The Crop Protection and Pest Management (CPPM) Competitive Grants Program for Fiscal Year 2025, administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), aims to address critical state, regional, and national integrated pest management (IPM) needs. This funding opportunity seeks to ensure food security and effectively respond to pest management challenges through research, education, and extension efforts. The CPPM program focuses on developing sustainable, economically viable, and ecologically sound IPM technologies and strategies. For FY 2025, NIFA will only accept competitive applications under the Applied Research and Development Program (ARDP), while existing projects under the Extension Implementation Program (EIP) and Regional Coordination Program (RCP) will continue through continuation awards.

The primary purpose of this program is to support research, development, and implementation of innovative IPM strategies that reduce economic, health, and environmental risks associated with pest management practices. The ARDP focuses on research-driven projects that emphasize developing and refining IPM tools, tactics, and strategies. Projects funded under ARDP should contribute to cost-effective pest management, promote biological diversity, and minimize adverse impacts on human health and the environment. Additionally, emphasis is placed on addressing emerging pest challenges associated with climate change and invasive species.

The program anticipates awarding approximately $2.45 million in FY 2025 for ARDP projects, with individual award amounts ranging from $200,000 to $325,000. Projects may span 24 to 36 months. Eligible applicants include colleges and universities as defined under federal statute, including 1994 Institutions and Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities. Proposals should highlight multi-state collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and alignment with regional and national IPM priorities. Applications must also demonstrate the potential for broad impacts across multiple states or territories.

Eligible project types include applied research (single function), research-led projects, and extension-led projects. Applied research focuses on developing tools and tactics for pest management systems, while research-led projects incorporate an initial extension component to support IPM adoption. Extension-led projects emphasize outreach, education, and initial implementation of IPM practices. All projects must include a logic model, timeline, and detailed implementation plan, demonstrating measurable outcomes and alignment with the National IPM Roadmap goals.

Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov by March 6, 2025, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. Proposals should follow specific guidelines regarding content, formatting, and submission requirements, as outlined in the RFA. Evaluation criteria include technical merit, qualifications of project personnel, and project relevance. Special consideration will be given to applications that align with NIFA's Centers of Excellence (COE) criteria.

Successful applicants are required to participate in Project Director workshops and provide annual and final performance reports. Additional expectations include adherence to ethical conduct standards, stakeholder engagement, and data management plans. The program emphasizes promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility throughout the implementation of funded projects to ensure broader societal benefits from IPM advancements.