valuing and engaging with the priorities, expertise, capabilities, and participation of diverse partners; and
• create a welcoming work environment, so that each person and group feels respected, valued and safe.

Sponsorship

At the discretion of the Director, WSG funds may be available to sponsor conferences, workshops, and events that further the mission of WSG. While there are no fixed limits on support available for sponsorships, funding generally ranges from $50 to $2,500, while larger requests may be considered.

Background

Each year WHOI Sea Grant allocates part of its budget for Program Development (PD) funds. The National Sea Grant Office allows state programs to award these funds to enhance their strategic plan goals. Typical awards are $1,000 - $5,000. Projects exceeding $5,000 should be discussed with the Woods Hole Sea Grant director prior to submission. Awards are generally for small research projects and proof-of-concept with the intent of seeding an idea for later development into larger funding proposals. Other credible uses of these funds include extension, education, communications, travel, graduate student support, and workshops or conferences. Applicants must express how the proposed project will add value to WHOI Sea Grant’s research, extension, education, and outreach efforts in the program’s current strategic focus areas. The WHOI Sea Grant management team will make decisions on Program Development awards two times per year.

Strategic Focus Areas:

• Healthy coastal ecosystems
• Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture
• Environmental Literacy and Workforce Development
• Resilient Communities and Economies

The Marine Advisory Program (MAP) at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) is accepting applications to compete for funding as part of the Virginia Fishery Resource Grant Program (VFRGP). The Virginia Legislature created the Fishery Resource Grant Program to “protect and enhance the Commonwealth’s coastal fishery resource through the awarding of grants” in four areas:

• new marine fisheries equipment or gear;
• environmental pilot studies on issues including water quality and fisheries habitat;
• aquaculture or mariculture of marine-dependent species; and
• seafood technology.

A basic principle of the VFRGP is that people in the industry often have valid ideas for enhancing and protecting fisheries, but they lack the financial resources to experiment with innovations. The VFRGP invests in ideas generated by the fishing public through fair and competitive methods.

The legislation established the four priority areas noted above. Specific priorities within the four topic areas have been approved by the VFRGP Advisory Board and are noted below. All proposals submitted within the limits of the Guidelines for Submission will be accepted and reviewed for technical merit and the ability to address one or more of the specific priorities listed.

Priority Areas

New Fisheries Equipment and Gear 

This priority area seeks proposals that focus on the development of less environmentally destructive gear, bycatch reduction, more effective ways to handle catch and the development of information leading to fishery management plans for key species and groups. 

Environmental Pilot Studies 

This priority area seeks proposals that focus on ways to restore damaged habitat, create new habitat, prevent habitat impairment or reduce impact from fishing or aquaculture activities. 

Aquaculture/Mariculture 

This priority area seeks proposals that focus on ways to develop criteria and assessment for permits, increase return from investment in culture activities or introduce new species to the existing aquaculture list to broaden the participation in commercial aquaculture. 

Seafood Technology and Utilization 

This priority area seeks proposals that develop value-added products from existing production, the utilization of underused or new fishery resources, develop models for total quality system management programs or increase returns in the seafood industry by improving packaging and handling.

Farm and Ranch Solid Waste Cleanup and Abatement Grant Program

The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) administers a program to provide opportunities for the cleanup of illegal disposal sites on farm and ranch property. Farm and Ranch property, as defined in California Code of Regulations, section 17991(d), means a piece of property, publicly or privately owned, that is used for rangeland or agricultural activities such as, but not limited to commercial livestock and crop production, horticulture, aquaculture, silviculture, floriculture, vermiculture and viticulture. Farm or ranch property need not have active sales or production, but shall be appropriately zoned, or otherwise authorized for agricultural activities. Farm or ranch property includes appurtenant easements or right-of-ways such as, but not limited to, public roads and utilities.

What is the Farm and Ranch Grant Program?

The Farm and Ranch Solid Waste Cleanup and Abatement Grant Program provides funding from the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) for the cleanup of illegal solid waste sites on farm or ranch property.

Grants are limited to $50,000 per cleanup or abatement project, with a limit of $200,000 per year for each eligible applicant.

What is Farm or Ranch Property?

Farm or ranch property is property that is used for rangeland or agricultural activities such as, but not limited to, commercial livestock and crop production, horticulture, aquaculture, silviculture, floriculture, vermiculture, and viticulture. Farm or ranch property can be publicly or privately owned and need not have active sales or production, but must be appropriately zoned or otherwise authorized for agricultural activities. Farm or ranch property includes appurtenant easements or right-of-ways such as, but not limited to, public roads and utilities.

The Foundation embraces the protection of biodiversity as its overarching priority.

Frank Weeden, the Foundation’s founder and original benefactor, established the Weeden Foundation to address the impact of growing human populations and overuse of natural resources on the biological fabric of the planet. Since his death in 1984, the Foundation has helped preserve more than 6 million acres of biologically important habitat worldwide and provided financing for the first debt-for-nature swap in Bolivia in 1992, a strategy that is now widely used by international conservation organizations. Program efforts have supported projects in environmentally sensitive regions of the western United States, Alaska, Russia, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Columbia, Ecuador, Belize, Namibia, Mexico, and various Caribbean nations.

Focus Areas

On a more general scale the Foundation supports the following focus areas.

Bird Conservation

Our goal in the Bird Conservation program area is to conserve wild birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. In particular we seek to fund grantees that work to prevent bird species extinctions and to prevent declining populations of bird species from becoming endangered. We specifically focus on protecting and restoring public and private bird habitat and we assist in acquiring land for threatened bird species. Finally we support protection of bird migration corridors in North and South America.

Systemic Support program at the U.S. national policy level for wildlife corridors, the Endangered Species Act, and additional wilderness designation.

Our goal in Systemic Support is to improve the effectiveness of environmental efforts through specialized services. Specific objectives include:

• support the Endangered Species Act through litigation, lobbying, grassroots campaigns and public education generally,
• promote organizations providing support for groups engaged in wilderness protection, land conservation, endangered species protection, wildlife corridor issues, and management of public lands, an
• improve federal and state support for environmentally sustainable practices, wilderness designations, and wildlife corridors. 

Global Biodiversity

Our goal in Global Biodiversity is to support campaigns and/or groups in biodiversity hotspots. Specific objectives are to

• protect global temperate rainforests,
• support creation of wildlife corridors,
• land acquisition and protection for endangered species and,
• support projects that involve indigenous peoples in the process and stewardship of conservation projects.

Environmental Education

The Foundation’s Environment Education program area focuses on supporting grantees that will provide future leaders with the tools to effect environmental policies. These policies complement the other grantees of the Foundation including biodiversity and habitat protection. Sustainable environmental policies must include both immediate actions as well as education to anticipate and to prevent future environmental impact.

Marine Wildlife Conservation

The Marine Wildlife Conservation Program Area focuses on helping to protect endangered marine species in the Americas through research, advocacy, policy change, and habitat conservation.

To address the adverse impact of economic and human population growth on biodiversity, the Foundation’s grantmaking includes both Consumption and Population programs.

The Foundation’s Sustainable Consumption program currently focuses on promoting greater use of environmental paper. Grantmaking in this area aims to broaden the market for environmental papers and packaging through markets campaigns, shareholder activism, consumer-targeted education, and dialogue with the corporate sector. This year we have expanded our packaging program to include efforts to reduce plastics in the waste stream, through strategies such as eliminating single use plastic disposables by promoting reusable packaging for grocery stores, take-out, and delivery.

The Foundation’s International Population program area is focused on reducing population growth rates in countries recognized for their rich biodiverse landscapes and that have a total fertility rate exceeding replacement levels. To achieve this goal, the Foundation funds groups that facilitate initiatives related to family planning, women’s education and women’s empowerment in countries with such rich and recognized biodiversity. The Foundation also supports advocacy efforts addressing global population growth in the context of environmental sustainability.

Established at the University of Alaska in 1970, Alaska Sea Grant is one of 34 programs within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Sea Grant College Program, authorized by Congress in 1968. We are funded by federal and state appropriations, as well as project-specific funds from local governments, federal and state agencies, community organizations and industry. Alaska Sea Grant and its Marine Advisory Program supports research, education, and extension activities that enhance the ability of Alaskans to understand, conserve, and sustainably use our rich and diverse marine and coastal resources.

Alaska Sea Grant invites proposals for research projects for the 2024–2026 biennium. Investigators throughout the state of Alaska are invited to apply for one- to two-year research projects that contribute to Alaska Sea Grant and state priority information needs, and advance knowledge in one of four focus areas: healthy coastal ecosystems, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, resilient communities and economies, and environmental literacy and workforce development.

Proposed research projects must identify priorities to be addressed and align with the mission, vision, core values, and goals identified in the Alaska Sea Grant 2024–2027 Strategic Plan with four focus areas.

• Healthy Coastal Ecosystems
• Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture
• Resilient Communities and Economies
• Environmental Literacy and Workforce Development

AK Specialty Crop Block Grant

The SCBG grant program seeks to increase production, consumption, access, knowledge, and sustainability of Alaska Grown specialty crops, sustain farmers' livelihoods, and strengthen local communities. Grants are awarded to professional producers, universities, extension services, soil and water conservation districts, or schools working in cooperation with a business or non-profit. Grants must meet the objectives of promoting the specialty crop industry.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines specialty crops as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and horticulture and nursery crops. Many Alaska Grown products - including most livestock, dairy, fuel/feed grains, hay, and some forms of aquaculture - are excluded from the grant program, due to USDA restrictions. A list of USDA-eligible specialty crops is at: https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/scbgp/specialty-crop.

Georgia Sea Grant invests in use-inspired research that improves the understanding, management, and wise use of Georgia’s coastal and marine ecosystems. Experts conduct research in close collaboration with on-the-ground extension agents, community partners, educators, or decision-makers. Research results are shared with those who need it the most, in ways that are timely, meaningful and relevant.

Projects should propose to answer a clear research question or set of research questions that address the needs and priorities identified in Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s 2024-2027 Strategic Plan. All applications should align with one or more of our four focus areas:

• Environment Literacy and Workforce Development
• Healthy Coastal Ecosystems
• Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture
• Resilient Communities and Economies

Applicants should consider incorporating the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice into their applications. For the FY2024-26 funding cycle, Georgia Sea Grant will prioritize funding projects with outcomes that demonstrate potential to benefit underserved communities in Georgia. These benefits may include but are not limited to improved quality of life, job training and student opportunities, workforce development opportunities, and/or increased access to beneficial services, data, or information. 

We have a special interest in the following themes:

• Preparing Georgia’s coastal communities for changing weather and climate conditions. 
• Understanding climate change impacts on coastal and marine wildlife, habitats, and ecosystems.
• Identifying barriers to the production, supply, consumption, and promotion of commercial seafood products in Georgia.
• Addressing environmental justice concerns through restoration of degraded coastal ecosystems.
• Assessing sustainable development and habitat restoration practices that reduce or mitigate the impacts of land development on our coastal ecosystems and communities.
• Assessment of human impacts on water resources and natural systems, including the prevention and removal of marine debris.
• Assessment of ocean literacy during informal/experiential learning experiences, including educational outcomes of K-12 teachers, [post]college interns, and the public.
• Research focused on Georgia’s coast that investigates new, high-impact learning and training opportunities in non-classroom and virtual settings. 

Projects can request up to $75,000 per year for two years (maximum $150,000 for two years). We anticipate funding 4-6, two-year projects. Applications require 50% non-federal match.

MIT Sea Grant Core RFP

MIT Sea Grant provides competitive funding opportunities through our Core Request For Proposals (RFP) for Massachusetts research scientists who seek to address marine issues in ways that benefit the Commonwealth. The FY2026-2028 RFP is now available.MIT Sea Grant has increased our Core RFP funding, welcoming proposals up to $170,000 annually, for a total of $340,000 over a two-year period. A 50% non-federal match will be required.MIT Sea Grant will focus our FY2026-2028 funding on the following areas of research:

• Sustainable aquaculture and seafood processing
• Offsetting climate impacts to coastal and ocean environments
• Tracking and preventing impacts of marine debris
• Ocean applications of biotechnology
• Engineering for ocean uses
• Decarbonization of fisheries and the seafood industry

About

The S.C. Sea Grant Consortium (Consortium) is a member of a nationwide network of 34 Sea Grant College Programs that are certified by the National Sea Grant College Program, which is located within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The Consortium is charged with managing and administering the Sea Grant program for the State of South Carolina and regionally.

The Consortium member institutions are Clemson University, Coastal Carolina University, College of Charleston, Francis Marion University, Medical University of South Carolina, S.C. Department of Natural Resources, S.C. State University, The Citadel, and University of South Carolina. Our member institutions serve as our partners in research and outreach, and the executive officer of each institution serves on our board of directors. Only faculty from Consortium member institutions are eligible to submit proposals though they may include Co-PIs from other institutions. Partnership is always encouraged.

Our purpose is to generate and provide science-based information on issues and opportunities to improve the social and economic well-being of coastal residents while ensuring the optimal use and conservation of marine and coastal natural resources.

Biennial Research Program

The Consortium announces a Biennial Research Program to address important questions in coastal conservation, resilience, sustainable development, fisheries and aquaculture, and education and workforce development. These are one- to two-year projects. About $500,000 is available each year, with projects usually funded around the range of $30,000 to $80,000 per year.

Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program

The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) is administering grant funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Services (AMS) Resilient Food​ Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI). ​

The purpose of the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI) is to assist U.S. states and territories to build resilience in the middle of the supply chain and strengthen local and regional food systems by creating new revenue streams for their state's producers.  An emphasis will be made to fund projects that benefit small and emerging farms and food businesses from historically disadvantaged groups.

The program also aims to:

• Support development of value-added products available to consumers;
• Support proposals that provide fair prices, fair wages and new and safe job opportunities that keep profits in rural communities; and
• Increase diversity in processing options in terms of business model approaches, geography, and availability to underserved communities.

Funds will support expanded capacity and infrastructure for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and distribution of locally and regionally produced food products including specialty crops, dairy, grains for human consumption, aquaculture, and other food products, excluding meat and poultry.

Simplified Equipment-Only Grants

The Simplified Equipment-Only option is a Fixed Price Grant, meaning it will fund only equipment purchases (not associated facility upgrades, staffing, or other costs), and the amount awarded will be equal to the cost of the equipment up to $100,000.

No match is required for this grant type.

Equipment project activities may include, but are not limited to:​

• Modernize processing and manufacturing equipment;
• Develop, customize, or install equipment that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, increases efficiency in water use, improves air and/or water quality, and/or meets one or more of USDA’s climate action goals;
• Enhance worker safety through adoption of new technologies or investment in equipment improvements; and
• Improve the capacity of entities to comply with federal, state, and local food safety requirements.

Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) is inviting applications for funding opportunities under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program. The NJDA was allotted a total of $3,437,002 in competitive grant funding for projects that aim to enhance the capacity of aggregating, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and distributing locally and regionally produced food products. These include specialty crops, dairy, grains for human consumption, aquaculture, and other food products.

There are two ways to apply for RFSI funding: Infrastructure Grant or Simplified Equipment-Only.

Infrastructure Grants

Projects requesting more than $100,000 that intend to develop new, middle-of-supply-chain infrastructure for eligible agricultural products. The USDA has defined a funding range of $100,000 - $3,000,000 per application, but it is important to consider that the NJDA intends to award our total allotted federal funding ($3,437,002) equitably across multiple industries and projects.

Examples of RFSI Allowable Activities

• Expanding processing capacities, including adding product types, increasing production volumes, and supporting new wholesale/ retail product lines
• Modernizing equipment or facilities through upgrades, repairs, or retooling (e.g., adapting product lines for institutional procurement or adding parallel processing capacity)
• Purchase and installation of specialized equipment, such as processing components, sorting equipment, packing and labeling equipment, or delivery vehicles
• Modernizing manufacturing, tracking, storage, and information technology systems
• Enhancing worker safety through adoption of new technologies or investment in equipment or facility improvements
• Construction of a new facility
• Increasing packaging and labeling capacities that meet compliance requirements under applicable laws (e.g.sealing, bagging, boxing, labeling, conveying, and product moving equipment)
• Increasing storage space, including cold storage
• Develop, customize, or install climate-smart equipment that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, increases efficiency in water use, improves air and/or water quality, and/ or meets one or more of USDA's climate action goals

Identified Funding Priorities

• Projects submitted from a wide range of entities involved in New Jersey’s food system, from individual growers and producers to larger food aggregators and agricultural collectives.
• Projects that directly benefit or are submitted by applicants who meet the USDA’s definition of Beginning Farmer or Rancher, Veteran Farmer or Rancher, Limited Resource Farmer or Rancher, Socially Disadvantaged Farmer or Rancher, Small Disadvantages Business, Women Owned Small Business and/or Historically Underserved Farmers and Ranchers.
• Projects that promote or expand the distribution capabilities for producers of eligible agricultural products to middle-of-the-supply-chain organizations.
• Projects that improve food safety conditions through the purchase of special-purpose equipment such as eco-friendly delivery vehicles, modern cold storage solutions, and efficient packing lines.
• Projects that aim to help entities comply with new laws and regulations associated with worker and food safety, water quality, and other applicable areas.
• Projects that increase the marketability of agricultural products for multiple producers through value-added activities such as repackaging or repurposing products.
• Projects that increase on-farm processing capabilities, allowing businesses across the agricultural industry to meet increasing demand in their respective markets.
• Projects that develop the infrastructure necessary to introduce new agricultural products into the New Jersey Food System.
• Projects that further develop local sustainable processing, storage and distribution as a means of food security and providing additional availability of products for the Food Deserts and Underserved Communities of the state.
• Projects that build aggregation models where producers can donate and/or sell produce for distribution to food security organizations.
• Projects that improve cleaning and packaging conditions for organizations that perform food gleaning and food rescue operations.

FPRF welcomes research proposals to enhance current uses of rendered animal products, improve rendering processes, and develop new applications.  The Foundation’s key areas of focus are livestock nutrition (including aquaculture), pet food nutrition, feed safety, sustainability, and novel technologies.Research PrioritiesLong term view

Since our funds are limited, we desire to obtain as much information as possible from our research grants. The research objectives for rendered by-products should be directed toward solving a significant problem, improving product safety/quality, chemical or biological modifications to increase value or nutritional studies to improve their utilization in animal diets.

Near Term View

For the near term, FPRF has decided to focus work in aquaculture, swine, and poultry nutrition aiming directly at gaps in the current knowledge necessary for diet formulators, including critical work in nutritional characteristics of rendered products. Significant research funding will be dedicated to these nutrition studies. Any research institution can compete for these funds by submitting “at-large” proposals to FPRF in formats described in this document.

At-large proposals outside the priority topics outlined above will be considered, as will at-large proposals on biosecurity or new uses from institutions outside of ACREC, but a very compelling case will need to be made for FPRF to shift intended priorities. 

Maryland Sea Grant (MDSG) supports research, education, and outreach on current and future issues affecting the Chesapeake Bay and Maryland’s coastal waters. One component of our overarching mission is to support graduate education that connects academic research to informing coastal and marine policy and decision making. Toward that goal, we offer this competitive graduate fellowship RFA to support students conducting research within Maryland’s coasts and watersheds. We look to support student research that is socially relevant, particularly for groups traditionally underserved, and is at the intersection of science and applied outcomes. An applicant’s research must be consistent with the Maryland Sea Grant Strategic Plan and address one of the MDSG focus areas:

• Healthy Coastal Ecosystems
• Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture
• Resilient Communities and Economies.

Our current strategic plan especially emphasizes our commitment to work on issues relevant to coastal resilience and the local impacts of climate change, particularly work that may support underserved and under-resourced communities.

As part of this fellowship experience, successful candidates should be committed to expanding their engagement with groups beyond academia and have an interest in applying their research to informing management or policy. As a requirement of the fellowship, fellows must choose and work with a professional mentor (i.e., extension staff, educator, resource manager, or other enduser) to ensure that their project design and research results are responsive to the needs of resource managers, policy makers, educators, industry, NGOs, or other stakeholders. Professional mentors should not be academic scientists.

Award Information

The two-year fellowship will provide a stipend ($34,000), fringe benefits, tuition remission, and a $2,000 travel allowance for the fellow. Fellows will be paid as graduate research assistants by Maryland Sea Grant, a University System of Maryland institution, following the same model and terms as our Maryland Sea Grant Research Fellowships program. Continued support after the first year will be contingent upon satisfactory performance by the Fellow and the availability of federal funds. The anticipated start date is the fall semester.

If your institution requires paying graduate students through its own payroll system, Maryland Sea Grant can provide an institutional award to cover only the $34,000 stipend, fringe benefits, partial tuition remission, and travel allowance up to a total of $55,000 per year. However, additional matching funds contribution may need to be negotiated with the institution to meet the 50% matching requirement above the first $25,000 of the subaward. Typically, these awards would need to be made to the faculty advisor of the student. We will negotiate this arrangement with the institution of the selected students. 

We anticipate there will be funding available for up to three fellowships. If additional funding becomes available, Maryland Sea Grant reserves the ability to issue additional fellowship awards from the applicant pool.

Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) was awarded $8.6 million through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program. The money, which will be provided through a competitive grant process, is part of an overall $420 million the USDA committed to states to build resilience in the middle of the supply chain and strengthen local and regional food systems by creating new revenue streams for producers.

Kentucky’s RFSI Program--Equipment only Grant

The equipment only grant provides funding for eligible equipment purchases that support expanded capacity for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and distribution of locally and regionally produced food products, including specialty crops, dairy, grains for human consumption, aquaculture, and other food products, excluding meat and poultry. Successful applicants can receive 100% funding for approved equipment.

The Simplified Equipment-Only option is a Fixed Price Grant, meaning it will fund only equipment purchases (and not associated facility upgrades, staffing, or other costs), and the amount awarded will be equal to the cost of the equipment up to $100,000. No match is required for this grant type.

Please seethe FAQ for additional information.

Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) was awarded $8.6 million through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program. The money, which will be provided through a competitive grant process, is part of an overall $420 million the USDA committed to states to build resilience in the middle of the supply chain and strengthen local and regional food systems by creating new revenue streams for producers.

The purpose of the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program is to build resilience in the middle of the food supply chain, to provide more and better markets to small farms to food businesses, to support the development of value-added products for consumers, fair prices, fair wages, and new and safe job opportunities.

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) will work in partnership with USDA to make competitive sub award investments in middle of the supply chain infrastructure (Infrastructure and Equipment-Only Grants) for domestic food and farm businesses and other eligible entities. For the purposes of RFSI, “middle-of-the-supply-chain” refers to “Processing” and “Aggregation/Distribution” stages.

This program is to support food system crops meant for human consumption (excluding meat and poultry products which are funded through other USDA programs.

Applicants may only apply for one of the funding categories.

KENTUCKY’S RFSI PROGRAM--Infrastructure Grant 

The infrastructure grant is available for applicants that are interested in building resiliency across the middle-of-the-food-supply-chain. Applicants can apply for cost-share support from a minimum of $100,000 to a maximum of $3,000,000 for eligible projects. Successful applicants will need to provide 50% or 25% match based upon them meeting federal definitions for Small or Historically Underserved Business Owners. The funds will support expanded capacity for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and distribution of locally and regionally produced food products, including specialty crops, dairy, grains for human consumption, aquaculture, and other food products, excluding meat and poultry.

Please see FAQ for additional information.

Background

The Partnership Grant program funds projects conducted by agricultural service providers working in partnership with farmers to encourage the understanding and widespread use of sustainable techniques, add to our collective understanding of sustainable agriculture, and strengthen working partnerships between farmers and farm service providers.

Northeast SARE’s Partnership Grant program funds projects conducted by researchers, educators and agricultural service providers working in direct partnership with farmers to encourage design and implementation of innovative solutions to current sustainability challenges related to production, marketing and/or household and community well-being in Northeast farming and food systems, or to strengthen working partnerships between farmers and agricultural service providers to advance sustainable agriculture.

Grants may be used for:

• research to improve production practices, marketing approaches, or farmer, farmworker or community well-being;
• education and training programs to increase knowledge and improve decision-making about sustainable practices; on-farm or in-market demonstrations of new techniques; and
• developing new farm management and community development approaches that support sustainable agriculture outcomes.

Northeast SARE funds a broad range of projects; there are no set restrictions on the topics that Partnership Grants may address so long as the projects lead to new information or working relationships that are consistent with our outcome statement and address the program’s review criteria. In the past, Partnership projects have experimented with new crop and production methods, addressed farm management challenges, developed unique machines and tools, explored innovative pest control and grazing strategies, tested new ways of marketing agricultural products, and more.

Please note that this program requires an explicit connection to the needs, interests and expertise of farmers and farming partners in the Northeast. It is not designed to support educational programs for the non-farming general public, food donation efforts, general public awareness campaigns about agriculture and nutrition, or community and school gardening initiatives.

Funding Cap

While smaller, one-year projects are welcome and encouraged, the funding cap for Partnership grant proposals has been increased to $30,000 to better allow for projects that:

• enlist multi-institution or multi-disciplinary collaboration,
• explore more complex subject matter, or
• take longer to document results or changes.

Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program

Through the Connecticut Department of Agriculture's cooperative agreement with USDA, Connecticut has more than $2.1 million available in competitive grant funding for projects designed to build resilience across the middle of the supply chain. Funds will support expanded capacity for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and distribution of locally and regionally produced food products, including specialty crops, dairy, grains for human consumption, aquaculture, and other food products, excluding meat and poultry.The Equipment Only grant will fund only special purpose equipment purchases (and not associated facility upgrades, staffing, or other costs) to meet the goals of the RFSI program. Special purpose equipment is defined by the USDA as tangible, nonexpendable, personal property having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost that equals or exceeds $5,000 per unit. Items under $5,000 per unit are considered supplies and not eligible for this grant.

The special purpose equipment must be used for middle of the supply chain activities, such as

• processing,
• storage,
• transportation,
• aggregation,
• distribution, or
• wholesaling

and must help the applicant meet one of the following goals:

The primary goals of the RFSI program include:

• Increase market access, i.e. entry into new, bigger, or more profitable markets;
•  Increase production, i.e. increase the number of units moved through the supply chain; and
• Diversify product offerings, i.e. offer new sizes, flavors, or types of products. 

Mini Grant

Based on extensive input from aquaculture industry, Extension, and research representatives throughout the region.

Priority Statement - Targeted Project Area (TPA)

The following statement, as prepared by the NRAC Technical and Industry Advisory Council and approved by the Board of Directors, is intended to address challenges and opportunities identified by industry members for research, demonstration, outreach, and/or education. Pre-proposals that address these areas will receive equal consideration. Areas described below are in no particular order. Aquaculture commodities chosen for study should have proven or have viable economic potential for commercial development in the Northeast region. Collaborative partnership(s) with appropriate industry sector(s), firm(s), fishing groups, or tribal groups is highly encouraged. Projects that promise to produce tangible end-products that are of direct use or value to aquaculture businesses or address key bottlenecks to aquaculture operations or marketing are preferred.

NRAC encourages a diversity of projects and multi-disciplined investigators to advance aquaculture (including aquaponics) in the Northeast as it relates to species, production systems, applications, and markets. NRAC supports projects that demonstrate measurable impacts in either marine or freshwater environments, at sea or on land, and in urban centers or rural settings. Aquaculture organisms are always aquatic and include finfish, shellfish, invertebrates, seaweed, other aquatic plants, and microalgae.

Goal: To improve the opportunities for growth and sustainability of the aquaculture industry by focusing on areas of economic, environmental, and social impacts at all industry stages (i.e., product life-cycle curve):

• New/young businesses: issues affecting barriers to entry, assisting market or industry segment entrants
• Established businesses: issues affecting scalability and growth as demands increase
• Mature businesses: issues affecting sustainability and maintenance such as the development of new market opportunities or diversification

Statement of Opportunity

Aquaculture in the northeast region includes a diversity of species, systems, and industries. NRAC funds projects that focus on all aspects of aquaculture and emphasize outcomes leading to development and sustainable growth of the industry. 

NRAC welcomes proposals that address these identified issues, as well as other issues that advance aquaculture in the Northeast.

Funding

NRAC has approximately $200,000 for Mini Grant project funding available. Each project can be funded up to $25,000.

Innovative Food Production Grant

GrowBoston is offering a total of $180,000 to support the development of innovative methods in urban agriculture, including controlled environment spaces. This may include innovative strategies, new technologies, food production in innovative locations, food production techniques that mitigate or adapt to climate change, etc. Examples of projects include hydroponics, aquaponics, vertical farming, indoor, rooftop, etc., as well as indigenous or non-traditional agricultural practices. These projects are intended to serve the public purpose of producing food in Boston for the benefit of Boston residents, particularly those facing food insecurity. 

The goal of this program is to support the implementation and use of innovative growing methods, technologies, locations, etc., in an urban setting, which may include controlled environment spaces and emerging or innovative technology.

What is the Urban Agriculture Program?

The purpose of the MDAR Urban Agriculture Program is to advance Commonwealth goals and objectives, leverage collective resources, and support commercial projects designed to increase the production, processing, and marketing of produce grown and sold in urban centers across the Commonwealth. Expenditures will promote strategies to address food insecurity and to increase access of fresh, local produce in urban neighborhoods with a high concentration of low-moderate income residents.

Urban agriculture encompasses a wide variety of activities related to the growing of plants and the raising of animals for food including but not limited to: production techniques such as land-based outdoor and greenhouse cultivation, rooftop open air and greenhouse production, hydroponics, aquaculture, aquaponics, beekeeping and egg-producing poultry. Each project proposal must represent long-term, capital investments such as infrastructure improvements, building upgrades, purchase of computer software and systems, land procurement, and purchase of farm equipment. Projects will also foster youth development, small business development, and job training directly related to commercial urban farming.

This program does not fund backyard produce or livestock raised for personal consumption.

MDAR’s Urban Agriculture Program seeks proposals that demonstrate strategies for municipalities to increase access to affordable, fresh food for urban residents address the challenges of small scale farming in densely populated centers, and create direct markets in low-moderate income neighborhoods.

Examples of Project Priorities:

• Soil Management: Initiatives that address the issues of soil quality in urban environments with particular emphasis on improving soil fertility in blighted areas;
• Land: Proposals for acquisition of land for food production in urban settings;
• Equipment: Mobile market vehicles, small farm equipment or hand tools;
• Green Infrastructure: Demonstrations of greenhouse, hoop house, cold frame and other technologies to help urban farmers scale up the volume, quality and enable year round production or to manage energy and water usage, or allow for more intensive and efficient food production in urban environments;
• Climate Change Infrastructure: Compost tumblers and water conservation methods such as drip irrigation or rainwater recovery systems.
• Community Urban Farming Projects: Capital infrastructure to support non-commercial urban food production, via partnership with municipality or non-profit organizations for community benefit and distribution; must have a minimum of 0.5 acres in food production.
• Innovative Growing Technology: Demonstrate practical/economically viable approaches to urban aquaculture/aquaponics and vertical farming and other innovative growing methods to make available local sourced food and products to low-moderate income communities;
• Marketing, Distribution, Transportation: Improve the transportation and distribution of locally grown products from farm to customer such as food hubs sourced from local urban farms or other innovative technologies designed to aid/improve cost-effective distribution of food produced on urban farms to urban residents;

Co-operative Research Programme: Sustainable Agricultural and Food Systems (CRP)

The OECD's Co-operative Research Programme: Sustainable Agricultural and Food Systems (CRP) exists to strengthen scientific knowledge and provide relevant scientific information and advice that will inform future policy decisions related to the sustainability of agriculture, food, fisheries and forests. It does this through facilitating international co-operation among research scientists and institutions, by sponsoring international events (conferences, workshops) and individual research fellowships, placing a policy emphasis on all the activities it funds. It focuses on global issues such as food security, climate change, and the inter-connectedness of economies through trade and scientific co-operation.

Fellowships

The CRP funds short-term research projects for individual scientists in CRP member countries. These individual travel bursary awards strengthen the exchange of ideas and increase international mobility and co-operation. More than 75% of fellowships result in long-term co-operation between fellows and their host institutes, a major goal of the programme.

Applications relevant to the work of the OECD Committee for Agriculture and other bodies are particularly welcome:

• Sustainable and resilient productivity growth and food security and nutrition;
• Climate change mitigation, reducing emissions from agriculture and food systems, carbon sequestration in agriculture, forestry and land use;
• Halting and reversing forest loss and land degradation;
• Reducing the negative environmental impacts of livestock production and practices harmful to animal health and welfare, investigating the positive contribution livestock can make to soil quality and management, biodiversity and livelihoods;
• Biodiversity, enhancing ecosystem services;
• Improving soil health and water and air quality, including through agro-ecological and other innovative, context specific approaches.
• Innovations in the transfer and development of agricultural knowledge, including Indigenous and traditional knowledge;
• Fisheries and aquaculture productivity, sustainability and resilience.

Hawai‘i Sea Grant is one of 34 Sea Grant College Programs dedicated to improved understanding and stewardship of the nation's marine and coastal resources. Created by Congress in 1966, the National Sea Grant College Program comprises a network of more than 300 participating institutions, drawing on the talents of over 3,000 scientists, engineers, educators, students, and outreach specialists nationwide. Hawai‘i Sea Grant supports a multidisciplinary, integrated program of applied research, outreach, and education addressing marine and coastal issues of public concern. Information generated by Hawai‘i Sea Grant-funded research reaches interested parties through Hawai‘i Sea Grant extension, education, and communications activities in Hawai‘i and the Pacific region and via the national network.

Hawai‘i Sea Grant supports a multidisciplinary, integrated program of applied research, outreach, and education addressing marine and coastal issues of public concern. Information generated by Hawai‘i Sea Grant-funded research reaches interested parties via Hawai‘i Sea Grant extension, education, and communications activities in Hawai‘i and via the national network.

Research Tracks for the 2024-2026 Program

• Island Sustainability and Resilience
• Ocean Acidification
• Aquaculture

Background

Northeast SARE offers grants to farmers to explore new concepts in sustainable agriculture conducted through experiments, surveys, prototypes, on-farm demonstrations or other research and education techniques. Farmer Grant projects address issues that affect farming with long-term sustainability in mind.

Competitive proposals explore new ideas and techniques or apply known ideas in new ways or with new communities. Reviewers look to fund projects that are well-designed to meet proposed objectives and promise the greatest benefit to farming communities.

A wide variety of topics can be funded by Northeast SARE, including marketing and business, crop production, raising livestock, aquaculture, social sustainability, climate-smart agriculture practices, urban and Indigenous agriculture and much more.

What funds can be used for

Funds can be used to conduct the research project including paying farmers for their time, for project-related materials, for project costs like consulting fees or soil tests, and any communications or outreach expenses associated with telling others about project results.

Funding available and timeline

Awards typically range from $5,000 to $30,000, depending upon a project’s complexity and duration. Projects that are more complex include multi-farm collaboration, intensive education for other farmers and/or service providers, and/or replicated research over multiple years or locations. Simpler, straightforward proposals with modest budgets are equally encouraged.

Applicants should only request the amount of funding that is clearly necessary for the success of their project.

Every two years, NH Sea Grant issues a Request for Proposals (RFP) for those seeking major (≤$100K per year) funding for research projects. During 2023, NH Sea Grant will be reviewing proposals from investigators for one or two-year research funding during the 2024-2025 cycle, which officially runs February 1, 2024 - January 31, 2026. NH Sea Grant is a matching funds program that requires at least 50% of all Sea Grant research funds received to be matched by state or private (non-federal) funds.

The guiding philosophy of NH Sea Grant is to serve the State of New Hampshire and the region by supporting innovative and cutting edge research integrated with expert extension, outreach, and education to support dialogue and science-based decision-making in areas of particular importance to our region. To meet our mission, we seek to foster and support the highest quality coastal and marine research and education projects that relate to NH Sea Grant’s Strategic Plan Focus Areas:

• Sustainable Fisheries and *Aquaculture (*encouraged)
• Healthy Coastal Ecosystems
• Resilient Communities and Economies
• Environmental Literacy and Workforce Development

For the 2024-2025 RFP, NH Sea Grant encourages proposals that relate to aquaculture research. This enables us to take advantage of matching funds made available by NOAA’s National Sea Grant College Program for successful projects that relate to this topic. However, all high quality proposals addressing any of the Focus Areas outlined in NH Sea Grant’s 2024-2027 Strategic Plan will be given equal consideration.

Proposals are requested for the 2025 University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program (Hawai‘i Sea Grant) Pacific Islands Indigenous Science Track. This funding was developed through the Hawaiʻi Sea Grant Ulana ʻIke Center of Excellence (Ulana ‘Ike). Ulana ʻIke works to ensure that customary practitioners from multiple knowledge systems have decision-making power and direct co-management of coastal and marine resources.

Many funding opportunities exist to support research initiatives that integrate Indigenous knowledge and Western science. A majority of these efforts are led by academic institutions that engage Indigenous communities in varying degrees of participation ranging from consultation to equitable co-production (David-Chavez 2018, Bohensky and Maru 2011). Knowledge production in these contexts attempts to integrate Indigenous knowledge and perspectives into existing Western research frameworks (Daniel 2019, Nadasdy 1999). While recognizing the value of partnership across Western and Indigenous sciences, this funding opportunity seeks to shift the focus and center Indigenous methodologies, protocols, and values in research.

With this intention in mind, Hawaiʻi Sea Grant will support between 3 and 6 projects in the Indigenous Science track, each in the $25,000 to $50,000 range for a funding term of two years. 

Goals and Focus Areas

To promote Indigenous science in Hawaiʻi and across the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI), this funding opportunity seeks projects that support three primary goals: (1) Resource Stewardship, (2) Community Governance, and (3) Strengthening Cultural Practices. Projects should incorporate Indigenous methodologies and the intersectionality of both cultural and ecological concerns. Projects should also address one or more of the following Hawaiʻi Sea Grant Focus Areas. Each of the focus areas include example questions of interest. These examples are not intended to be prescriptive but suggestive of elements appropriate to Hawaiʻi Sea Grant’s mission.

• Healthy Coastal Ecosystems
• Resilient Communities and Economies
• Environmental Literacy and Workforce Development
• Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture

Funding Opportunity Overview

The California Sea Grant College Program is now soliciting proposals for applied research projects that address California Sea Grant’s 2024-2027 Strategic Plan goals and objectives within the following focus areas: Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture (SFA) and Resilient Communities and Economies (RCE). Projects that primarily address the Healthy Coastal Ecosystems (HCE) focus area are not eligible for this opportunity. Applied research (as defined in NOAA Administrative Order NAO 216-115B) is original investigation undertaken in order to acquire new knowledge, and is directed primarily towards a specific practical aim or objective. Proposals will be accepted into one of three tracks, each with their respective priorities and requirements: Indigenous Fisheries and Aquaculture, Graduate Research Fellowships, and Cultivate Awards. Projects that demonstrate meaningful impacts and benefits to coastal California communities and natural resources management agencies will be prioritized. Contingent upon available federal funding, the projects are expected to begin on February 1, 2026 and may be up to two years in duration. A total of $2,800,000 is available for funding across the three research tracks. Specific award maximums, match requirements and proposal requirements for each track are detailed below. There is no guarantee that funds will be available to make awards, or that any proposal will be selected for funding. If an applicant incurs any costs prior to receiving an official award agreement, it does so at its own risk of not being selected or of these costs not being included in a subsequent award. California Sea Grant will not be responsible for any incurred project costs if a project fails to receive full funding.

California Sea Grant

Administered by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Sea Grant is a national network of 34 university-based programs in each of the U.S. coastal and Great Lakes states, Puerto Rico and Guam. The National Sea Grant College Program is a partnership between the nation’s universities and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce, and is authorized by the United States Congress.

For over 50 years, California Sea Grant has delivered science, increased ocean literacy and engaged thousands of communities to ensure that they can enjoy and depend on California’s coastal resources, through research, education, extension and communications. California Sea Grant’s mission is to provide the information, tools, training and relationships needed to help California conserve and sustainably prosper from our coastal and marine environments. We accomplish this by collaborating with a range of local, state, regional, national, and international partners to further the generation and application of relevant scientific knowledge.

Research projects supported by California Sea Grant must contribute to our eligible strategic focus areas and goals, which are listed below. For more context and example research topics, refer to our 2024 - 2027 Strategic Plan. California Sea Grant prioritizes innovative applied research on ocean and coastal resources and processes. Research that is based in or applicable to California coastal issues are of highest priority, but transferability to regional, national, and/or international contexts is welcomed. 

Sustainable Fisheries & Aquaculture (SFA)

California’s 840-mile coastline is home to the largest ocean-based economy in the U.S. Here fishing has long played a key role in supplying healthy food, skilled jobs and other important economic and cultural benefits. An expanding aquaculture industry looking to create a steady supply of shellfish, seaweeds and finfish is now poised for growth, bringing with it skilled jobs and other benefits.

The diverse bounty of seafood sustainably landed on the state’s coast, including tuna, Dungeness crab, Chinook salmon, rockfish, Pacific mackerel, market squid and Pacific oyster, provide an important source of highly nutritious protein for many of the state’s 39 million residents and helps sustain California’s commercial and recreational seafood industries. But significant challenges threaten these industries, including extreme changes in environmental conditions, ocean acidification and hypoxia, harmful algal blooms, financial and regulatory barriers to starting or expanding business ventures, supply chain disruptions and pressure from coastal and offshore development.

California Sea Grant has identified the following goals for this focus area.

• SFA Goal 1: California's fisheries, aquaculture, seafood systems and the environments that support them are environmentally, economically and socially more sustainable and resilient to future change through the facilitation of partnerships and the (co-) production of knowledge.
• SFA Goal 2: California’s fishing, aquaculture and seafood industries have evidence-based information, partnerships and tools needed to support decision-making and a sustainable path forward through community engagement, collaboration and education.

Key SFA topics of priority in California from 2024-2027 include: 

• Enhancing emerging and existing fisheries and aquaculture ventures, such as:
  • Feasibility of emerging species for harvest and production 
  • Basic economic, social and natural scientific information 
  • Effects of stressors on species of interest
  • Facilitating permitting of new and expanding ventures
• Innovative approaches and applications in fisheries and aquaculture, such as:
  • Conservation and restorative aquaculture
  • New technologies and modeling approaches for fisheries management 
  • Techniques to adapt fisheries and aquaculture to a changing environment 
  • Ecosystem services and impacts of aquaculture and fisheries
• Resilient and safe seafood systems, such as:
  • Seafood availability and accessibility
  • Seafood quality, safety and supply chain transparency 
  • Fishing and aquaculture infrastructure and resources 
  • Producer to public connections and education

Resilient Communities and Economies (RCE)

People throughout California, both rural and urban, are intimately linked to the health and sustainability of the state’s coastal and marine resources. How we respond to increasing threats from changing environmental conditions and other stressors will shape the health and welfare of the coast and the people and economies that depend on it. California Sea Grant is committed to helping coastal communities increase their natural and socioeconomic resilience by supporting sea level rise/coastal hazards science and planning; exploring new ways to balance economic and natural resource sustainability; and addressing harmful activities and pollutants. Access to knowledge and the opportunity to engage in solutions are emphasized to foster sustainable coastal communities.

California Sea Grant has identified the following goals for this focus area.

• RCE Goal 1: California’s coastal communities are better prepared for extreme and chronic weather and coastal hazards, economic disruptions and other threats to community health and well-being with support from science partnerships and the (co-) production of knowledge.
• RCE Goal 2: California’s coastal communities have the information, partnerships and tools needed to support planning, policy and actions for emerging marine and coastal industries and resource management that ensure an equitable and resilient path forward.  

Key RCE topics of priority in California from 2024-2027 include:

• Understanding coastal hazards and risks, such as:
  • Projections of sea level rise and extreme weather events
  • Coastal erosion, flooding and inundation impacts and trends
  • Water quality hazards (e.g., contamination, sedimentation, saltwater intrusion)
  • Increasing compound risks to coastal habitats, communities and economies
• Coastal adaptation, hazard mitigation and resilience approaches, such as:
  • Coastal and watershed adaptation and resilience science, strategies and assessments
  • Nature-based solutions (e.g., green/natural infrastructure, hybrid infrastructure, blue carbon restoration/ mitigation)
  • Socioeconomic and cultural connections to risks, adaptive capacity and adaptation pathways
  • Adaptation strategies that draw from broad knowledges and meet the needs of Native American tribes, under-resourced and frontline communities.
  • Habitat protection, migration and transition approaches for sustaining ecosystem functions and services
• Balancing coastal and ocean uses, sustainability and conservation, such as:
  • Emerging ocean and coastal uses (e.g., offshore/marine renewable energy, marine technologies)
  • Sustainable futures for historic and current coastal uses (e.g.,working waterfronts, coastal tourism and recreation, cultural heritage sites)
  • Coastal access, livelihood, health and wellbeing

Award Information and Priority Topics

There are three research tracks that applicants may submit a proposal to: Indigenous Fisheries and Aquaculture, Graduate Research Fellowships, and Cultivate Awards. Read detailed descriptions of the three research tracks here.