CSREES-USDA and Appalachian Regional Commission Partnership on Value-Added Agriculture

The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and CSREES Regional Rural Development Centers partnered with the Appalachian Regional Commission in 2006-7 on a joint competitive grants program that is supporting support sustainable agriculture and community development, either by adding value to farm products or by exploring alternative renewable energy.

Eleven projects covering a broad range of topics were selected for funding.Projects include expanding value-added sustainable agriculture opportunities, developing regional food networks, exploring bioenergy from wood waste, and cooperative marketing. Although the projects cover a variety of topics, they share the potential for spurring economic growth by drawing on local farm resources.

Grantees are community-based organizations and land-grant universities in the Appalachian Region, which includes all of West Virginia and selected counties in 12 other states. To view the complete list of funded projects by region, visit the Northeast SARE and the Southern SARE Web sites.

Organizations interested in sustainable agriculture and community development through value-added agriculture and renewable energy or through other strategies � whether inside or outside the Appalachian Region � may apply to SARE's regular grant programs.

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