Graduate Student Grants

The Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SSARE) 2026 Graduate Student Grant is a competitive funding opportunity designed to support graduate-level research that advances the principles and practices of sustainable agriculture in the Southern United States. Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA), the SSARE program is part of a national initiative to invest in sustainable farming systems that balance profitability, environmental stewardship, and community well-being. SSARE is hosted by the University of Georgia, Fort Valley State University, and the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture, and its jurisdiction includes 13 Southern states and two U.S. territories. The program offers a maximum of $22,000 in funding over a two-year period to graduate students—specifically those enrolled full-time in Master's or PhD programs at accredited institutions within the Southern SARE region. The goal of the Graduate Student Grant is to support young researchers in conducting field-based or experimental projects that address current and emerging challenges in sustainable agriculture. Proposed projects must align with SSARE’s definition of sustainability, which focuses on long-term farm profitability, conservation of natural resources, and improved quality of life for agricultural communities. Funds from the grant may be used for direct research expenses including materials, supplies, equipment rental, data analysis, and travel. Up to 50% of the total grant may be allocated toward graduate student labor directly tied to the project. General labor support and fringe benefits are allowable within capped amounts. However, grant funds may not be used for stipends, tuition, journal publication fees, international travel, or permanent infrastructure improvements. The maximum allowable indirect cost recovery is 10% of total direct costs, unless a lower federally negotiated rate applies. To apply, graduate students must submit proposals through the SARE Grant Management System by May 8, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. EST. Proposals must be led by a major professor or advisor, who serves as the Principal Investigator. The student cannot serve as PI but must be the primary executor of the research. Required proposal components include a project abstract, a problem statement, objectives, methods, project relevance to sustainability, a timeline, budget justification, and letters of commitment. Signature pages must be signed and uploaded via the submission portal or emailed after the deadline. Proposals are reviewed by technical experts in the Southern region based on criteria such as qualifications of the student, problem relevance, feasibility of methods, alignment with sustainability, timeline viability, and budget clarity. Each criterion has a weighted score totaling 100 points. Selected proposals are announced in August 2026, with projects beginning on September 1, 2026, and concluding by August 31, 2028. Reporting requirements include an annual update and a final report, which must be submitted for the release of the final reimbursement. The SSARE Graduate Student Grant operates on an annual cycle. Although there is no pre-application or Letter of Intent required, students are strongly encouraged to begin preparations early, consult available proposal guides, and engage with farmers and community stakeholders where possible. For further inquiries, applicants may contact Candace Pollock-Moore at [email protected] or call 770-412-4786. Additional resources, templates, and proposal writing tips are available on the SSARE website.

Ensure budget items are allowable and justified; Emphasize the three sustainability pillars; Major professor must be listed as PI; Proposals without student involvement as lead executor will be disqualified.