Refine Results
Priority Areas
Consortia
Program
Location
Year

Seeding Solutions Grant to Preserve Groundwater and Economically Benefit Growers 

FFAR & Eight Member Organizations Commit $8.45 Million to Efficient Fertilizer Consortium 

Building Agroecosystem Soil Health to Adapt to Climate and Regulatory Realities while Protecting Rural Community Health 

Year Awarded  2024

FFAR award amount   $439,701

Total award amount   $439,698

Location   Santa Cruz, CA

Grantee Institution   University of California, Santa Cruz

California’s agricultural watersheds face the dual challenge of water scarcity and water quality issues. This research is tackling complex and seemingly unsolvable problems affecting California’s agricultural communities by conducting on-farm work to gather information on how various soil health practices influence carbon, nitrogen and water in soil across diverse regions. The project will combine this data into a causal model that can help determine how different soil health practices will impact carbon sequestration, water scarcity and water quality under different climates and regulations, to increase farmer adoption of the practices.

Leveraging multi-scale datasets and modeling tools for improved soil health and carbon management 

Year Awarded  2024

FFAR award amount   $443,206

Total award amount   $533,038

Location   New York, NY

Matching Funders   Columbia University

Grantee Institution   Columbia University

Farmers and other agricultural decision makers often have trouble accessing reliable soil health information to guide their choices. This project is using existing data along with building new, integrated databases to develop a novel modeling system that combines process-based methods, advanced sensor technologies and stakeholder input to track soil health outcomes better. By delivering timely and interactive information connected to management scenarios, the project aims to help farmers and ranchers adopt practices that improve soil health, reduce nutrient loss and strengthen ecosystem resilience.

Next-generation Sustainable Weed Management Enabled by Micro-targeted Legged Robots 

Year Awarded  2024

FFAR award amount   $450,000

Total award amount   $531,003

Location   Ithaca, NY

Matching Funders   Cotton Incorporated; NC Small Grain Growers Association, Inc.; Z3 Agriculture

Grantee Institution   Cornell University

Weeds are developing herbicide resistance faster than new herbicides can be created. As a result, farmers face lower profits and yields, while greater chemical use threatens soil and water health. Xiang’s research seeks to replace the costly machinery and large quantities of chemicals used for weed control with AI-powered lightweight robots for targeted weed management. These robots can apply micro levels of herbicide at the site of weed growth, reducing chemical use by 99%, lowering costs and limiting farm workers’ exposure to chemicals. This treatment also minimizes field disturbance by protecting crop roots.

Electrochemically Assisted Biological Nitrogen Fixation for Distributed & Sustainable Fertilizer Production 

Year Awarded  2024

FFAR award amount   $450,000

Total award amount   $450,000

Location   Baltimore, MD

Grantee Institution   Johns Hopkins University

Ammonia is a critical component of commonly used fertilizers, but its production is energy intensive and restricted to large, centralized plants in a few countries. These factors contribute to the agricultural system’s vulnerability to rising energy costs and supply chain disruptions. Rossi’s research is studying the use of renewable energy to stimulate and accelerate ammonia production in bacteria. The research aims to allow localized, on-farm ammonia production, ensuring farmers always have access to a low-cost and readily available fertilizer supply.

Developing an Extensive Database of US Groundwater Wells 

Breakthrough for Achieving Sustainable Groundwater Management Through Innovative Governance & Optimal Agricultural Water Use Under Conflicting Objectives

Seeding Solutions Grant Develops Cotton-Based Precision Irrigation 

Determinants of Persistent Cover Crop Adoption and Dis-Adoption to Inform More Effective Farmer Incentives for Durable Adoption 

Year Awarded  2024

FFAR award amount   $138,888

Total award amount   $277,777

Location   Arlington, VA

Program   AgMission

Matching Funders   The Nature Conservancy

Grantee Institution   The Nature Conservancy

This AgMission grant is evaluating cover crop adoption and identifying the factors leading to their successful, long-term use in the Midwestern United States.

AgMission Grant Evaluates Successful Incentives for Persistent Cover Crop Adoption