Grants Archive

Awarded Grants
Below is a listing of our awarded grants that tackle big food and agriculture challenges.

FFAR Rapid Funding Develops Pest Management Program for Sweet Corn

Year Awarded 2025

FFAR award amount $146,243

Total award amount $351,670

Location Olathe, CO

Program Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research

Matching Funders AgBiTech, Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, Colorado State University, Colorado West Sweet Corn Administrative Committee, Lepidext, Mountain Fresh, Mountain Quality Marketing, Soil Health Services, Tuxedo Corn Company

Grantee Institution Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association

Corn earworm, a destructive moth, is causing millions of dollars of damage to sweet corn production in western Colorado and could potentially damage other crops. Researchers at Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers are developing a pest management strategy to protect yields and farmer profits.

Flockfocus – Developing Automated Surveillance Tools to Safeguard Chicken Welfare

Year Awarded 2025

FFAR award amount $399,616

Location Belfast, Northern Ireland

Program SMART Broiler

Matching Funders McDonald’s Corporation

Grantee Institution Queen’s University Belfast

This research is to transferring intelligent surveillance techniques used for tracking humans to provide real time monitoring of individual birds within a flock. This camera-based technology, called FlockFocus, represents a significant improvement to monitoring technology currently available to the industry and has the potential for revolutionizing animal welfare in other sectors.

OpticFlock: Automated Monitoring of Chicken Behavior That Prioritizes Animal Welfare – Part II

Year Awarded 2025

FFAR award amount $271,865

Location Oxford, United Kingdom

Program SMART Broiler

Matching Funders McDonald’s Corporation

Grantee Institution University of Oxford

This research is refining and extending the testing of a novel camera and computer system called OPTICFLOCKTM. The project is comparing key welfare outcomes, including hockburn, foot pad lesions and lameness, in commercial flocks managed with or without the technology and incorporates strategies to facilitate producer adoption of OPTICFLOCK technology.

FFAR Rapid Research Develops H5N1 Waste Stream Surveillance Tool

Year Awarded 2025

FFAR award amount $74,133

Total award amount $148,919

Location Davis, CA

Program Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research

Matching Funders Barnwell Bio

Grantee Institution Barnwell Bio

Current H5N1 detection practices rely on animals displaying symptoms and targeted testing of animals suspected of illness. H5N1 can spread quickly and waiting for observable symptoms, individual examinations and testing leads to significant time lags in fighting its spread. Barnwell Bio researchers are developing a waste stream animal health monitoring system to identify the virus in asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic cases.

Japanese Encephalitis Virus Program Six Awards

Year Awarded 2024

FFAR award amount $661,355

Total award amount $1,322,710

Location Manhattan, KS

Program Japanese Encephalitis Virus Research Program

Matching Funders Swine Health Information Center

Epidemiology of JEV in Australian intensive piggeries
PI: Dr. Brendan Cowled, Ausvet Pty Lt

Vector competence and JEV pathogenesis and immunity in domestic pigs
PI: Dr. Angela Bosco-Lauth, Colorado State University

Understanding the threat of wild pigs and mosquitoes for JEV transmission to domestic swine farms
PI: Dr. Daniel Peach, University of Georgia

Building diagnostic capability for Japanese encephalitis virus in the US
PI: Katharine Bossart, Integrated Research Associates, LLC

Development of a pregnant sow model to study the pathogenesis of the emergent Japanese encephalitis virus genotype IV
PI: Dr. Jürgen A. Richt, Kansas State University

Translation of the highly safe, pure & potent IMOJEV® live, attenuated chimeric vaccine against JEV in humans to prevent infection & disease in swine
PI: Thomas Monath; Substipharm Biologics SA

Improving Fiber Hemp Quality Through Enhanced Retting Probiotics & Appropriate Harvest Timing

Year Awarded 2024

FFAR award amount $333,516

Total award amount $667,032

Location Raleigh, NC

Matching Funders Bast Fibre Technologies, Inc., IND HEMP, NC State University

Hemp growers strive to produce abundant, easily processed plant stems with high quality fibers, but little is known about the connection between harvest time, environment and fiber quality. Researchers led by NC State University are studying the impacts of harvesting time on fiber hemp and developing knowledge and technologies for fiber hemp processing.

Addressing On-Farm Bird Flu Outbreaks Linked to Wild Waterfowl

Year Awarded 2024

FFAR award amount $148,111

Total award amount $300,222

Location Davis, CA

Program Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research

Matching Funders AgriNerds Inc.

Grantee Institution AgriNerds Inc.

The recent outbreak of H5N1 influenza, commonly called bird flu or avian influenza, originated in the wild bird population and jumped to farms, resulting in the loss of more than 100 million poultry and billions of dollars in the United States. AgriNerds Inc. researchers are identifying outbreak prevention strategies using the WaterFowl Alert Network (WFAN), the world’s first remote sensing tool designed to make daily predictions of where waterfowl roost.

Rapid Response to Novel Resistance-Breaking Strain of Pathogenic Fusarium oxysporum in Cultivated Strawberry

Year Awarded 2024

FFAR award amount $149,662

Total award amount $299,323

Location Davis, CA

Program Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research

Matching Funders University of California, Davis

Grantee Institution University of California, Davis

Some 90% of the nation’s fresh strawberries are grown in California, but the crop is threatened by the Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae (Fof) fungus, the rapid spread of which could harm both the availability of the popular fruit and growers’ livelihoods. With a ROAR grant, University of California, Davis researchers are conducting research to better understand and quickly combat the pathogen.

Grant Improves Stress Tolerance in Carrots

Year Awarded 2024

FFAR award amount $500,000

Total award amount $1,000,000

Location Davis, CA

Matching Funders Bayer, Bejo Zaden, Enza Zaden, Rijk Zwaan, Takii Seed Vilmorin Mikado

Grantee Institution University of California, Davis

Carrot growers face a variety of both climate and biological threats, including water access and diseases such as Alternaria leaf blight (Alternaria), a disease that can reduce yield by 40-60%. Some cultivated carrots are partially resistant to Alternaria but still require frequent fungicide applications to fully protect crops from this disease. University of California, Davis researchers are tapping into the genetic diversity of wild carrots to breed Alternaria resistance and the ability to grow in water-deficient conditions into cultivated carrots.

Decreasing Pulmonary-Associated Mortality in Feedlot Cattle Using Refined Case Definitions & Predictive Analytics, Emphasizing Acute Interstitial Pneumonia & Late Day BRD

Year Awarded 2024

FFAR award amount $1,223,474

Total award amount $2,446,948

Location Manhattan, KS

Matching Funders Colorado State University, Innovative Livestock Services, Five Rivers Cattle Feeding K-State Mississippi State University, Nanostring, Texas A&M University and Veterinary Research & Consulting Services

Grantee Institution Kansas State University

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD), commonly called “shipping fever,” is a serious animal welfare concern and costs U.S. ranchers about $900 million annually. BRD infected cattle generally die from late day pulmonary disease triggered by secondary bacterial diseases, like acute interstitial pneumonia. A multi-disciplinary team is researching how to prevent late day pulmonary disease from developing in these cattle to provide veterinarians and producers with information to make informed prevention and treatment decisions and help the beef industry use antibiotics more judiciously.

Awarded GrantsBelow is a listing of our awarded grants that tackle big food and agriculture challenges.

164 Grants found

FFAR Rapid Funding Develops Pest Management Program for Sweet Corn

FFAR Rapid Research Develops H5N1 Waste Stream Surveillance Tool

A multiplexed chemical sensor system to automate non-invasive, in-ovo sex determination for the poultry industry

Leveraging landrace genomics to rapidly engineer thermotolerant cassava

Using novel genes from wild germplasm to boost protein content in cultivated chickpea

Genetic and microbial determinants of nitrogen fixation in a Sierra Mixe landrace of maize

Japanese Encephalitis Virus Program Six Awards

Improving Fiber Hemp Quality Through Enhanced Retting Probiotics & Appropriate Harvest Timing

Improving Hemp Quality Through Harvest Timing & Enhanced Processing

Addressing On-Farm Bird Flu Outbreaks Linked to Wild Waterfowl

Rapid Response to Novel Resistance-Breaking Strain of Pathogenic Fusarium oxysporum in Cultivated Strawberry

Grant Improves Stress Tolerance in Carrots

Decreasing Pulmonary-Associated Mortality in Feedlot Cattle Using Refined Case Definitions & Predictive Analytics, Emphasizing Acute Interstitial Pneumonia & Late Day BRD

Metabolomic analysis of blood plasma to identify unique biomarkers indicative of liver abscesses

Associations between feeding & management practices of beef-on-dairy cattle from birth to harvest with liver abscesses

Promoting antimicrobial stewardship through improved understanding of how feedlot cattle are classified based on BRD risk

Antimicrobial Use Monitoring & Benchmarking in U.S. Feedyards

FFAR Vet Fellows Sixth Cohort

FFAR Rapid Research Builds Diagnostic Tools & Vaccine for Avian Metapneumovirus

FFAR Research to Protect Vegetable Crops from Invasive Pest

Protecting Vegetable Crops from Invasive Pests

A Novel Cell-Surface-Receptor Strategy for Mitigating Mycotoxins

Modeling for genomic, blood & microbiological markers for liver abscesses in fed beef cattle

Understanding liver abscess pathogenesis & risk-factors of feedlot cattle reared in conventional beef versus dairy management systems

ICASA: Defining the contribution of acidosis to the liver abscess complex using novel challenge model to delineate impacts of diet composition and feeding management on liver abscess pathogenesis

Acoustic Monitoring to Support Mass Cattle Treatment Decisions

An International Collaboration for Combating Fusarium Wilt in Cotton

Field trial of rice gene-edited rice for drought tolerance

Elucidating the Genetic Basis for Sub-Tropical Flowering in Hemp

Breeding & Characterizing New Cultivars of Grain & Fiber Hemp

Integrating Genomics, Milk Spectrometry & Microbial Manipulations to Mitigate Enteric Methane Emissions from Dairy Cattle

Hydrogen Production and Hydrogen Utilization in the Rumen of Beef & Dairy Cattle: Key Rumen Microbiome Measurements to Understand Mechanisms Controlling Methanogenesis & Mitigating Enteric Methane Emissions

Evaluation of the Efficacy, Agronomic Fit & Environmental Fate of Biopesticides for Management of Economically Important Diseases & Arthropod Pests of Hemp

A holistic approach to improving keel bone health of breeders and commercial layer hens

Developing Tomato Lines Resistant to Broomrape, a Critical World-wide Pest

Enabling African Scientists: The African Plant Breeding Academy CRISPR Course

Development of Novel Methanogenesis Inhibitors in Ruminants

Investigating Natural Nitro-Compounds as a Viable Strategy to Reduce Enteric Methane Emission from Ruminants

Grant Investigates Naturally Occurring Compound to Reduce Enteric Methane Emissions

FFAR Vet Fellows Fifth Cohort

FFAR Vet Fellows Fourth Cohort

FFAR Vet Fellows Third Cohort

Validation of Efficacy of a Protective DIVA-Compatible Prototype African Swine Fever Virus Vaccine

Identifying Proteins Required for Immunity to ASFV

Analyzing the Efficacy of Live-vectored Prototype ASFV Subunit Vaccines

Assessment of the Available Literature & Gap Analysis on the Use of Industrial Hemp as an Animal Feed

Multistate Characterization of Agronomic Performance of Hemp Cultivars, Including Sterility of New Triploid Cultivars

Impact of Spectra & Intensity of LED Supplemental Lighting on Morphology, Growth, Flower Yield & Phytochemical Content of Cannabis Sativa

Breeding & Genetics of Disease Resistance, Flowering Time & Cannabinoid Content in Hemp

Analysis of Terpenes & Neutral Cannabinoids Using Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometry & Genotyping of Hemp Using the SureSelect System

FFAR Grant Promotes Sorghum Health Benefits

ICASA: Antimicrobial Use Monitoring and Benchmarking in U.S. Feedyards

ICASA: Liver abscesses in feedlot cattle; further delineation of the etiology and pathogenesis

ICASA: Fecal microbiota transplant to reduce post-weaning diarrhea and antibiotic use

ICASA: Novel Strategies to Improve Understanding of Liver Abscess Formation and Mitigation in Beef Cattle

ICASA: Pathogen-host interaction during the development of liver abscesses; local and systemic immune and metabolic responses during Fusobacterium necrophorum challenges

Novel Strategies to Improve the Understanding of Liver Abscess Formation in Beef Cattle

ICASA: Improving the efficacy of vaccination against mycoplasma hyosynoviae by identifying optimal application times

Improving the Efficacy of Vaccination Against Mycoplasma Hyosynoviae by Identifying Optimal Application Times

ICASA: Risk Factors for Lameness in Finishing Pigs

ICASA: Development of a non-invasive model to induce liver abscess formation in cattle

Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Program

Noninvasive Wellness Monitoring of Broiler Growout Using Continuous Audio Analytics (2022)

Fecal Microbiota Transplant to Reduce Post Weaning Diarrhea & Antibiotic Use

Risk Factors for Lameness in Finishing Pigs

Pathogen-Host Interaction During the Development of Liver Abscesses; Local & Systemic Immune & Metabolic Responses During Fusobacterium Necrophorum Challenges

Defining the Contribution of Acidosis to the Liver Abscess Complex Using a Novel Challenge Model to Delineate Impacts of Diet Composition & Feeding Management on Liver Abscess Pathogenesis

Further Delineation of the Etiology and Pathogenesis of Liver Abscesses in Feedlot Cattle

Development of a Non-Invasive Model to Induce Liver Abscess Formation in Beef Cattle

High protein aquatic plants for controlled environment indoor farms

Mitigating antibiotic use in aquaculture through vaccination

More Beans (MB): A Next Generation Legume for Healthy Urban Food

High dimensional phenomics and automation to transform cost and timeframe of early stage domestication of wild plants

Creating Science-Based Strategies for Gene Editing Communications

FFAR Awards Cornell University a Grant to Treat Udder Infection in Dairy Cattle

Scalable breeding for plant growth to address the challenges of climate change

FFAR Grant Helps Heat-Stressed Dairy Cows Weather Increasing Temperatures

Improving Protein Content & Quality in Peas

Awarded Grants
Below is a listing of our awarded grants that tackle big food and agriculture challenges.