UC SAREP Small Grants Program: 2027-2028 Request for Proposals
UC SAREP is now accepting proposals for the 2027-2028 Small Grants cycle. We seek projects that enhance the resilience and sustainability of California's food and farming systems.
Funding is available for Planning, Education & Outreach and Applied Research projects with awards ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 (limited to one per funding cycle). We encourage applications from disadvantaged communities, Tribal nations, and limited-resource producers.
Proposals are due by Wednesday, January 13, 2027, at 5:00 pm PST.
Detailed eligibility requirements, funding tracks and the application portal can be found on our RFP page: Read the Full RFP & Submit Your Application
UC SAREP’s 2026-2027 Grant Recipients
We are pleased to announce the recipients of the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems 2026-27 Small Grants Program. This year’s request for proposals brought in over 80 applications requesting nearly $900,000. After the review process, nine projects were selected for funding, together receiving $100,000 to support their work strengthening California’s sustainable agriculture and food systems. The next annual small grant request for proposals is scheduled to be released in October.
Join us in congratulating this year’s grant recipients:
Domena Agyeman, UCCE-Butte, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, to evaluate the economic performance of conventional water-seeded and alternative no-till rice production systems in California.
Cameron Castenda, Saba Grocers, to design and launch a collective marketing package that promotes healthy, locally grown food in corner stores located in underserved communities with limited access to fresh produce.
Sandy Fisher, Golden State Linen, to support growers in piloting regenerative fiber flax production practices, learning processing techniques and developing innovative products for emerging markets.
Joshua Garcia, University of California, Merced, to assess the effects of biochar and compost on lead bioavailability, soil health and crop performance in urban agricultural soils.
Cassandra Nguyen, University of California, Davis, to increase the use of evidence-based policy, systems, and environmental strategies at farmers markets to increase reach to low-income households.
Dan Potter & Heather Hayashi, University of California, Davis, to establish ethical institutional readiness for Indigenous-led Native plant foods education and stewardship through student-centered learning.
Stephanie Rawlings, Gill Tract Farm Coalition, to create an Education Center for Collaborative Urban Farming where volunteer farmers learn agroecology skills and grow food for local communities.
Manpreet Singh, UCCE-Fresno, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, to investigate reducing plastic mulch waste in the San Joaquin Valley through sustainable mulch alternatives and end-of-life options for plastic mulch.
Katherine Soule, UCCE-San Luis Obispo, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources to provide education on food safety and preservation expanding access to healthy, local and culturally appropriate foods.
History and Past Grant Recipients
From 1987 to 2012, and resuming in 2020, the program has funded nearly $9 million in research projects, education and demonstration programs of research-based technologies and systems, and projects that support the development of sustainable community food systems.
Our past grant recipient database is currently under redevelopment as part of the UC ANR transfer to the Integrated Web Project. Pleaese check back for updates in the future.
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