Zero Foodprint Restore Grants

Zero Foodprint's Restore program pays farmers and ranchers up to $25,000 per round to implement one to four NRCS-standard regenerative practices (compost application, cover crops, hedgerows, prescribed grazing, etc.) that sequester carbon. Projects are ranked competitively on cost per ton of CO2e sequestered (COMET-Planner), with ranking boosts for socially disadvantaged producers and for suppliers to ZFP member businesses. A Technical Assistance Provider (NRCS office, conservation district, extension, or qualified individual) must sign on; TA costs are paid on top of the grant. One application covers all four eligible states (CA, CO, OR, WA); there is no longer a separate Restore CA / Restore CO application (both legacy URLs redirect to /apply).

All managers and owners of agricultural operations in California, Colorado, Oregon and Washington are eligible to apply. Applicants must be producing food for human consumption on agricultural land (food, feed for animals for human consumption, or beverage). Applications must include at least 1 approved management practice; a Technical Assistance Provider is required; property owner approval or proof of right to manage the land is required. Applicants may only receive one grant per funding round and must not have exceeded the $75,000 lifetime maximum. Applicants who can readily afford the practice are asked to refrain from applying.

Competitive bid: grant project bid + TA estimate divided by modeled CO2e sets cost-per-ton rank; each of up to 2 boosts cuts ranked cost 30%. Outside cost-share may not exceed two times the project bid. Payment: 50% advance, 30% on Project Update Form, final 20% on TAP verification. Practices must be implemented within 12 months of contract; maintenance may be required up to five years; one-time one-year extension available. Notification within six weeks of window close.

Published amounts: The maximum grant request is $25,000. The minimum grant request is $1,500. Technical Assistance costs are covered in addition to the grant amount. Lifetime maximum receipt of $75,000 in Restore grants per recipient.

Online application on https://www.zerofoodprint.org/apply when the window opens (reopens October 1, 2026). Steps: read the Grant Guidelines, develop a scope of 1-4 eligible practices, run COMET-Planner (CDFA version for CA, NRCS COMET-Planner 3.0 elsewhere), line up a Technical Assistance Provider, submit. Spanish version at https://www.zerofoodprint.org/restore-espanol. Questions: grants@zerofoodprint.org.

Deadline text on the page: Applications are currently closed and will reopen October 1, 2026. (Prior round per Feb-2026 guidelines PDF: 'The application period runs from March 3, 2026 until April 7, 2026.')