Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program Methyl Bromide Transition | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program - Methyl Bromide Transition (MBT)?

The MBT program is a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) competitive grant opportunity intended to help U.S. agriculture manage the practical and financial disruption caused by the scheduled phaseout of methyl bromide. It focuses on developing and delivering workable alternatives that can be adopted under real commercial conditions.

Why was this program created?

The program was created because methyl bromide had been a cornerstone fumigant for decades, especially for soilborne pests and certain postharvest pest problems. As methyl bromide was phased out, many production systems lost a single, highly effective tool. MBT was designed to support the transition to alternative pest management approaches that maintain yield, quality, and profitability.

What is the main goal of MBT-funded projects?

The central goal is to generate integrated, field-ready solutions that producers can adopt at scale without unacceptable losses in yield, quality, or profitability. The program emphasizes outcomes that work in real-world commercial production systems, not just in small plots or controlled research settings.

What makes this grant opportunity "integrated"?

A defining feature is that projects are expected to combine research with education and extension. This means proposals should not only develop or evaluate alternatives to methyl bromide, but also include a strong plan to transfer results to growers, commodity groups, pest control advisors, and other stakeholders so successful approaches are implemented in the field.

Is the program focused on research only, or does it also require outreach?

It requires more than research. The program explicitly emphasizes education and extension alongside research, reflecting an expectation that projects will deliver results to stakeholders and support adoption in commercial agriculture.

What types of solutions or approaches are eligible under the scope described?

The scope is broad and includes new methodologies, technologies, systems, and strategies to control economically important pests and diseases for which methyl bromide had been the only effective option or a uniquely reliable standard. The program description allows for chemical, biological, cultural, and physical approaches, as well as integrated pest management systems that combine multiple tactics.

Does the program address soilborne pests, postharvest pests, or both?

Both. The language highlights soilborne and postharvest contexts, indicating that proposed solutions may target issues such as pathogen complexes, nematodes, weeds, and insect pests that were previously managed through fumigation and now require alternative control programs.

What does "commercial-scale" mean in the context of this program?

The program emphasizes commercial-scale, systems-oriented work. In practical terms, projects are expected to be oriented toward performance under real commercial conditions and to recognize that methyl bromide replacements may require changes in production practices, equipment, labor timing, or supply chains, rather than a simple one-to-one chemical substitution.

What are "critical issues" commodities, and why do they matter here?

Funded projects are expected to address commodities with critical issues, meaning urgent real-world needs where the loss of methyl bromide creates major risk to production, quality, marketability, or compliance. The work should be grounded in high-priority problems with clear impacts on commercial agriculture.

Is an economic analysis required as part of the project?

Yes. Proposals must include a focused economic analysis examining the cost of implementing the transition on a commercial scale. This reflects the program focus on feasibility: an alternative must not only be biologically effective, but also economically workable when adopted by commercial operations.

What kinds of costs or tradeoffs are expected to be considered in the economic analysis?

The program description indicates the analysis should account for commercial-scale implementation costs, including inputs, labor, equipment, management complexity, and any yield or quality tradeoffs associated with adopting the alternative approach.

What was the CFDA number and grant type for this opportunity?

It was offered as a discretionary grant under CFDA 10.303 (Integrated Programs).

What was the estimated total funding amount for this announcement cycle?

The estimated total funding amount listed was $2,000,000.

Was cost sharing or matching required?

Yes. Cost sharing or matching was required under this opportunity.

What was the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number was USDA NIFA ICGP 004997.

When was this opportunity posted, and what were the key dates?

It was posted on March 20, 2015. The original and final closing date was May 4, 2015, and the archive date was June 3, 2015.

Is this specific announcement cycle current or historical?

Based on the dates provided (2015 posting and closing dates, with an archive date in 2015), this specific announcement cycle is historical. However, the summary describes what the program sought to fund and the expectations it set for integrated, adoption-oriented methyl bromide transition work.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was limited to colleges and universities as defined in Section 1404 of NARETPA (7 U.S.C. 3103), including research foundations maintained by eligible colleges or universities.

Were Hispanic-serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACUs) included as eligible applicants?

Yes. The eligibility language references amendments that explicitly recognize Hispanic-serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACUs) as eligible under the relevant authority.

Were 1994 Land-Grant Institutions eligible?

Yes. The eligibility language clarifies inclusion of 1994 Land-Grant Institutions as eligible applicants under the relevant authority.

Could private companies or individuals submit applications directly?

No. The eligibility description indicates applications could not be submitted by private companies or individuals directly. The program was designed for university-based teams and their affiliated research foundations, which commonly partner with growers and industry in applied agricultural research and extension.

Does the program expect collaboration with growers or industry?

The description indicates the program was designed for university-based teams and their affiliated research foundations, which commonly partner with growers and industry in applied agricultural research and extension. The program emphasis on commercial-scale adoption and extension implies strong engagement with stakeholders.

What kinds of stakeholders are expected to benefit from education and extension activities?

The program specifically references transferring results to growers, commodity groups, pest control advisors, and other stakeholders to ensure successful approaches are implemented in the field.

Where could applicants get help if they had trouble accessing the full announcement electronically?

The announcement directed applicants with trouble accessing the full announcement electronically to the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048, available during standard business hours Eastern Time.

Was there separate help for questions about preparing application content?

Yes. The announcement noted that separate assistance was available for questions related to preparing application content.