Tag: ag education

Farm to School Grant Application Period Now Open

The USDA has launched its FY 2026 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program, committing up to $18 million to projects that link farmers, especially small and medium producers, with child nutrition programs (e.g. schools, child care, summer meal sites). See the press release here.

In short: USDA is reviving and enhancing its farm-to-school grant program, making more funds and more flexible rules available to help farmers and school/child nutrition programs connect more directly. The application deadline for FY 2026 is Dec. 5.

This year’s version of the program includes new changes meant to lower barriers, streamline applications and promote innovation and stronger partnerships. Eligible uses include:

– Incorporating locally grown, minimally processed foods into meals served in child-nutrition settings. Find more info here, including eligibility requirements.

– Providing training to producers on procurement and food safety standards.

– Integrating agricultural education (e.g. school gardens, field trips, farm visits) into school or child-nutrition curricula.

– The grants are competitive, and individual award sizes range from $100,000 to $500,000.

Eligible applicants include state and local agencies, tribal organizations, child nutrition program operators, agricultural producers or groups of producers, nonprofit organizations and local agencies, though many of these must apply as part of a partnership.

How and where to apply

The websites to apply for funding depend on sector, region and project type, so it’s not a one-size-fits-all.

  1. Grants.gov
    This is the go-to U.S. federal portal for discovering and applying for federal grants. Many USDA / federal opportunities are published there.

    • The Farm to School grant (above) is posted on the USDA / FNS site and linked via Grants.gov.
  2. USDA / USDA Food & Nutrition Service (FNS) / USDA’s “Grants & Funding” pages
    Because this specific program is administered by USDA / FNS, their own site provides authoritative details, eligibility requirements, application instructions and updates.
  3. State or local agricultural / food / education agencies
    Depending on your state, state agencies often host listings of state-level grants or cooperative matches. It looks like these are easier to win than large federal grants.
  4. Foundations / philanthropic grant portals
    For non-government grants, platforms like Foundation Directory, GrantStation, or Candid (formerly Foundation Center) can help you find private funding sources.
  5. Specialized programs in your thematic area

For example, in the sustainable agriculture/farm/food systems space, programs like SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education) are relevant.

The Long-Term Impacts of Indoor Agriculture

Container farming, a version of indoor farming also known as vertical farming, involves growing crops in controlled environments within shipping containers or other enclosed spaces. The advent of this technology, which relies on sensors to control the growing parameters, holds a lot of promise, especially as climate shifts continue to farmers and ranchers in traditional settings. While it’s difficult to predict the future with absolute certainty, it’s now possible identify several potential long-term impacts of container farming.

Sustainable agriculture: Container farming offers a more sustainable and efficient way to grow crops compared to traditional outdoor agriculture. By using less land, water, and pesticides, it can help reduce the environmental impact of agriculture. This could lead to a decrease in deforestation, habitat destruction and the use of harmful chemicals that end up in our food and drinking supply.

Local Food Production: Container farming allows for year-round production of fresh produce, regardless of the local climate. This can reduce the need for long-distance transportation of food and promote local food systems. It may also help address food security and reduce the carbon footprint associated with food distribution.

Improved Resource Efficiency: Container farms can make more efficient use of resources like water, energy, and space. They often use hydroponic or aeroponic systems, which consume less water than traditional soil-based farming. Advanced climate control and LED lighting systems can optimize energy use. Colorado-based FarmBox Foods uses pre-insulated to help energy draws.

Food Security: Container farming can play a crucial role in ensuring a stable food supply in areas with food scarcity or those affected by natural disasters. The ability to control growing conditions can help mitigate the effects of climate change and other environmental challenges.

Job Creation: The container farming industry is growing, creating jobs in areas such as plant science, engineering, data analysis, business planning, and farm management. This can contribute to local and regional economic development.

Technology Advancements: As container farming technologies continue to evolve, they may lead to breakthroughs in agriculture, such as improved crop genetics, pest and disease management, and data-driven decision-making. These advancements are expected to benefit traditional agriculture as well.

Reduced Food Waste: By enabling on-demand production and minimizing transportation distances, container farming can help reduce food waste — currently a significant global issue — because food arrives on the plates of consumers much sooner after being harvested.

Educational Opportunities: Container farming can serve as a valuable educational tool, teaching people about plant biology, technology, and sustainable farming practices. Schools, universities, and community organizations use container farms to engage students and the public, including the South Carolina Governor’s School of Science and Math, Delaware State University, the EPIC Campus in Littleton, Colo., and more to come.

Space Exploration: Container farming concepts have been explored for space missions, such as Mars colonization, where growing food in a controlled environment is essential due to harsh environmental conditions. Research in this area may have applications for future space exploration.

The long-term impact of container farming is likely to be positive, with the potential to transform agriculture, reduce its environmental footprint, and address food security issues. But it will depend on continued technological advancements, cost reductions and successful integration into existing food production systems for it to make a sizable impact as we head into an uncertain agricultural future.