MDARD Announces Grant Opportunity to Support Michigan’s Horticulture Research

Proposals must be received via email no later than November 22, 2024

LANSING –Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Director Tim Boring announced today MDARD is accepting grant proposals for the 2025 Horticulture Fund, an initiative designed to support Michigan’s nursery and ornamental horticulture businesses. With a maximum grant award of $20,000, this funding provides a valuable opportunity for innovation within the industry. Proposals must be submitted by Friday, November 22, 2024.

All faculty and staff members of universities and colleges in Michigan are eligible to receive funding, as well as teams of university/college investigators and private individuals. University or college personnel must be the Principal Investigator of the proposal.

Eligible projects for grant consideration can be new initiatives or ongoing efforts, but all proposals must fall under one of three funding categories:

• Applied Research: Crop management systems that enhance industry profitability while being environmentally and socially responsible and provide long-term benefits to Michigan’s nursery and ornamental horticulture industry.
• Basic Research: Research generating knowledge that can be used to address contemporary problems and/or enable the future development and implementation of improved techniques or processes.
• Outreach/Training/Demonstration: Activities focused on assisting Michigan’s nursery and ornamental horticultural industries.

Proposals must be  submitted via email at [email protected] no later than Friday, November 22, 2024. Applications and grant guidelines are available online. Proposals will be reviewed by the Horticulture Fund Advisory Committee, which are appointed by MDARD’s Director. Grant recipients plan to be announced in May 2025.

For additional information about MDARD’s Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division, visit www.michigan.gov/mdard/plant-pest.