Dear Colleagues,

1) WSARE California is Now Accepting Applications for Professional Development Education Implementation Mini-Grants

WSARE California invites proposals for small grants (up to $25,000) to support professional development opportunities in sustainable agriculture targeted primarily to agricultural professionals such as extension staff, non-profit, state and federal agency staff, PCAs/CCAs, etc.  Farmers and ranchers may be included but should NOT be the primary audience. The goal of the program is to increase the capacity of agriculture professionals who work in California to apply the principles of sustainable agriculture while working with their clientele (farmers, ranchers, consumers, youth, businesses, government, or communities). Applications will be accepted through September 25, 2024.  For more information regarding priority areas, eligibility, and the application process, please visit: https://sarep.ucdavis.edu/news/western-sare-mini-grants24-26 

2) The Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) is soliciting proposals for two programs; Research Grants and Alliance Grants Programs. The DPR's 2025 solicitations aims to fund projects that support the state's goal of transitioning to systemwide adoption of safer, more sustainable pest management, aligned with the Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap objectives.

Alliance Grant Program

Alliance Grants Program provides funding for projects that promote or increase the implementation, expansion, and/or adoption of effective, proven, and affordable integrated pest management (IPM) systems or practices that reduce risks to public health and the environment in agricultural, urban, or wildland settings.

Projects under this category must address one or more of the following priority areas:

• IPM for underserved or disadvantaged communities;
• Decreasing the use of pesticides of high regulatory interest (such as fumigants like 1,3-dichloropropene or sulfuryl fluoride);
• Advancement of urban IPM and safer, more sustainable pest management tools and strategies in urban settings;
• Advancement of IPM and safer, more sustainable pest management tools and strategies in agricultural settings adjacent to or near a school(s);
• Meeting the IPM needs of small growers; and/or
• TWO or more of the three sustainability pillars noted below and referenced in the
  • Sustainable Pest Management (SPM) Roadmap:
  • Human Health and Social Equity
  • Environmental Protections
  • Economic Vitality

The RFA and application materials for Alliance grants are available at: https://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/pestmgt/grants/alliance/app_materials.htm

Proposals Due: November 21, 2024 for Alliance Grants
Funding Amount: $50,000 to $400,000 for Alliance Grants
Project Length: Up to 3 years

Research Grants Program

Research Grants Program provides funding for research projects that advance integrated pest management (IPM) knowledge in agricultural, urban, and wildland settings. Projects should focus on reducing impacts to public health or the environment from pesticides of high regulatory interest.

Projects under this category must address one or more of the following priority areas:

• IPM for underserved or disadvantaged communities;
• Decreasing the use of pesticides of high regulatory interest (such as fumigants like 1,3-dichloropropene or sulfuryl fluoride);
• Advancement of urban IPM and safer, more sustainable pest management tools and strategies in urban settings;
• Advancement of IPM and safer, more sustainable pest management tools and strategies in agricultural settings adjacent to or near a school(s);
• Meeting the IPM needs of small growers; and/or
• TWO or more of the three sustainability pillars noted below and referenced in the Sustainable Pest Management (SPM)Roadmap:
  • Human Health and Social Equity
  • Environmental Protections
  • Economic Vitality

The RFA and application materials for Research grants programs are available at: https://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/pestmgt/grants/research/app_materials.htm

Proposals Due: September 19, 2024 for Research Grants.
Funding Amount: $50,000 to $500,000 for Research Grants
Project Length: Up to 3 years

Visit the DPR Grants web page at https://www.cdpr.ca.gov/dprgrants.htm for more information.

Thank you.

Kimberly Lamar, Associate Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)