Northeast SARE Research for Novel Approaches in Sustainable Agriculture Grant Program

The Northeast SARE Research for Novel Approaches grant program funds ‘proof of concept’ applied research projects that are designed to confirm the benefits and/or feasibility of new practices and approaches—i.e., Novel Approaches—in agriculture.

These applied research projects must have some existing evidence from previous experiments or pilot projects (your own or others) suggesting that the practice or approach is beneficial and feasible, but further testing, data, and refinement are needed before it can be recommended for widespread adoption by farmers.

Research for Novel Approaches Grant projects require an explicit connection to the needs and interests of farmers in the Northeast. All proposals must include documented interest among farmers and service providers in utilizing or promoting the novel approach should it be proven beneficial and feasible.

Research for Novel Approaches grants are open to personnel at colleges and universities, Cooperative Extension, agricultural and community nonprofit organizations, municipalities, state departments of agriculture and federal agencies, research farms and experiment stations, for-profit entities (such as private consultants and agricultural businesses), and others who work with farmers and in food systems.

Northeast SARE encourages projects submitted from or in collaboration with Minority Serving Institutions (including 1890s and other historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions and tribal colleges and universities) and other organizations in the Northeast region that work with socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.

Your organization must have the legal structure and financial capacity in place to receive and execute a Northeast SARE contract, including expending funds needed for the project prior to receiving reimbursements from Northeast SARE; advance payments are not possible.

Projects must take place within the Northeast region, which includes Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Vermont, and Washington, D.C.

Northeast SARE will not fund proposals that appear to duplicate work that has been approved for funding by another grant program (within or external to SARE).

Preproposals are required for the Research for Novel Approaches Grant Program. The preproposal is a preliminary concept document that allows SARE reviewers to select the most promising projects to be invited to submit full proposals.

Only invited preproposal applicants are eligible to submit a full proposal.

Typical project length is 2 to 3 years. The maximum project length allowed is 3.5 years.

Call for Proposals

• Call for Pre-Proposals

• Tips for writing a strong proposal

• Northeast SARE's Definition of a Farm

• Budget Template

Large Grant Programs

Northeast SARE staff will be hosting Q&A sessions on the four large grant programs: Farming Community, Professional Development, Research & Education, and Research for Novel Approaches. Registration is available at northeast.sare.org/LargeGrantQA where all session recording and questions will be posted.

• Wednesday, January 7, 2026 from 10am – 11am EST

• Wednesday January 14, 2026 from 4pm – 5pm EST