What Can Be Funded

Funded project goals

The research that Northeast SARE seeks to fund will develop and study new models for how we might maintain agricultural production with very limited direct and indirect energy inputs in the future.

The ultimate goal of this research will be to develop innovative approaches to farming that optimize the use of energy, natural nutrient and water cycles, and natural biological controls for weeds, insects, and diseases, as well as the variety of inputs that are used on farms.

Improving farming systems

Improving our understanding of how farming systems can be designed to make better use of biodiversity and natural cycles to maintain productivity will allow us to be better prepared to meet society's food needs in the future. Thus the farming systems proposed for study need not, and probably should not, be applicable or appropriate to today's economic conditions or available agricultural production technology.

However, a lot individual farming practices that promote sustainability in our region already exist. Research should concentrate on integrating and adapting these practices into more complex, synergistic systems.

Research team requirements

To assure that projects are holistic, proposals should include a specific description of how collaboration across disciplines will be accomplished. To assure the ongoing engagement of the research team, key individuals with complimentary areas of expertise will be expected to provide a portion of their time as match over the duration of the project. The total personnel time provided as match must be at least 50 percent of Northeast SARE funds requested.

Project leadership requirements

A project leader with demonstrated expertise in agroecosystems research will be expected to provide evidence of his or her personal and institutional commitment to carrying on a long-term agroecological study that some may consider unconventional or outside research norms. Assurance must also be provided that the physical location of the research will remain available for the duration of the project, should it be funded for two or even three grant cycles, or six to six to nine years.

Project location

Although this research could take place on a commercial farm, Northeast SARE recognizes that economic constraints and barriers implicit to this type of systems research probably mean that a research farm is a more appropriate setting.