Sponsor
Joint initiative between SSHRC, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
Description
The SARI-CG are intended to support events and outreach activities geared toward short-term, targeted knowledge mobilization initiatives, bringing together those working to advance sustainable agricultural sectors and food systems to support a just transition to net-zero in Canada, regardless of whether they have previously been involved in SARI grants or the Network grant.
The grants provide up to $50,000 over one year for both events and outreach activities, with the option of a one-year extension with no additional funding. A minimum request of $10,000 is required. Approximately 32 projects are expected to be funded. Higher amounts than $50,000 may be considered, but applicants must justify the higher amount and provide evidence that the entire project can be managed within the one-year time frame.
Activities can include workshops, colloquiums, conferences, forums, summer institutes and documentaries, as well as other events or outreach activities that can help to transform Canada’s economy for a sustainable future. The activities will also facilitate the following, aimed specifically at sustainable agriculture and food systems issues:
- Intersectoral exchanges of research between academia and partners from the public, private and/or not-for-profit sectors in Canada and abroad.
- Convene and transfer research knowledge to users currently working in the field, such as farmers, livestock producers and agricultural experts.
- Increased accessibility and use of research knowledge within and beyond the postsecondary sector.
- High-quality training experiences for students and/or postdoctoral researchers.
Activities should serve as a bridge between academic research, government and the broader agricultural and food sectors. Exchanges should be interdisciplinary and integrate the social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and engineering, as well as other research fields. Efforts should be made to meet the sectors where they congregate—for example, agricultural exhibitions and fairs, demonstration farms, farm shows, etc.—to ensure knowledge exchange extends beyond academic settings.
Eligibility
Please refer to the SSHRC Connection Grant website for details.
Funding Availability
Approximately 32 projects are expected to be funded.
Maximum Project Value
$10,000 to $50,000
Indirect Costs
There are no indirect costs on the funding provided directly by SSHRC. The external partner(s) funds are subject to the applicable indirect cost rate as specified in the Full Cost of Research Policy.
Project Duration
1 year
Special Notes
Specific rules for the use of grant funds
-
Grant funds cannot be used to remunerate team members regardless of an individual’s eligibility to apply for grants.* This includes postdoctoral fellows serving in any capacity as a member of the team.
*Exception to the above rule: In some cases, Indigenous team members may be compensated. For more information, see the Tri-agency guideline on remuneration for Indigenous people participating in funded projects. In such cases, the team member may not be delegated to authorize grant expenditures and under no circumstances is the applicant / project director eligible to be compensated from grant funds.
- Grant funds cannot be used for salaries or stipends to individuals whose status would make them eligible to hold a grant from the agency.
- Grant funds cannot be used for course release time to allow an individual to engage in research activities.
- Grant funds can be used for consulting fees for expert and/or professional and technical services that contribute directly to the proposed research activities, as long as the service is not being provided by a team member or an individual whose status would make them eligible to hold a SSHRC grant.
- Grant funds cannot be used for research.
- An organization cannot be both a contractor and a sponsoring organization on the same project.
- Up to $50,000 of grant funds can be used to develop connection-related tools for knowledge mobilization activities (see the guidelines listed below on support of tools).
Deadlines
If College-level review is required, your College will communicate its earlier internal deadlines.
| Type | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Internal Deadline | August 4 Deadline PI to submit a signed OR-5 form along with a copy of the full application to research.services@uoguelph.ca. Please select 'submit' on the SSHRC Portal on or before the internal deadline. | |
External Deadline | Application will be submitted to SSHRC electronically by the Research Services Office (RSO). |
How to Apply
Applicants must complete the Connection Grants application form and follow the accompanying instructions.
Those applying to the SARI-CG must also:
- Select the “Sustainable Agriculture Research Initiative Connection Grants” option from the “Joint or special initiative” field within the Identification module.
- Include “Sustainable Agriculture” in the Keywords section within the Activity Details module.
- Detail the potential benefits and/or outcomes of the proposed event or outreach activity as they relate to the objectives for this joint initiative within the Expected outcomes module.
- Demonstrate how the proposed event or outreach activity will support the joint initiative’s objectives within the Description of Project module.
In their application, SARI-CG applicants must follow the Connection Grants instructions, with the exception that SARI-CG applications should indicate a different matching funds amount—a minimum of 25% of the amount requested from SSHRC. In addition, to request funds above $25,000 for an event, applicants must select the “Outreach Activity” option in the “Project type” field within the Identification module. They must include event details in the relevant sections of their proposal.
As indicated in the Connection Grants funding opportunity description, the earliest any proposed SARI-CG project can start is October 1, 2026.