Methyl Bromide Transition Program | USDA NIFA ICGP 006690

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 006690

The Methyl Bromide Transition (MBT) Program is a competitive grant opportunity run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) that supports agriculture-focused research and extension work aimed at replacing methyl bromide, a pesticide that was widely relied on for decades to manage serious soilborne and postharvest pests and diseases. Because methyl bromide has been scheduled for phase-out, many growers and industries have faced immediate practical and financial challenges in keeping pest management programs effective without it. This program is designed to help address those transition pressures by funding projects that move viable alternatives from the research stage into real-world, commercial-scale use.

At its core, MBT emphasizes integrated, commercial-scale research paired with extension activities that speed up adoption of workable solutions. Rather than focusing on small lab-only studies, the program targets applied work that can be implemented by producers and postharvest handlers dealing with high-impact pest problems where methyl bromide may have been the only consistently effective option. Proposed projects are expected to explore a broad set of approaches, which can include new methodologies, technologies, production systems, and pest-control strategies that reduce dependence on methyl bromide while maintaining effective control of economically important pests.

A key requirement is that projects must focus on commodities facing critical methyl bromide replacement challenges, and they must include a focused economic analysis that looks directly at the costs of making the transition at commercial scale. In other words, it is not enough to show that an alternative can work biologically; proposals need to address what it will cost growers or businesses to implement the new approach in practice, which often determines whether adoption is realistic and sustainable.

Eligibility is limited to colleges and universities as defined under Section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (NARETPA), including updates that expanded who qualifies. Those updates include recognition of Hispanic-serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACUs) and allow research foundations maintained by eligible institutions to be included. Additional statutory changes also clarified that 1994 Land-Grant Institutions are eligible to apply under this authority. The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant in the agriculture funding area (CFDA 10.303) and is offered through NIFA as part of the MBT Competitive Grants Program.

For the specific opportunity listing provided (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA ICGP 006690), the original closing date was April 15, 2019, and the maximum award amount listed was $500,000. The goal of the funding is to produce practical, scalable pest management alternatives and deliver them to the field through strong extension components, so affected industries can transition away from methyl bromide with workable tools and a clear understanding of the economic implications of adoption.

• The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Methyl Bromide Transition Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.303.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2019-03-01.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-04-15. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 006690

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