Understanding Impacts of Hub Farm Resources in Expanding Adoption of Regenerative Agriculture Practices (US)

The work funded through this RFA will support socio-economic focused research that will lead to a successful, sustainable, scalable, and replicable initiative. A successful application may include drivers for hub farms to implement this type of program and influencing factors of farmer participation and adoption. Successful proposals will also provide project analysis and an innovation dissemination and communication plan to leverage learning and achieve widespread impact. This includes establishing clear metrics for success, identifying potential barriers to adoption, and outlining strategies to overcome these challenges to ensure the benefits reach the intended audience effectively.

This funding opportunity seeks projects that will support socio-economic research on both large and small dairy farms and will aim to promote replication across the farm environments and lead middle adopters to increase and maintain cover crop acres and facilitate the acquisition of appropriate equipment and infrastructure to scale RA practices. Such activities aim to stimulate more resource sharing opportunities for new/middle adopters of RA practices.

The project should also contribute to the goal of sustainable food and agriculture, defined as practices that “satisfy human food and fiber needs; enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agricultural economy depends; make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls; sustain the economic viability of farm operation; and enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole.

Focus Areas

• Fit within FFAR’s Priority Areas:
  • Cultivating Thriving Production Systems: supports research that equips producers with information and tools to manage their enterprises efficiently and profitably, including animal and crop management practices.
  • Sustaining Vibrant Agroecosystems: supports research that provides tools, technologies and integrative models at scales that allow producers to build and maintain healthy, productive agroecosystems under a changing climate.
  • Bolstering Healthy Food Systems: supports research that provides food processors, distributors and retailers with the information and technology needed to create efficient and sustainable supply chains that deliver nutritious food to consumers.
• Increase understanding of factors that impact adoption of Regenerative Agriculture Practices: To foster broader adoption of regenerative agriculture practices, it is crucial to deepen their understanding of the social and economic factors that influence this shift. By identifying and harnessing these key drivers, they can develop targeted strategies to engage both middle and late adopters, thereby accelerating the transition towards a more sustainable and regenerative agricultural system. Fully integrated partnerships with different sectors are imperative so that research outcomes may be scalable and applicable to food and agriculture systems. The proposed research program should clearly be expected to benefit the U.S. food and agriculture system.
• Promote replication across different farm environments.
• Uphold Danone and FFAR’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) by seeking unique perspectives through participatory stakeholder engagement and developing results to serve the diverse stakeholders committed to addressing challenges related to food supply and agricultural sustainability. At Danone, inclusive diversity is a key level to drive the food revolution, where food and drink choices are driven by local culture, personal needs and choices.

Funding Information

• Up to two awards between $225,000 and $450,000 will be granted under this funding opportunity. The performance period for completing the proposed work will be two years.

Eligibility Criteria

• Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to conduct the proposed research as Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) may apply to the RFA through their home institution or organization.
• The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research welcomes applications from all domestic and international higher education institutions, non-profit and for-profit organizations, and U.S. government affiliated research agencies. The following principles guide FFAR’s international engagement under this RFA:
  • The proposal must identify a clear benefit to the U.S. food and agriculture system and a clear pathway to deploy the technology or solution in the U.S.
  • FFAR will prioritize research that delivers broader benefits across geographies and production systems while ensuring mutual benefit for the U.S. and other nations.
• FFAR will not support research that addresses a challenge primarily limited to another country or region outside the U.S. or where the technology or solution is not broadly relevant to the U.S.
• Proposed projects that also demonstrate the following characteristics will receive preference:
  • Experience working with both small and large dairy producers
  • Experience working in the East and Midwest regions of the United States
  • Experience collaborating with communities that identify as Mennonite or Amish.

For more information, visit FFAR.