BARD Aquaculture and Desert Farming Program

The BARD Aquaculture and Desert Farming Program is a research funding initiative under the purview of the Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund (BARD), which supports collaborative research between Israeli and American scientists. The purpose of this program is aligned with BARD’s broader commitment to advancing Climate-Smart Agriculture, in coordination with the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture’s Chief Scientist. It specifically targets aquaculture innovation and agricultural resilience in desert environments. The program is contingent on final funding approval by the Israeli governmental authority. The initiative focuses on enhancing food security and the production of high-quality protein through research that supports the development of land-based aquaculture systems and sustainable desert farming practices. Supported projects will explore biological and ecological systems involving fish, algae, and seafood, while also contributing to the protection and conservation of aquatic ecosystems in both countries. The program promotes advanced research in areas such as fish diversity, aquaculture quality, and innovative desert farming technologies. Eligible applicants include affiliates of public or private nonprofit research institutions with demonstrated R&D capabilities. Importantly, proposals must be submitted through legally constituted institutions and involve at least one principal investigator from both the United States and Israel. Notably, there is no longer a requirement for U.S. scientists to be funded by USDA/NIFA, expanding the eligibility pool. Researchers currently funded by BARD are also eligible to apply, provided the new proposal does not extend or overlap with existing projects. The program offers two funding tracks: Standard Track grants with a maximum of $310,000 and Pioneer Track grants offering up to $600,000, both for a duration of three years. Feasibility studies with a one-year term are also permitted, capped at $100,000. The proposal format includes detailed components such as abstract, research plan, budget breakdown, data management plan, and collaborative roles between U.S. and Israeli researchers. All materials must be submitted as PDFs through BARD’s online portal. Applications will be evaluated based on scientific merit, relevance to climate-smart aquaculture or desert farming, feasibility of objectives, collaboration quality, and stakeholder relevance. Evaluations are conducted by review panels in both the U.S. and Israel, with the final funding decisions made by BARD’s Board of Directors. The award period spans three years, with results typically communicated by the end of May or early June of the following year. The submission deadline for the upcoming cycle is September 15, 2025. Contact details for inquiries include the email address news@bard-isus.com and phone number +972-3-9683980. More detailed instructions and submission guidelines are available in the BARD Research Proposals Guidelines document.

Proposals should emphasize scientific merit, innovation, collaboration quality, and practical agricultural impact. Clear objectives and collaborative synergy are crucial.