The Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SSARE) Graduate Student Grant is a competitive funding opportunity designed to support Master’s and PhD students conducting research in sustainable agriculture. The program, initiated in 2000, aims to develop the next generation of agricultural scientists and professionals by offering them the chance to lead real-world, on-farm research projects that address pressing issues in sustainable agriculture. This grant program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture under a cooperative agreement with the University of Maryland, and is hosted in the Southern region by the University of Georgia, Fort Valley State University, and the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture in Oklahoma.

Graduate students enrolled full-time at accredited institutions within the Southern SARE region are eligible to apply. This includes both land-grant (1862 and 1890) and non-land-grant institutions. International students may also apply if they meet these enrollment criteria. Each student may only receive one Graduate Student Grant during their academic program, and the grant cannot be transferred if the student changes institutions. Only the student who submitted the proposal may carry out the research.

Research projects must align with sustainable agriculture principles and address one or more of the following: improving the profitability of farmers and ranchers in the Southern region, enhancing environmental quality and natural resource conservation, or improving the quality of life for agricultural communities. Projects may employ either quantitative or qualitative methods and should ideally contribute innovative findings that are practical and replicable.

Graduate Student Grants provide up to $22,000 for two-year projects. Funds are reimbursed for allowable project expenses, which include supplies, equipment (owned by the university post-project), temporary fencing or irrigation, livestock (under certain conditions), data analysis, student and general labor (within limits), travel, and conference attendance. However, expenses such as tuition, stipends, advisor salaries, breakfast, and promotional items are not covered.

Applications for the Graduate Student Grant open each February, with a submission deadline of May 16, 2025, at 12:00 PM Eastern Time. Award announcements are made in August. While an outreach component is not required, it is encouraged to include dissemination strategies like workshops, publications, or conference presentations to share research findings with farmers, educators, and agricultural professionals.

Proposals are evaluated based on clarity, innovation, alignment with sustainable agriculture goals, and feasibility of project execution. Applicants are advised to thoroughly review the Call for Proposals, provide a strong justification for their budget, and seek feedback from advisors or peers to refine their submissions.