Desert Ag Small Grants Program

The Desert Ag Small Grants Program, one of several ways YCEDA supports research and technology development and implementation, provides rapid funding for short-term projects addressing the desert agriculture industry.

YCEDA is a public-private partnership between the University of Arizona and the desert agriculture industry with a mission to solve the pressing problems of desert agriculture crop production. Our organizational structure provides us with unique agility to respond to urgent research priorities of the industry. Our goal is to move projects forward and provide usable results to the desert agriculture industry. We do this by identifying industry-relevant research priorities, identifying appropriate funding sources to address those priorities, developing collaborative relationships to address high-priority issues, assisting in research proposal development, providing close oversight and support for grant-funded projects, and providing exposure and utilization of research results.

The YCEDA Small Grants Program supports these efforts by funding projects with a maximum duration of one year that directly benefit the desert agriculture industry maximum duration of one year that directly benefit the desert agriculture industry. This program provides seed funding for preliminary applied research projects to launch new programs of inquiry, supports tool or knowledge development, offers workshop funding, provides bridge funding for temporary disruptions in external funding, and delivers emergency funding for emerging problems that require immediate attention.

Project Types and Duration

The YCEDA Small Grants Program provides funding to support two types of projects:

1. Pilot studies for new ideas
2. Bridge Funding for temporary disruptions
3. Workshops and other Outreach activities
4. New Tools and Knowledge
5. Emergency Funding

Available Funding & Funding Priorities 

Four rounds of funding are planned for 2026-2027. Priority areas of research include:

• Pest and Disease Management
• Food Safety
• Agtech
• Irrigation and Nutrient Management
• Soil Health

We will accept budgets up to $10,000 for these projects.

Emergency Funding: this funding is available in or out of cycle. Please contact YCEDA staff to discuss emergency funding needs. This funding is to address emergencies such as disease, pest, or human pathogen outbreaks, for example.

All projects must be informed by industry stakeholder needs and have strong support. A stakeholder letter of support must be included in the application package.

Due Dates and Review Process

Applications will be reviewed first by subject-matter experts, followed by a stakeholder review panel. The stakeholder panel will make the final funding recommendations. YCEDA staff will not make funding recommendations or decisions.  available within the quarter.

Timing

Five rounds of funding will be available through 2027

Project Development

The YCEDA Small Grants Program is one of many ways to participate in desert agriculture research. Staff are available to discuss ideas, advise on project development and industry and academic collaboration. This does not require researchers to have direct involvement with YCEDA as a research partner or funding source. We facilitate advancing any project that meets the research needs of the desert agriculture industry.

Eligibility and Application Requirements

• Funds are available to University of Arizona faculty and staff only.
• Must directly benefit the desert agriculture industry.
• Only one project per principal investigator will be accepted each quarter.
• Submission of at least one stakeholder letter of support.
• One-page final report must be submitted within thirty days after project completion.
• This funding program will not fund indirect costs, maintenance contracts,
• publication, conference registration, or conference travel.

Method of Application

To be considered for funding, proposals must contain the following:

1. Project Narrative

   1. Title: Short descriptive title
   2. Project Personnel
      1. Principal Investigator: Name, Department, College & Contact Information
      2. Co-Investigator: Name, Department College & Contact Information
   3. Project Type: Select from the Five project types
   4. Non-technical abstract (250-word limit): Keep the abstract free from jargon and acronyms so it can be understood by a non-academic audience. This abstract will be published online if funding is awarded.
2. Project Narrative (no more than 3 pages in length)
   1. Project Description: Brief description of the specific goals and objectives
   2. Significance & Expected Outcomes
   3. Approach
3. Stakeholder Letter of Support (one letter is required)
4. Budget and Budget Justification

   1. Budget must be submitted using the 

      Document

      Desert-Ag-Small-Grants-Program-Budget-Templateupdated090126.xlsx
   2. Budget Justification must include a statement with the amount of funding that be used in FY27 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027), and the amount in FY28 (July 1, 2027-June 30, 2028). 

Sumbit applications as a PDF to YCEDAseedfunding@cals.arizona.edu by 11:59 pm MST