December 1998
Sustainable Ag Program Seeks Proposals for Agroforestry Projects
DAVIS--A special allocation of $20,000 is available for forestry projects in the latest grant cycle from the systemwide UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SAREP).
"We’ve received $20,000 from International Tree Crops Institute (ITCI) USA specifically to fund agroforestry projects," said Robert Reginato, SAREP interim director. "The agroforestry grant is for projects that increase understanding of management systems involving trees and shrubs intentionally combined with crops or livestock."
Proposals are invited that would increase knowledge and awareness among practitioners and resource professionals of the agronomic, biological and economic value of California agroforestry practices including alley cropping, silvopasture, forest farming, windbreaks and riparian buffer strips. High priority areas include projects that provide practical information about complementary species, management requirements and economic production budgets for agroforestry practices; involve private landowners implementing agroforestry research and education projects; add an agroforestry component to an ongoing project; or produce an agroforestry handbook for California.
ITCI is a private non-profit organization which promotes the use of trees on farms and rangeland for both production and conservation, according to Miles Merwin, executive director. "We see our activities as being under the umbrella of sustainable agriculture and felt SAREP would be the best partner to cooperate with," he said.
Previously SAREP announced it will be awarding $1 million to research alternatives to methyl bromide, $1 million to demonstrate biologically integrated farming systems (BIFS), and more than $200,000 for the program’s regular agricultural production and community development projects. Copies of the Request for Proposals (RFPs) are available for printing from SAREP’s Web site at http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/grants/request.htm or by contacting SAREP grants manager Bev Ransom at (530) 754-8546 or baransom@ucdavis.edu
Since 1988, SAREP has awarded more than $3.8 million to approximately 290 basic and applied research projects, community development and public policy projects, seminars, field demonstrations and graduate student awards. Additionally, the program will have provided almost $1.5 million for six multi-year large-scale BIFS projects in winegrapes, cotton and vegetable crops, prunes, walnuts, rice and citrus since 1994.
