Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research (ROAR) Grant Program

The Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research (ROAR) Grant Program, managed by the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR), provides urgent funding for research addressing unexpected threats to the food supply. This program supports diverse projects related to pest and pathogen outbreaks, facilitating quicker responses than traditional funding avenues. With grants up to $150,000, ROAR aims to enhance agricultural resilience by fostering collaborations among researchers, institutions, and organizations to combat emerging challenges in the food and agriculture sector.

NOTE: Applicants should submit a one-page concept note through FFAR’s portal, after which invited candidates will have eight weeks to complete the full ROAR program application.
About FFAR
We connect funders, researchers and farmers through public-private partnerships to support audacious research addressing the biggest food and agriculture challenges.
To maximize the Foundation’s impact potential, FFAR is committed to complementing and not duplicating existing research endeavors.
Farmers are facing extreme weather, diminishing natural resources and a growing global demand for their crops. Our unique public-private partnership model allows us to collaborate with diverse stakeholders to identify research opportunities that help farmers adapt to these challenges.
The Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research (ROAR) program deploys urgent funding to support research and outreach in response to emerging or unanticipated threats to the nation’s food supply or agricultural systems.
Addressing Unanticipated Threats
The Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research (ROAR) program deploys urgent funding to support research and outreach in response to emerging or unanticipated threats to the nation’s food supply or agricultural systems.
Plant and animal pests and pathogens can strike quickly, devastating crops, livestock and livelihoods. When such events occur, it often takes months before an effective response can be mounted. Researchers must first understand these pests and pathogens before developinG an effective solution. While the initial period after pest or pathogen detection is critical to stopping the threat, conventional research funding opportunities take significant time and effort to pursue.
To address these outbreaks quickly, FFAR’s ROAR Program funds rapid research related to response, prevention or mitigation of new pests and pathogens. ROAR’s one-year funding fills urgent research gaps until traditional, longer-term funding can be secured.
ROAR grants are swift, diverse and far-reaching. In the past, we have awarded ROAR grants to combat invasive weevils, lettuce wilt, swine viruses and cattle ticks, among other pests and pathogens.
ROAR applications are subject to a rigorous scientific review process and matching funding requirements. We encourage applicants to form broad-based coalitions to increase research collaboration and maximize the adoption of new knowledge and practices by the agriculture sector.
Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

Eligibility

The following types of organizations are invited to apply:Public and private institutions of higher educationNonprofit organizationsFor-profit organizationsFunding up to $150,000 may be available to support diagnostic tool development, outreach, research and other efforts to mitigate, contain or prevent a pest or pathogen outbreak. FFAR determines the funding amount by evaluating several criteria including the geographic range, the number of animals or plants impacted, economic impact and the likelihood of an outbreak occurring. Funding is also contingent upon providing matching funds.Generally, the majority of FFAR’s research grants support the United States; however, FFAR reserves the right to pursue and consider research on international outbreaks with the potential for significant impact. FFAR will pursue these opportunities through direct solicitation. Please do not contact the organization regarding these issues.

Ineligibility

ROAR funds cannot be used for weather, natural disaster or food safety response efforts. ROAR grants do not support research on new application practices and technologies for conventional or organic pesticides.