California Department of Ag Seeking Growth in Fertilizer Research and Education

The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) is now accepting pre-proposals for the 2026 grant cycle. FREP’s competitive grant program funds proposals that advance efficient nutrient and irrigation management practices that minimize environmental impacts through research, demonstration, education and training.

This year’s priorities include: outreach, education, and demonstration projects focused on increasing the adoption of efficient crop nutrient and irrigation management practices and technologies; evaluating challenges and barriers to adoption of management practices; the role of organic input materials in soil nutrient management; demonstrating and/or validating management practices that optimize nutrient and/or irrigation water use; filling knowledge gaps for nutrient and irrigation management in specific crops; understanding nutrient movement from the root zone; and mitigation strategies to reduce nutrient losses.

Applicants are invited to submit pre-proposals to the Fertilizer Research and Education Program by April 27, 2026. Pre-proposals should be aligned with at least one of the identified funding priorities and use the provided pre-proposal template.

Further information on the 2026 FREP RFP, including timelines, funding priorities, and templates are available at cdfa.ca.gov/is/ffldrs/frep/CompetitiveGrantProgram.html.