The US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has announced the availability of up to $766,000 for fundamental and applied research to help develop and share new commercial canola varieties and products, and expand the crop’s growing regions. This funding is made available through NIFA’s Supplemental and Alternative Crops Competitive (SACC) grants program.
Canola is a multi-purpose crop used for human food, animal feed and as a natural pest control agent when used in crop rotations. Canola oil can be used as an alternative to petroleum in the manufacture of biofuels and industrial chemicals, such as lubricants, cosmetics and other bio-based products. Canola produced in the United States does not meet current domestic demand.
Applications must integrate both research and extension services. Funded research will focus on four primary areas:
Testing germplasm and breeding superior performing varieties to increase productivity, profitability and adaptation to an expanded range of U.S. growing environments for canola;
Conducting fundamental and applied research to develop new commercial products from canola;
Innovating new planting, cultivating, harvesting and processing methods for use in production systems that include canola; and
Transferring new knowledge and technologies as soon as possible to producers and other users through effective extension and other engagement efforts.
The deadline to apply is April 11, 2017.
