Three new funding opportunities are available to support applied research, innovation, and resource management in forestry and California agriculture. Current opportunities include funding from the USDA Forest Service, California Blueberry Commission, and California Olive Committee.
National Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost Share Grant Program - USDA Forest Service
This year's program focuses on Community Tree Resource Utilization, supporting practical and replicable approaches that transform wood generated through tree pruning, removals, storms, and pest or disease outbreaks into useful products while reducing waste and generating economic, environmental, and workforce benefits.
Competitive projects should advance community tree resource utilization by:
- Developing or expanding systems that convert community wood into products such as lumber, slabs, furniture, flooring, biochar, or other useful materials.
- Improving urban and community forest management and integrating utilization activities into existing community forestry plans and programs.
- Creating workforce development, training, certification, employment, and business opportunities.
- Applying appropriate tree-care, nursery, and safety standards and incorporating relevant technologies and industry expertise.
- Developing approaches, resources, or models that can be replicated and scaled by communities in other regions.
Projects should demonstrate strong partnerships and clearly identify anticipated community, economic, environmental, and workforce outcomes.
Key Program Details
- Application deadline: October 12, 2026, 5:00 PM Eastern
- Award size: Up to $500,000
- Project duration: Up to 3 years
- Match requirement: 1:1 non-federal match required
For more details, please view the full Community Tree Resource Utilization solicitation
California Blueberry Commission 2026–2027 Research Program
The Commission is seeking research proposals that will benefit CA blueberry growers and processors by improving the efficiency and effectiveness of blueberry production and processing practices. The program supports applied research addressing current industry challenges and opportunities for reducing costs, improving production, and maintaining fruit quality.
The Commission is particularly interested in research addressing:
- Mechanization and automation, including mechanical harvesting, mechanical pruning, and packinghouse automation.
- Pest management, particularly management of Spotted Wing Drosophila.
- Agricultural technology, including GPS acreage mapping, UAV-based bird control, and frost detection and prevention technologies.
- Postharvest management, including irradiation, alternatives to methyl bromide fumigation, and strategies to increase shelf life and preserve fruit quality.
- Packaging innovation, particularly alternatives to single-use plastics in response to California requirements.
- Other research that can reduce costs or increase the effectiveness of California blueberry production.
Key Program Details
- Application deadline: August 21, 2026, 5:00 PM Pacific
- Project duration: Projects may project needs for up to 3 years; funding is awarded annually and continuation must be justified each year
- Match requirement: none
For more details, please view the full CA Blueberry Commission solicitation
California Olive Committee (COC) 2027 Research Program
The COC is seeking research proposals that will benefit California olive growers and processors by improving the efficiency, productivity, and sustainability of olive production and processing. The Committee has established a broad set of research priorities for 2027, with proposed work limited to Manzanillo and Sevillano ripe olive varieties.
Priority research areas include:
- Pest and disease management, including Olive Fruit Fly, Olive Knot, Peacock Spot, Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter and other leafhoppers, Black Scale, and foliar fungal and bacterial diseases.
- Emerging pest and disease preparedness, including evaluation of preventative measures related to the spread of Xylella fastidiosa.
- Production technology and mechanization, including drone and satellite technologies for moisture and crop-load assessment and mechanical harvesting in existing and new high-density orchards.
- Crop management, including loosening agents, pollination-assist techniques, tools for determining optimal pollination timing, and evaluation of urea as a thinning agent.
- Variety identification and product research, including olive DNA evaluation and research supporting health claims for canned California ripe olives.
- Investigation of unexplained crop failures, particularly in southern production areas.
Key Program Details
- Application deadline: October 30, 2026, 5:00 PM Pacific
- Project duration: Projects may project needs for up to 3 years; funding is awarded annually and continuation must be justified each year
- Match requirement: none
For more details, please view the full CA Olive Committee solicitation