Supplemental and Alternative Crops

The USDA-NIFA Supplemental and Alternative Crops (SAC) program, funded under Assistance Listing Number 10.200, seeks to advance the adoption and productivity of non-traditional crops such as oilseeds, grains, pseudocereals, legumes, and industrial feedstocks like canola, industrial hemp, buckwheat, and lentils. These crops are prioritized for their roles in enhancing farm profitability, diversifying cropping systems, supporting animal and human nutrition, improving soil health as cover crops, and serving as feedstocks for biofuels and industrial chemicals. The program funds integrated research and extension projects that must demonstrate a whole systems approach, combine scientific rigor with outreach, and accelerate the transfer of innovations to producers across multiple states. Projects are expected to deliver measurable outcomes including increased acreage, higher seed sales, improved land use efficiency, and greater grower profits while aligning with USDA R&D priorities. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov by the June 25, 2026 deadline and must include a project narrative not exceeding 18 pages, a two-page Data Management Plan, a three-page Logic Model, and a two-page Mentoring Plan if applicable. Proposals are evaluated on scientific merit and methodology (60 points), outreach plan (20 points), interdisciplinary and industry engagement (5 points), alignment with the solicitation (5 points), budget appropriateness (5 points), and the feasibility of the Data Management and Mentoring Plans (5 points), with awards based on merit rather than lowest cost. Individual grants range from $230,000 to $460,000, with a total program funding of $1,815,036. Awards are issued as standard grants under 2 CFR Part 200, requiring compliance with federal regulations on financial management, research integrity, conflict of interest, and data stewardship. Subawards are capped at 50% of total funding without prior approval, and changes to key personnel or budgets require written authorization from the Awarding Division Officer. All submissions must be in PDF format, and applicants must hold a Unique Entity ID. Project performance occurs at applicant-designated sites across the U.S., with no physical delivery or FOB terms applicable, as this is a grant program, not a procurement contract.