FFAR & Danone North America Announce Grant Opportunity to Support Regenerative Agriculture

WASHINGTON and WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (November 20, 2024) – Today, the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research and Danone North America announced the opening of a Request for Applications (RFA) focused on promoting regenerative agriculture. The grant opportunity Understanding the Impact of Hub Farm Resources in Expanding Adoption of Regenerative Agriculture Practices will provide up to $450,000 total over one to two awards for research fostering the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices.

Regenerative agriculture practices like cover crops can sustain healthy agroecosystems by improving biodiversity and soil and water health. To encourage broader adoption of regenerative agriculture practices, we need innovative solutions that farmers can easily access and use. This RFA seeks to promote the use of regenerative practices by understanding the impact hub farms – cooperative locations to share resources and best practices – can have on adopting these practices.

This funding intends to support socio-economic research on both large and small dairy farms that aims to promote replication of hub farm best management practices across the farm environments. The research should also provide guidance for encouraging middle adopters of regenerative agriculture practices to increase and maintain cover crop acres and facilitate the acquisition of appropriate equipment and infrastructure to scale these practices. Such activities aim to stimulate more resource sharing opportunities for new and middle adopters of regenerative agriculture practices. These new and middle adopters will include underserved producers that may identify as Mennonite and Amish.

Thanks to Danone’s support, matching funds are optional but encouraged. Applications are due February 5, 2025, at 5 p.m. EST. For more information and to apply, visit here.

FFAR also recently partnered with the Danone Institute North America (DINA), a non-profit managed by Danone North America, to provide funding for three additional grants that focus on agriculture communities as part of the DINA Sustainable Food Systems Initiative. Applications for these grants are now open. More information on this program is available here.

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Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research

The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) builds public-private partnerships to fund bold research addressing big food and agriculture challenges. FFAR was established in the 2014 Farm Bill to increase public agriculture research investments, fill knowledge gaps and complement the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s research agenda. FFAR’s model matches federal funding from Congress with private funding, delivering a powerful return on taxpayer investment. Through collaboration and partnerships, FFAR advances actionable science benefiting farmers, consumers and the environment.

Connect: @FoundationFAR 

About Danone North America

Danone North America is a purpose-driven company and an industry leader in the food and beverage category. As a Certified B Corporation®, Danone North America is committed to the creation of both economic and social value, while nurturing natural ecosystems through regenerative agriculture. Our strong portfolio of brands includes: Activia®, DanActive®, Danimals®, Dannon®, evian®, Follow Your Heart®, Happy Family® Organics, International Delight®, Light + Fit®, Oikos®, Silk®, So Delicious® Dairy Free, STōK® Cold Brew Coffee, Too Good & Co™, and YoCrunch®. With approximately 6,000 employees and 15 production locations across the U.S. and Canada, Danone North America’s mission is to bring health through food to as many people as possible. For more information on Danone North America, visit danonenorthamerica.com.