Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 004257
Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 004257
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture education environment natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program Methyl Bromide Transitions" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.303 Integrated Programs.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 19, 2013 and posted on Apr 19, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 21, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,900,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
- Applications may be submitted by colleges and universities (as defined in section 1404 of NARETPA) (7 U.S.C. 3103) to the Methyl Bromide Transitions (MBT) Competitive Grants Program. Section 1404 of NARETPA was amended by section 7101 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA) to define Hispanic serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACUs) (see Part III, B. and Part VIII, E. for more information), and to include research foundations maintained by eligible colleges or universities.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program - Methyl Bromide Transitions (MBT) is a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) competitive grant opportunity designed to help U.S. agriculture move away from methyl bromide after its scheduled phaseout. For decades, methyl bromide was a cornerstone tool for controlling soilborne pests and postharvest pests and diseases, especially in production systems where few other options worked as reliably. This program is aimed at the very practical problem created by the phaseout: growers and related industries need effective replacements, and they also face real costs, risks, and operational disruption while switching to new approaches.
The core emphasis of the program is integrated, commercial-scale work rather than small, purely experimental trials. Applicants are expected to develop and test alternatives that can realistically be adopted in the field or in postharvest systems, and then pair that research with extension activities that actively support adoption. In other words, it is not just about proving something can work; it is about making it usable in real production settings and ensuring that growers and stakeholders can actually implement it. Proposed projects are expected to address a broad range of potential replacements, including new methodologies, technologies, systems, and strategies for controlling economically important pests where methyl bromide had been the primary or only consistently effective option.
A defining requirement is that projects must focus on commodities that have critical pest management issues tied to the methyl bromide transition. Alongside technical performance, proposals must include a focused economic analysis that looks directly at the costs of implementing the transition at a commercial scale. That economic component is meant to capture the real-world financial impacts of switching away from methyl bromide, such as changes in input costs, equipment or infrastructure needs, labor implications, yield and quality effects, and any other cost drivers that determine whether an alternative is truly feasible for growers and supply chains.
This opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and uses the grant mechanism. The funding activity spans agriculture, education, environment, and natural resources, and it is listed under CFDA 10.303 (Integrated Programs). The program requires cost sharing or matching, meaning funded projects are expected to include some level of non-federal contribution consistent with the program rules in the full announcement.
For this specific announcement (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA ICGP 004257), NIFA estimated total available funding at $1.9 million, with individual awards expected to range from $50,000 (floor) to $500,000 (ceiling). The opportunity was posted on April 19, 2013, with an application closing date of May 21, 2013, and it was later archived on June 20, 2013.
Eligibility is centered on academic institutions. Applications may be submitted by colleges and universities as defined in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act (NARETPA) (7 U.S.C. 3103). The eligibility definition was updated by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to include Hispanic-serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACUs), and it also allows research foundations maintained by eligible colleges or universities. Both public/state-controlled and private institutions of higher education are explicitly included among eligible applicant types.
For access or application system issues, the announcement directs applicants to the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during standard business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays). The full announcement link is provided in the listing as the primary source for complete program rules, required proposal elements, and submission instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program - Methyl Bromide Transitions (MBT)
What is the Methyl Bromide Transitions (MBT) grant program?
The Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program - Methyl Bromide Transitions (MBT) is a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) competitive grant opportunity designed to help U.S. agriculture transition away from methyl bromide following its scheduled phaseout.
Why does this program exist?
For decades, methyl bromide was widely used to control soilborne pests and postharvest pests and diseases, particularly in systems where few alternatives worked as reliably. The phaseout created a practical challenge for growers and related industries: they need effective replacements while managing the costs, risks, and operational disruption that come with changing pest management approaches.
What types of projects is MBT designed to support?
The program emphasizes integrated, commercial-scale work rather than small, purely experimental trials. Projects are expected to develop and test alternatives that can realistically be adopted in field production or postharvest systems, and to pair that work with extension activities that support real-world adoption by growers and other stakeholders.
Is this funding focused only on research?
No. The program is described as an integrated research, education, and extension opportunity. Projects are expected not only to demonstrate that an alternative can work, but also to make it usable in real production settings and to support implementation through extension activities aimed at adoption.
What kinds of alternatives to methyl bromide can be proposed?
Proposed projects are expected to address a broad range of potential replacements, including new methodologies, technologies, systems, and strategies for controlling economically important pests in cases where methyl bromide had been the primary or only consistently effective option.
What does "commercial-scale" mean in the context of this program?
The announcement emphasizes integrated, commercial-scale work. In practical terms, the program is oriented toward testing and developing alternatives in ways that align with real-world production or postharvest operations, rather than limiting work to small or purely experimental trials.
What is the required focus of the projects?
A defining requirement is that projects must focus on commodities that have critical pest management issues tied to the methyl bromide transition.
Is an economic analysis required?
Yes. Proposals must include a focused economic analysis that looks directly at the costs of implementing the transition at a commercial scale.
What costs should the economic analysis consider?
The economic component is intended to capture real-world financial impacts of switching away from methyl bromide. Examples explicitly mentioned include changes in input costs, equipment or infrastructure needs, labor implications, yield and quality effects, and other cost drivers that influence whether an alternative is feasible for growers and supply chains.
What is the funding mechanism for this opportunity?
This opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and uses the grant mechanism.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The program is listed under CFDA 10.303 (Integrated Programs).
What subject areas does the funding activity cover?
The funding activity spans agriculture, education, environment, and natural resources.
Does this grant require cost sharing or matching?
Yes. The program requires cost sharing or matching, meaning funded projects are expected to include some level of non-federal contribution consistent with the program rules described in the full announcement.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NIFA ICGP 004257.
How much total funding was available for this announcement?
NIFA estimated total available funding at $1.9 million for this specific announcement.
What is the expected award size?
Individual awards were expected to range from $50,000 (floor) to $500,000 (ceiling).
When was the opportunity posted and when was the application due?
The opportunity was posted on April 19, 2013, and the application closing date was May 21, 2013.
Is this opportunity still open?
No. This announcement was later archived on June 20, 2013.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is centered on academic institutions. Applications may be submitted by colleges and universities as defined in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act (NARETPA) (7 U.S.C. 3103).
Are Hispanic-serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACUs) eligible?
Yes. The eligibility definition was updated by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to include Hispanic-serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACUs).
Can a research foundation apply?
Yes. The opportunity allows research foundations maintained by eligible colleges or universities.
Are private universities eligible, or only public institutions?
Both public/state-controlled and private institutions of higher education are explicitly included among eligible applicant types.
Where can applicants find the complete program rules and submission instructions?
The listing indicates that the full announcement link is the primary source for complete program rules, required proposal elements, and submission instructions.
Who should applicants contact for access or application system issues?
For access or application system issues, applicants are directed to the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048.
What are the NIFA Help Desk hours?
The NIFA Help Desk is available Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.
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