Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 004511
Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 004511
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "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 Mar 20, 2014 and posted on Mar 20, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 6, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,800,000.00 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).
- Applications may only be submitted by colleges and universities (as defined in section 1404 of NARETPA) (7 U.S.C. 3103) to the Methyl Bromide Transition (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 Methyl Bromide Transitions grant opportunity (USDA NIFA ICGP 004511) is a competitive federal funding program run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to help U.S. agriculture move away from methyl bromide, a pesticide that for decades played a central role in managing soilborne and postharvest pests and diseases. Because methyl bromide was scheduled for phase-out, many producers and supply chains faced practical and financial disruption where this fumigant had been the primary or only consistently effective control option. This program is meant to respond to those immediate needs by supporting applied, commercial-scale work that identifies workable alternatives and speeds up real-world adoption, rather than stopping at small experimental trials.
At its core, the program prioritizes integrated projects that combine research with extension activities so the results do not stay in academic journals but translate into on-farm or commercial implementation. Proposals are expected to evaluate and demonstrate alternatives to methyl bromide across a broad range of approaches, which can include new methodologies, technologies, systems, and pest management strategies. The emphasis is on economically important pests and diseases where methyl bromide historically filled a unique role, meaning projects should focus on high-impact, high-need commodity systems with clearly defined “critical issues” tied to the loss of methyl bromide. A key expectation is that the work reflects the realities of commercial agriculture, including operational constraints, scalability, and adoption barriers, rather than idealized conditions.
A defining requirement of this opportunity is a focused economic analysis tied directly to the transition. Beyond showing that an alternative can control pests, applicants must analyze the cost of implementing the transition at commercial scale. In practice, that means addressing the economics of switching: costs of new inputs and equipment, changes in labor or timing, impacts on yields and quality, risk and variability, and whether the alternative is financially feasible for growers and related businesses. The economic component is not a side note; it is part of demonstrating that the proposed transition can succeed in real markets and not just in controlled settings.
Funding is provided as discretionary grant support under CFDA 10.303 (Integrated Programs). The estimated total funding available for the competition was $1,800,000, with an award ceiling of $500,000 per project and no stated award floor. Cost sharing or matching is required, so applicants must plan for and document non-federal contributions consistent with the program rules. The announcement was posted March 20, 2014, with an application deadline of May 6, 2014, and an archive date of June 5, 2014, indicating this specific notice is historical, though it reflects the program’s purpose and design.
Eligibility is limited to colleges and universities as defined in Section 1404 of NARETPA (7 U.S.C. 3103), including Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACUs) as recognized through amendments in the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. The eligibility definition also extends to research foundations maintained by otherwise eligible colleges or universities. In other words, this competition was designed primarily for academic institutions (and their affiliated research foundations) positioned to run integrated research and extension programs with strong stakeholder engagement.
For practical help accessing the full announcement, the notice directs applicants to the NIFA Help Desk (202-401-5048) during standard business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern, excluding federal holidays). The full opportunity details were provided through an additional information link titled “Methyl Bromide Transitions,” and prospective applicants with questions about preparing application content were encouraged to use the listed contact pathways.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Methyl Bromide Transitions (USDA NIFA ICGP 004511)
What is the Methyl Bromide Transitions grant opportunity (USDA NIFA ICGP 004511)?
It is a competitive federal grant program run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to help U.S. agriculture move away from methyl bromide by supporting applied, commercial-scale work that identifies workable alternatives and speeds up real-world adoption.
Why does this program exist?
The program responds to practical and financial disruption caused by the scheduled phase-out of methyl bromide, a pesticide that had long been a central tool for managing soilborne and postharvest pests and diseases. Where methyl bromide had been the primary or only consistently effective option, producers and supply chains needed viable replacement approaches that work under commercial conditions.
What kinds of projects does the program prioritize?
The program prioritizes integrated projects that combine research with extension activities, with the goal of translating results into on-farm or commercial implementation rather than leaving outcomes in small experimental trials or academic publications.
What does "integrated" mean in this program?
Based on the opportunity description, "integrated" means proposals are expected to combine research with extension activities so that findings are demonstrated and communicated in ways that enable adoption by growers and other commercial stakeholders.
Is the program focused on small trials or real-world demonstration?
The emphasis is on applied, commercial-scale work. Projects are expected to reflect the realities of commercial agriculture, including operational constraints, scalability, and adoption barriers.
What types of alternatives to methyl bromide can be supported?
Proposals are expected to evaluate and demonstrate alternatives across a broad range of approaches, including new methodologies, technologies, systems, and pest management strategies.
What pest or disease targets should a proposal address?
The program emphasizes economically important pests and diseases where methyl bromide historically filled a unique role. Projects should focus on high-impact, high-need commodity systems with clearly defined "critical issues" tied to the loss of methyl bromide.
What is meant by "critical issues" in this opportunity?
"Critical issues" refers to the clearly defined, high-need problems that arise in commodity systems due to the loss of methyl bromide as a control option, especially where it had been uniquely important for managing key pests and diseases.
What is the required economic analysis component?
A defining requirement is a focused economic analysis tied directly to the transition away from methyl bromide. Applicants must analyze the costs of implementing the transition at commercial scale, not only whether an alternative controls pests.
What economic factors are applicants expected to address?
The description indicates the economic component should address the economics of switching at commercial scale, such as costs of new inputs and equipment, changes in labor or timing, impacts on yields and quality, risk and variability, and whether the alternative is financially feasible for growers and related businesses.
Is the economic component optional?
No. The economic analysis is described as a key expectation and "not a side note." It is part of demonstrating that the transition can succeed in real markets rather than only in controlled settings.
What is the funding mechanism and CFDA number for this opportunity?
Funding is provided as discretionary grant support under CFDA 10.303 (Integrated Programs).
How much total funding was available for this competition?
The estimated total funding available for the competition was $1,800,000.
What is the maximum award size (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling was $500,000 per project.
Is there a minimum award amount (award floor)?
No award floor was stated in the provided opportunity description.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. Cost sharing or matching is required, and applicants were expected to plan for and document non-federal contributions consistent with the program rules.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to colleges and universities as defined in Section 1404 of NARETPA (7 U.S.C. 3103), including Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACUs) as recognized through amendments in the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. The definition also extends to research foundations maintained by otherwise eligible colleges or universities.
Are research foundations eligible to apply?
Yes. Research foundations maintained by otherwise eligible colleges or universities are included in the eligibility definition.
Does this notice indicate the opportunity is current or historical?
This specific notice appears to be historical. It was posted March 20, 2014, had an application deadline of May 6, 2014, and an archive date of June 5, 2014.
What were the key dates for the posted notice?
The announcement was posted on March 20, 2014. The application deadline was May 6, 2014. The archive date was June 5, 2014.
Where were applicants directed to find the full announcement details?
The notice indicates the full opportunity details were provided through an additional information link titled "Methyl Bromide Transitions."
How could applicants get help accessing the full announcement?
Applicants were directed 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, excluding federal holidays).
What hours was the NIFA Help Desk available?
Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern, excluding federal holidays.
What general approach does the program expect regarding adoption barriers?
Projects are expected to reflect real commercial conditions, including adoption barriers and practical constraints, rather than idealized scenarios. The goal is to speed real-world adoption of workable alternatives.
What is the overarching goal of requiring research plus extension?
The stated intent is to ensure results do not stay in academic journals and instead translate into on-farm or commercial implementation through integrated research and extension activities.
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