Regenerative Value Chains Grant

The Regenerative Value Chains Grant is a one-time funding opportunity offered by Farm to Family, a program of the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) that offers grants, networking opportunities, and marketing consultations for farmers, food businesses, and others in local food supply chains.

The aim of this grant program is to expand market opportunities for farmers that use regenerative practices by funding the purchase of on-farm point-of-sale equipment, marketing materials, light processing equipment, and wash/pack infrastructure. Examples of eligible expenses include meat freezers for livestock producers that use rotational grazing, or marketing services to highlight regenerative practices on product packaging.

Eligible costs include, but are not limited to: refrigeration units and cold storage infrastructure; color sorters, size sorters, conveyer systems and associated infrastructure; grain cleaning, dehulling, drying and milling equipment; drainage infrastructure; washing equipment (spray tables, wash basins, barrel washers, spinners); packing equipment (bagging and boxing systems, labeling systems, reusable bins, cardboard boxes, flats, shipper cartons, plastic clamshells, crispers, soaker pads, insert trays, liners, wire crates); point-of-sale software and equipment; marketing services such as website and/or brand development; nutrition lab testing fees; food safety audits and third-party certifications; display cases and shelving; equipment for moving products (pallet jacks, carts, trolleys, forklifts); and sanitizers and cleaning agents for food contact surfaces.

Applicants must be farmers in Michigan who can describe how they apply regenerative principles to their operation. Producers are not required to have third-party certification of their regenerative practices. MDARD retains the right to make the final decision about whether an entity qualifies as a farmer that uses regenerative practices.

Principles of regenerative agriculture include: understand the context of your farm operation; maximize biodiversity; integrate livestock and increase biodiversity; keep soil covered; maintain living roots year-round; and minimize soil disturbance. Practices that align with these principles include, but are not limited to, cover cropping, nutrient management, irrigation management, tillage reduction, composting, managed grazing, integration of perennials, intercropping, and extended crop rotation.

Required project criteria:

• The proposal defines how regenerative principles are practiced by any producers involved in the project.

• The proposal demonstrates how equipment in the budget will help develop market channels for foods produced using regenerative practices.

• The proposal includes specific targets for: volume of Michigan regenerative agriculture products sold; dollar value of those products sold; revenue to Michigan farmers per dollar of sales; and number or types of consumers with access to those products (all measured between Fall 2026 and Fall 2027).

• Equipment purchased with grant funds will be installed on a farm property where regenerative principles are practiced, or in a shared space usable by multiple regenerative producers.

• Grant outcomes are planned to be achieved within one year.

• Grant proposals must include itemized costs based on documented quotes and/or market research.

Preference is given to projects that are innovative or expand on successful evidence-based approaches; that serve a geographic area with limited access to local food value chains; that create revenue supporting diversification on the farm; where the applicant has completed a soil health assessment with a CTAP technician; that promote regenerative practices to consumers through marketing or education; and where the applicant does not have another active MDARD grant.

Grants are awarded a maximum amount of $50,000. Applications must be in whole dollar amounts rounded to the nearest $1.

Up to 10% administrative cost is allowed. Salaries, wages, staff benefits, and travel costs are not eligible. Equipment used primarily for planting, growing, or harvesting crops is not an eligible cost. Refrigerated vehicles are not eligible costs under this grant. MDARD retains the right to make the final decision about whether equipment is eligible.

Food and produce facilities are encouraged to use MDARD's Used Equipment Guidance for Michigan's Food and Agriculture Industry, if applicable.

MDARD Farm to Family Program staff collaborate with MDARD Regenerative Agriculture Program staff to evaluate whether proposals meet the minimum requirements; proposals that do not meet the minimum requirements are disqualified. Qualified proposals are then scored.

MDARD reserves the right to reject applications that do not meet program requirements including scope, eligibility and allowable grant dollar use; are received after the deadline; are incomplete or missing required forms, narrative, or budget; or do not follow the outlined application requirements.

Applications were submitted through the MiAgGrants online grant management system. Applicants must establish a MiLogin account (Citizen or Business); MiLogin requires multifactor authentication.

For the single cycle: application available March 31, 2026; applications due May 1, 2026 at 5 p.m. ET; MDARD review of applications May-June 2026; grant award announcement July 2026. Only one application per applicant was considered. An informational webinar was held April 2, 2026 and recorded.

To submit: complete and save all pages, then use the left-side menu "Status options" section and click "Submit Application" — the document landing page should then show "Application in Review."

Questions: MDARD-FarmToFamily@michigan.gov, or schedule a meeting with the Farm to Family Team at https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/cd0bc90f2aa74d5bbf197397c01b2b22%40michigan.gov. MiAgGrants system questions go to Muneeb Khan (KhanM16@michigan.gov).

Regenerative Value Chains Grant Guidelines: https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/-/media/Project/Websites/mdard/documents/business-development/grants/regen-value-chains/Regenerative-Value-Chains-Grant-Guidelines.pdf

MDARD Regenerative Agriculture: https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/environment/regenerative-agriculture

CTAP Technical Assistance District Map (for a soil health assessment with a CTAP technician): https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/-/media/Project/Websites/mdard/documents/environment/Regenerative-Ag/CTAP-TechnicalAssistanceDistrictMap.pdf

Schedule a meeting with the Farm to Family Team: https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/cd0bc90f2aa74d5bbf197397c01b2b22%40michigan.gov?anonymous&ismsaljsauthenabled