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Biologically Integrated Farming Systems

Grantor:
CA Department of Food and Agriculture
Portal ID:
34046
Status:
Closed
Opportunity Type:
  • Grant
Last Updated:
Categories:

Details

Purpose:

The goal of the Biologically Integrated Farming Systems grant is to provide outreach of innovative, biologically integrated plant-based farming systems that reduce chemical pesticide inputs. Projects from this program should demonstrate IPM-based alternative pest management options that focus on economical and efficacious biological and cultural pest management techniques that allow growers to maintain yields and quality.

Description:

The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Office of Pesticide Consultation and Analysis (OPCA) is pleased to announce grant funding available for the Biologically Integrated Farming Systems Program (BIFS). CDFA received a one-time appropriation for this program as part of the AB 179 Budget Act of 2022, and $1 million of this appropriation will be available during this funding cycle.  For the current request for proposals (RFP), the maximum budget allowed is $1 million per project, though smaller projects are also encouraged to apply. The purpose of this RFP is to develop projects to demonstrate and refine outreach of innovative, biologically integrated farming systems that reduce chemical pesticide inputs. Proposals should advance the goals of California's Sustainable Pest Management (SPM) Roadmap, including efforts to 1) enhance knowledge, research, and technical assistance; 2) align pest control advisors (PCAs) with SPM; and 3) reduce economic risk for growers transitioning to SPM. Only public or private colleges and universities; local, State, and federal government entities including tribal governments; non-profit organizations; and commodity groups are eligible to apply. The project lead(s) and their institutions must be based in California though out-of-state collaborators are allowed.

The focus of this RFP is on chemical pesticide reduction in crop-based farming systems. The objective of this program is to demonstrate and refine SPM-based farming projects designed to reduce chemical pesticide inputs, especially non-selective, biologically disruptive insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and fumigants that pose greater risk to human health or the environment. Applicants should discuss the risks of the pesticide(s) they are aiming to reduce. All aspects of the farming system may be considered as they relate to pest management, including factors such as adjacent landscapes, whether they are farmed or not.

Projects will typically include all the following elements:

On-farm demonstration/evaluation of an innovative, biologically based farming system, that employs SPM strategies;
A collaborative outreach effort for sharing technical information about the farming system with growers, PCAs, commodity groups, and others engaged in pest management, and;
An organized program for monitoring key biological and economic variables to inform on-farm decision making and evaluate project success.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Applicants:

  • Individual
  • Nonprofit
  • Public Agency
  • Tribal Government

Public or private colleges and universities, local, State, and federal government entities including tribal governments, non-profit organizations, and commodity groups are eligible to apply. The project lead(s) and their institutions must be based in California; out-of-state collaborators are allowed. California state agencies may not submit proposal applications but may be listed as subcontractors on other proposals.

Important Dates

The date (and time, where applicable) by which all applications must be submitted to the grantmaker. Time listed as “00:00” equates to midnight.
The date on which the grantor expects to announce the recipient(s) of the grant.
10/6/23
The length of time during which the grant money must be utilized.
4 years

Funding Details

The total projected dollar amount of the grant.
$1,000,000
A single grant opportunity may represent one or many awards. Some grantors may know in advance the exact number of awards to be given. Others may indicate a range. Some may wish to and wait until the application period closes before determining how many awards to offer; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display.
1
Grant opportunities representing multiple awards may offer awards in the same amount or in varied amounts. Some may wish to wait until the application period closes before determining per-award amounts; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display.
$500,000 – $1,000,000
Certain grants require that the recipient(s) provide a letter of intent.
No
Certain grants require that the recipient(s) be able to fully or partially match the grant award amount with another funding source.
No
The funding source allocated to fund the grant. It may be either State or Federal (or a combination of both), and be tied to a specific piece of legislation, a proposition, or a bond number.
  • State

Funding Source Notes:

CDFA received a one-time appropriation for this program as part of the AB 179 Budget Act of 2022, and $1 million of this appropriation will be available during this funding cycle.

The manner in which the grant funding will be delivered to the awardee. Funding methods include reimbursements (where the recipient spends out-of-pocket and is reimbursed by the grantor) and advances (where the recipient spends received grant funds directly).
  • Reimbursement(s)

How to Apply

State agencies/departments recommend you read the full grant guidelines before applying.

Resources

For questions about this grant, contact:
Brian Gress, 1-916-926-1537, brian.gress@cdfa.ca.gov

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