Biologically Integrated Farming Systems

The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Office of Pesticide Consultation and Analysis (OPCA) is pleased to announce grant funding available for the Biologically Integrated Farming Systems Program (BIFS). CDFA received a one-time appropriation for this program as part of the AB 179 Budget Act of 2022, and $1 million of this appropriation will be available during this funding cycle. For the current request for proposals (RFP), the maximum budget allowed is $1 million per project, though smaller projects are also encouraged to apply. The purpose of this RFP is to develop projects to demonstrate and refine outreach of innovative, biologically integrated farming systems that reduce chemical pesticide inputs. Proposals should advance the goals of California's Sustainable Pest Management (SPM) Roadmap, including efforts to 1) enhance knowledge, research, and technical assistance; 2) align pest control advisors (PCAs) with SPM; and 3) reduce economic risk for growers transitioning to SPM. Only public or private colleges and universities; local, State, and federal government entities including tribal governments; non-profit organizations; and commodity groups are eligible to apply. The project lead(s) and their institutions must be based in California though out-of-state collaborators are allowed. The focus of this RFP is on chemical pesticide reduction in crop-based farming systems. The objective of this program is to demonstrate and refine SPM-based farming projects designed to reduce chemical pesticide inputs, especially non-selective, biologically disruptive insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and fumigants that pose greater risk to human health or the environment. Applicants should discuss the risks of the pesticide(s) they are aiming to reduce. All aspects of the farming system may be considered as they relate to pest management, including factors such as adjacent landscapes, whether they are farmed or not. Projects will typically include all the following elements: On-farm demonstration/evaluation of an innovative, biologically based farming system, that employs SPM strategies; A collaborative outreach effort for sharing technical information about the farming system with growers, PCAs, commodity groups, and others engaged in pest management, and; An organized program for monitoring key biological and economic variables to inform on-farm decision making and evaluate project success.

Eligibility

• Programs related to agriculture
• Programs related to transit

Award details

Applications close on August 31, 2023.

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