NIFA’s SBIR/STTR programs offer 10 topic areas that are intended to permit a broad spectrum of eligible and innovative science- and technology-based small businesses to compete for funding.
See the Phase I Request for Applications for more information about these topic areas.
The Current Research Information System (CRIS) is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s documentation and reporting system for ongoing and recently completed research and education projects in agriculture, food and nutrition, and forestry. CRIS provides an additional resource for searching specific topics and keywords.
To limit your search to SBIR funded projects, select "Small Business Grant (K)" in the Project Type field of the CRIS Assisted Search.
8.1 Forests and Related Resources
National Program Leader: Dr. Diomides “Diomy” Zamora
Focuses on the health, diversity and productivity of forests and grasslands by sustaining forest resources, addressing climate change impacts, developing value-added materials and protecting existing ecosystems.
Research priorities include, but are not limited to:
- Growth and yield
- Increasing the utility of forest-grown material
- Reducing ecological damage by forest operations
- Urban forestry
- Climate change
- Developing technology that facilitates the management of wildfires on forest lands
- Sustainable bioenergy and development of value-added products from forest resources
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I |
| Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II |
8.2 Plant Production and Protection - Biology
National Program Leader: Dr. Christopher Philips
Enhances crop production and protection through biological approaches that reduce the impact of harmful agents, advance plant improvement methods, and develop new food and specialty crop plants.
Research priorities include, but are not limited to:
- Plant improvement
- Pollinators and crop production
- Plant protection against abiotic and/or biotic stresses
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I |
| Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II |
8.3 Animal Production and Protection
National Program Leader: Dr. Robert Smith or Kathe Bjork
Develops and markets innovative technologies to help agricultural animal producers improve production efficiency, prevent diseases and outbreaks, conserve resources, and reduce costs of production.
Research priorities include, but are not limited to, development of marketable technologies designed for use in agriculturally important animals that will:
- Improve production efficiency
- Improve the safety and/or quality of end products derived from animals, pollinators and crop production
- Improve animal health and well-being
- Improve productivity of animals in modified conventional or alternative animal production ecosystems
- Mitigate climate change and the impacts of animal agriculture on the natural environment
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I |
| Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II |
8.4 Conservation of Natural Resources
National Program Leader: Dr. Sandeep Kumar
Creates technology for conserving and protecting essential resources while sustaining optimal agricultural productivity by enhancing air, soil, and water quality; developing irrigation techniques; reducing erosion and pollution caused by agriculture enterprises; and promoting these new technologies.
Research priorities include, but are not limited to:
- Water quality and quantity
- Soil health
- Air resources
- Nutrient management
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *No Projects Funded | |||||||
| Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I |
| Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II* | Phase II |
8.5 Food Science and Nutrition
National Program Leader: Dr. Jodi Williams
Develops products and processes from new knowledge; improves methods of processing and packaging for better quality and nutritional value; and promotes programs and products that increase consumption and understanding of healthy foods while reducing childhood obesity.
Research priorities include, but are not limited to:
- Food safety
- Food quality – engineering
- Food quality – science
- Nutrition – education
- Nutrition – science
- Nutrition security, food safety and quality data tools
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I |
| Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II |
8.6 Rural and Community Development
National Program Leader: Dr. Keith Harris
Conceptualizes and commercializes new and existing technology, products, processes and services that enhance efficiency and equity of public and private investments; builds a diversified workforce; increases resilience to natural and human disasters; and improves economic vitality of rural communities and the reduction of poverty.
Research priorities include, but are not limited to:
- Development of services, information, and managerial systems that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of local governments and public and private Institutions
- Development of technologies and services that protect or enhance the environment and address climate change while promoting economic development
- Reducing the vulnerabilities of rural communities from hazards (excluding intentional acts such as terrorism)
- Development of technologies and services that specifically address the needs of youth, older adults, individuals with a disability, military veterans, and the low-income sector of the rural population
- Increasing opportunities for employment and income generation in rural communities
- Expanding broadband access in rural communities
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I |
| Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II |
8.7 Aquaculture
National Program Leader: Dr. Timothy Sullivan
Improves private sector production and competitiveness by increasing reproductive efficiency and genetic improvement in fish and shellfish; enhancing animal health, food safety, production efficiency, and cost-effective production of alternative proteins; and reducing water usage.
Research priorities include, but are not limited to:
- Reproductive efficiency
- Genetic improvement
- Integrated aquatic animal health management
- Improved production systems and management strategies for efficiency, and reduced environmental impacts
- Algal production systems
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I |
| Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II |
8.8 Biofuels and Biobased Products
National Program Leader: Dr. David Songstad
Promotes product usage through innovative technologies that increase biofuels and biobased products from agricultural materials and provide new opportunities to diversify agriculture’s role in the raw materials industry.
Research priorities include, but are not limited to:
- Nonfood biobased products from new industrial crops
- Processes for the manufacture of industrial products, chemicals or biofuels
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I |
| Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II |
8.12 Small and Mid-size Farms
National Program Leader: Dr. Denis Ebodaghe
Increases sustainability and profitability of farms and ranches through newly developed plant, animal, organic and natural products; enhanced farm safety; increased operation efficiency; and conservation of natural resources.
Research priorities include, but are not limited to:
- New agricultural enterprises
- Development of new marketing strategies
- Farm management
- On-farm natural resources, renewable energy and climate-smart agriculture
- Urban farming
- Post-harvest technology
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I |
| Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II |
8.13 Plant Production and Protection - Engineering
National Program Leader: Dr. Victoria Finkenstadt or Dr. Steven Thomson
Enhances crop development and safety by reducing the impact of harmful agents and developing economically and environmentally sound production, post-harvest, and storage systems.
Research priorities include, but are not limited to:
- Improved crop production methods or strategies
- Plant production against abiotic and/or biotic stresses
- Food quality – science
- Pollinators and crop production
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I | Phase I |
| Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II | Phase II |
