USDA Announces $90 Million in Innovative Projects that Help Conserve Natural Resources

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $90 million in 53 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) projects, which support the development of new tools, approaches, practices and technologies to further natural resource conservation on private lands. This includes four projects in Hawaiʻi. This year, increased funds were available because of President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, which is funding CIG projects that address climate change, with a particular focus on innovative solutions to reduce livestock emissions of enteric methane, a potent greenhouse gas. 

NRCS is awarding more than $69.7 million for CIG On-Farm Trials projects and more than $20.2 million for CIG Classic projects. In total, the Inflation Reduction Act provides $19.5 billion over five years to support USDA’s oversubscribed conservation programs, including CIG grants. The Inflation Reduction Act, part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, represents the single largest investment in climate and clean energy solutions in American history. This conservation funding flows directly into local communities and helps ensure farmers receive the financial assistance to buy equipment, hire labor, and take the necessary steps to implement these practices. This helps producers with their bottom line and lowers their costs for the implementation of conservation and climate-smart practices. 

Four awarded CIG projects will take place in Hawaiʻi. One will develop an island-wide network of native seed producers. Another will revive indigenous crop diversity in taro and sweet potato improving crop quality without expensive inputs. A third will use technology to conduct an intensive on-farm irrigation trial at 14 farms to enhance developed irrigation management technology. The fourth focuses on improving Hawaiʻi’s soil health, increasing crop production and building resiliency against impending climate change.

A list of CIG project grants is available on the CIG website. 

NRCS is committed to the success of all our nation’s producers, businesses, and partners. Some of our nation’s producers belong to communities that have been or are marginalized in ways that have diminished their ability to farm and ranch successfully. These producers play a vital role in securing a healthy agricultural economy for our country and protecting, enhancing, and sustaining our valuable natural resources. NRCS encourages proposal submissions from entities that represent, are partnered with, or are composed entirely of producers belonging to such communities.