Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education

Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) is a U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) grants and outreach program. The overall objective of SARE is to position agricultural communities so the most sustainable approaches available permeate U.S. agriculture.

Every day, farmers and ranchers around the world develop new, innovative strategies to produce and distribute food, fuel and fiber sustainably. While these strategies vary greatly, they all embrace the following broad, long-term goals:

• Productivity: Grow enough food and fiber to meet humanity’s needs
• Stewardship: Enhance the quality of the land, water and air; and make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources
• Profitability: Maintain the economic viability of farms and ranches
• Quality of Life: Promote the resilience and well-being of producers, their families and society as a whole

There are almost as many ways to reach these goals as there are farms and ranches in America. One thing sustainable producers have in common is they look at their farm or ranch from a holistic perspective and develop an integrated management plan that uses principles from nature.

VISION & MISSION

SARE seeks out innovations in sustainable agriculture, and rewards grant applicants who offer interesting and potentially workable ideas. SARE also emphasizes outreach and the dissemination of project results so the grant programs will have the widest possible benefits.

Southern SARE’s vision is an enduring American agriculture of the highest quality. This agriculture is profitable, protects the nation’s land and water, and is a force for a rewarding way of life for farmers and ranchers whose quality products and operations sustain their communities and society.

Southern SARE’s mission is to advance—to the whole of American agriculture—innovations that improve profitability, stewardship and quality of life by investing in groundbreaking