Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA OP 004269
Apply for USDA NIFA OP 004269
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture energy environment food and nutrition natural resources science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Supplemental and Alternative Crops Competitive Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.200 Grants for Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 6, 2013 and posted on May 6, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 14, 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 $780,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $210,000.00 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, other Federal agencies and private sector entities. Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Supplemental and Alternative Crops Competitive (SACC) Grants Program is a competitive federal grant opportunity administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to accelerate the development of canola as a practical supplemental and alternative crop in the United States. The program is focused on moving canola from a promising option to a broadly viable production crop by supporting applied research and near-term technology transfer that can lead to measurable increases in canola production and/or planted acreage. A key expectation is that projects do not stop at generating research results; they must also include Extension-driven outreach so new practices and findings reach producers as quickly as possible.
The work NIFA is looking to fund centers on a few core areas tied directly to adoption and scale. First is the development and testing of superior germplasm, meaning improved canola genetic material that performs better in U.S. growing conditions (for example, stronger yield potential, better disease resistance, improved stress tolerance, or other traits that make canola more reliable and profitable). Second is improving production practices, including methods of planting, cultivation, and harvesting. This emphasis signals an interest in practical agronomic and engineering advances that reduce risk, improve stand establishment, optimize input use, and address harvest efficiency or loss reduction, all of which can be major barriers to wider producer uptake. The overall intent is to generate actionable improvements that can be implemented on farms, not just studied in controlled settings.
Extension, education, and communication are not optional add-ons in this program; they must be addressed in proposals and should be clearly tied to the research activities. In practice, this means applicants are expected to describe how they will translate findings into producer-friendly guidance, trainings, demonstrations, field days, decision tools, publications, and other outreach products, and how they will work with stakeholders so information is delivered in a timely and usable format. The grant’s design reflects a pipeline approach: research produces improved varieties and management recommendations, and Extension ensures those advances are adopted in the field to drive acreage and production growth.
This is a discretionary grant program under CFDA 10.200 (Grants for Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants), categorized under agriculture and related research and development areas. The total estimated funding listed for the opportunity is $780,000, with an award ceiling of $210,000 and no stated minimum award amount. The opportunity specifies no cost sharing or matching requirement, which can lower the barrier to participation for institutions and partners without dedicated match funding.
Eligibility is broad and includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, other federal agencies, and private sector entities. Even when a lead applicant must meet eligibility requirements, the award recipient may subcontract to organizations that are not eligible to apply directly, as long as those partners are necessary to conduct the project. This structure supports collaborative proposals that combine university research capacity, Extension networks, government expertise, and private-sector capabilities such as breeding, seed systems, equipment innovation, or commercialization pathways.
Key administrative details from the announcement include the funding opportunity number USDA NIFA OP 004269 and an original/current closing date of June 14, 2013 (posted May 6, 2013, archived July 14, 2013). For access issues with the full announcement, NIFA directs applicants to its Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during standard business hours (Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays).
Supplemental and Alternative Crops Competitive (SACC) Grants Program (Canola) - FAQs
1) What is the SACC Grants Program?
The Supplemental and Alternative Crops Competitive (SACC) Grants Program is a competitive federal grant opportunity administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It is designed to accelerate the development of canola as a practical supplemental and alternative crop in the United States.
2) What is the main goal of this grant opportunity?
The main goal is to move canola from a promising option to a broadly viable production crop by funding applied research and near-term technology transfer that can lead to measurable increases in canola production and/or planted acreage.
3) What kinds of outcomes does NIFA expect from funded projects?
NIFA is looking for projects that lead to actionable, on-farm improvements and measurable growth in canola production and/or planted acreage. The program emphasizes applied research paired with technology transfer so results can be used quickly by producers.
4) Is Extension/outreach required, or is it optional?
Extension-driven outreach is an explicit expectation and is not optional. Projects are expected to go beyond generating research results and include outreach so new practices and findings reach producers as quickly as possible.
5) What research areas are prioritized by the program?
The opportunity highlights core areas tied to adoption and scale, including (1) development and testing of superior canola germplasm and (2) improvements in production practices such as planting, cultivation, and harvesting.
6) What does "superior germplasm" mean in this context?
In this program, superior germplasm refers to improved canola genetic material that performs better in U.S. growing conditions, such as stronger yield potential, improved disease resistance, better stress tolerance, or other traits that make canola more reliable and profitable.
7) What kinds of production-practice improvements fit the program's scope?
The scope includes practical agronomic and engineering advances related to planting, cultivation, and harvesting. The emphasis is on improvements that reduce risk, improve stand establishment, optimize input use, and address harvest efficiency or loss reduction.
8) Does the program focus on basic research or applied work?
The program is geared toward applied research and near-term technology transfer, with a strong focus on generating improvements that can be implemented on farms rather than only studied in controlled settings.
9) What types of Extension, education, or communication activities are expected?
Applicants are expected to explain how they will translate findings into producer-friendly guidance. Examples described in the opportunity include trainings, demonstrations, field days, decision tools, publications, and other outreach products, along with stakeholder engagement to deliver information in a timely and usable format.
10) How should Extension activities relate to the research plan?
Extension, education, and communication should be clearly tied to the research activities, reflecting a pipeline approach where research produces improved varieties and management recommendations and Extension supports adoption in the field.
11) What is the CFDA number and program category for this opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant program under CFDA 10.200 (Grants for Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants), categorized under agriculture and related research and development areas.
12) How much total funding is estimated to be available?
The total estimated funding listed for the opportunity is $780,000.
13) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $210,000.
14) Is there a minimum award amount?
No minimum award amount is stated in the information provided.
15) Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity specifies no cost sharing or matching requirement.
16) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, other federal agencies, and private sector entities.
17) Can the award recipient subcontract work to other organizations?
Yes. The award recipient may subcontract to organizations that are not eligible to apply directly, as long as those partners are necessary to conduct the project.
18) Does this opportunity support collaborative proposals?
Yes. The eligibility and subcontracting structure supports collaborative proposals combining university research capacity, Extension networks, government expertise, and private-sector capabilities (such as breeding, seed systems, equipment innovation, or commercialization pathways).
19) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA OP 004269.
20) When was the application closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original/current closing date listed is June 14, 2013. The opportunity was posted May 6, 2013 and archived July 14, 2013.
21) Who administers this grant program?
The program is administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
22) What should applicants do if they have trouble accessing the full announcement?
For access issues with the full announcement, NIFA directs applicants to its Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during standard business hours (Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays).
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