Grants For Hydroponic Farming – In introducing the science to new and advanced practitioners, hydroponic farming is very crucial. This farming is specifically designed to promote and encourage new practitioners and advancement of the science. This farming also becomes a target of a government grant.
The funding for hydroponic farms are given through schools help to introduce the children to the benefits and knowledge of hydroponics beginning. It is applied in elementary, middle, and high school. The main purpose of the grant is encouraging the new career or hobby hydroponiocists and new technology and techniques which can bring further benefits to the entire hydroponics industry. The grants are wished to help human life in the future.
Hydroponic Farming Grants
Here are some available options if you are looking for hydroponic farming grants:
1. SARE
When you are looking for grants for hydroponic farming, you should consider visiting SARE. Based on SARE’s website, the grant program is a competitive program which offers grants to various people including researchers, agricultural educators, farmers, ranchers, and students in many areas in the Unites States.
The national outreach office of SARE is supported by The National Institute of Food and Agriculture which is the part of U.S. Department of Agriculture. The agency is working under cooperative agreements with the University of Maryland and the University of Vermont. The main purpose of the grant is supporting the development and dissemination of information about sustainable agriculture. The agency is incorporating four regional offices.
Grants for hydroponic farming are provided by SARE to support the research and education. The grants provided range from $30,000 and $150,000 or more. The grants are involving the partnership effort of scientists, farmers, and other people.
The recent projects of grants for hydroponic farming are the project to raise chemical-free produces and herbs outdoors and in a greenhouse environment. These are performed for Hispanic market with hydroponics and aquaponics in combination. The combination is supported with pest control methods. The grants will be awarded annually.
2. Simply Hydro School Grant Program
You might also find grants for hydroponic farming from Simply Hydro School Grant Program. The grants are used to provide hydroponics equipment and supplies to various schools including elementary, middle, and high school. The area which receives the grants is including Pasco and Pinellas Counties in Florida.
The program has been running for the last several years. It has been awarding equipment which valued at $250 to elementary schools, $500 for middle schools, and $759 for high schools. In getting the grants, you need to include the letter of support on official letterhead from the program director, principal, or relevant administrator.
A school is considered as eligible for this grant if the schools are engaged in hydroponic project with at least 15 students between the ages of 6 and 18 during the school years. The school also needs to provide a written year-end impact report.
3. Hooked Hydrophonics Awards
It is also possible for you to find hydroponic farming grants from Hooked on Hydroponics Awards. The program offers hydroponics equipment and supplies to 36 elementary, middle, and high schools. These grants for hydroponic farming are distributed to schools in United States areas. The grants provide various items including hydroponic growing systems, reference books, and curricula.
4. Grants for Hydroponic Farming from Government
The best choice for funding hydroponic farming is to get a grant that you do not have to repay it. Vertical farm is possible to meet the requirements of several government grants below:
Small Business Administration – SBA
This program provides two kinds of grants to apply. The Small Business Innovative Research Grant has provides at least $3.2 billion per year. In addition, the Small Business Technology Transfer Grants total $450 minimum per year. These programs are for profit small businesses in US that focus on starting R&D. If you are starting a farm for research, make sure that you apply for those grants.
USDA Grants
US Department of Agriculture or USDA can be one of the best choices when you want to farm healthy food to feed your communities. USDA has pledged for more than $4 billion to strengthen the food system, which is very important to support modern agriculture. The Build Back Better Initiative ensure that there is a competitive, fair, and climate-friendly system to produce food in the U.S., and the hydroponic farm fits this need.
Here are the following grants from USDA that you can try for finding financial help related to vertical farm:
- USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiatives – The goal is to meet food, fuel and fiber demands.
- USDA Rural Energy for America Program – This program provides grant and loan funding to support agricultural system and rural small business related to renewable energy system.
- USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program – The goal is to enhance the competitiveness of the crops. The state departments of agriculture will receive the grant so they can distribute it to the eligible farmers.
- USDA Value-Added Producer Grant Program – It helps the agricultural farmers to enter the value-added programs relevant to processing and marketing new products.
Make sure that you have read all the details for these programs carefully before planning your application. It is also important to check the state and local government grants, including the rebates, tax abatements, or other alternative fundings.
Here are more relevant questions about grants for hydroponic farming:
Why should try hydroponic?
Hydroponic systems help plants grow without soil because of a controlled environment. Hydroponic farmers can use less water and minimum chemicals to produce more products in a smaller space compared to traditional farmers.
Is hydroponic farming profitable in US?
Hydroponic grown leafy greens and microgreens offer the highest profit margins, which is about 40%. Profitable indoor vertical farms can make $14.88 for each square foot after the operational costs.
How many hydroponic farms that exist in US?
At this time, there are more than 2,300 hydroponic farms in the US, produce $5.2 billion of vegetable and fruit market.
Which country is best in vertical hydroponic farming?
In Europe, the Netherlands have the highest contribution in the market share, especially for global hydroponics. The country was reached the first ranking in the world for its greenhouse farms. The region in the Netherland with a high concern on greenhouse farms is the Westland.
References:
- Farm Hydroponics: What Is Hydroponic Farming? (http://www.farmhydroponics.com/hydroponics)
- US Department of Agriculture Rural Development: Value-Added Producer Grants (https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/value-added-producer-grants)
- (https://www.edengreen.com/blog-collection/4-ways-to-fund-vertical-farming-ventures)
- Images: mitsloanblog.typepad.com, money.cnn.com, heritageradionetwork.com
