Western SARE: Local Education and Demonstration Grants(Formerly Research to Grassroots Grants)

The Western SARE Local Education and Demonstration Grants aim to promote sustainable agriculture through practical demonstrations and educational activities. This program addresses barriers to adopting sustainable practices by integrating findings from previous research. Projects can last up to three years and receive funding of up to $60,000. Successful proposals involve local demonstrations, trainings, and technical assistance, engaging farmers, ranchers, and agricultural professionals in the process of sustainable agriculture adoption.

The Local Education and Demonstration Program involves interdisciplinary teams who take SARE research results out into the field.
The Western SARE Research to Grassroots grant program is intended to address the barrier(s) to application/adoption of sustainable agriculture practices as identified in previous SARE research by clearly demonstrating to agriculture professionals and/or producers the environmental, social, and economic viability of the previous research and the benefits and challenges that selected previous work may present.
How the Program Works
The Local Education and Demonstration grant program is founded on the understanding that adopting sustainable agricultural practice(s) entails change and managing potential financial, environmental, and social risks. The implementation of demonstration and/or education events can address local issues related to the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, bolstering confidence in adoption, and reducing risks. Successful proposals are required to integrate findings from previously-funded SARE research projects, translate those results into practical demonstrations of application, and bring those results into the field through demonstration and/or educational activities for agricultural professionals and producers.
Strategies to conduct education and/or demonstration for adopting sustainable agricultural practices include, but are not limited to:

• local demonstrationstrainingsfocus groupsproviding technical assistancedeveloping educational materials the application of research results
• by farmers, ranchers, Extension agents, governmental agencies, or non-governmental agencies.

Successful projects incorporate the environmental, economic, and social dimensions of sustainable agriculture. Projects can be up to 3 years (36 months) in length and funded up to $60,000.