The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for the Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant. The grant supports innovative on-farm research and demonstrations of practices that could help make farming more profitable or resource-efficient.
The MDA anticipates awarding up to $350,000 through the grant program. Applicants may request up to $50,000 per project. No match is required for the first $25,000, but a dollar-for-dollar match is required for any amount requested above $25,000.
“Since 2019, the Walz-Flanagan Administration has invested more than $1.8 million in 67 research and demonstration projects through this grant,” said MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen. “These investments help turn ideas tested on Minnesota farms into practical knowledge that benefits producers statewide and keeps Minnesota at the forefront of sustainable agriculture research.”
Eligible applicants include Minnesota farmers, sovereign Tribal Nations, Tribal organizations, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and local units of government. Projects must take place on Minnesota farms and be conducted over two to three years. Priority will be given to farmer-led projects.
Previous grantees have explored practices such as trialing new table grape varieties, incorporating cover crops and crop rotations, optimizing on-farm composting, and using livestock grazing to manage invasive plants. Proposed practices do not need to be entirely new, but they should be innovative in Minnesota or uncommon in the region where the project will take place. Visit the AGRI Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant webpage to explore past projects.
Grant recipients share what they learn through outreach activities and final reports published in the MDA’s annual Greenbook. The Greenbook highlights the results of grant funded projects and provides practical information that other farmers can use when considering sustainable practices for their own operations.
Applications are due by 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29. Visit the AGRI Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant webpage for application details and complete eligibility requirements.
Funding for the Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant is made available through the MDA’s AGRI Program, which administers grants to farmers, agribusinesses, schools, and more throughout Minnesota to advance the state’s agricultural and renewable energy sectors.
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Media Contact
Nikki Warner, MDA Communications
651-238-7909
Nikki.Warner@state.mn.us
