Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research (ROAR) Program

The Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research (ROAR) program is an initiative by the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR), aimed at swiftly addressing emerging threats to the U.S. food supply and agricultural systems. FFAR, a private nonprofit established to build public-private partnerships in agricultural science, created ROAR to ensure that new or escalating pest and pathogen outbreaks receive immediate research and outreach funding. This program supports efforts in understanding, mitigating, and managing these biological threats before they cause widespread disruption to crops, livestock, or the broader food production infrastructure. ROAR is designed as a rapid-response mechanism that delivers urgent funding to address high-impact threats. Pest and pathogen outbreaks often escalate faster than traditional research funding mechanisms can respond. By bridging this gap, ROAR allows researchers to conduct one- to two-year studies with funding up to $250,000 per award. These awards aim to develop diagnostic tools, management strategies, and outreach efforts to contain and address outbreaks quickly. Applications are accepted year-round, with the funding ceiling being increased to $250,000 for concept notes submitted from October 30, 2025, onward. To apply, eligible applicants must first submit a one-page concept note through FFAR’s Grants Management portal. This document must include key information such as the research team composition, a defined pest or pathogen problem statement, matching funds secured, proposed methodology, and expected outcomes. Matching funds from non-federal sources must equal or exceed the FFAR funding request. Federal funds can supplement the project but do not qualify as match. Only applicants whose concept notes are accepted are invited to submit full applications, which must be completed within eight weeks of the invitation. The program strictly focuses on threats caused by emerging or unanticipated pests and pathogens that could significantly affect U.S. agriculture. ROAR does not fund projects dealing with food safety, weather-related events, fundamental science without direct application, or general-use diagnostic platforms. Instead, it prioritizes specific, high-risk outbreaks and supports targeted interventions that can be adopted rapidly across affected sectors. Awards have previously funded research combating the H5N1 variant of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in dairy cattle, red crown rot in soybeans, and pest management strategies for sweet corn and strawberries. FFAR strongly encourages collaboration between academic researchers, industry, and government partners to enhance the applicability and adoption of funded solutions. All ROAR applications undergo a rigorous scientific review process. Stakeholders are urged to demonstrate how their proposals will lead to impactful, scalable solutions relevant to regional or national food security. Successful applicants are expected to quantify potential economic impacts and show readiness to launch containment or mitigation strategies. Contact for the ROAR program can be made via email to Dr. Miriam Martin LeValley and Dr. Kathy Munkvold at [email protected]. While ROAR is generally U.S.-focused, it can support research on international threats if clear implications for U.S. agriculture are demonstrated. This rapid-funding model ensures a nimble response to biological threats and is part of FFAR’s commitment to securing the agricultural future through innovation and strategic investment.

Confirm matching funds at concept submission; clearly justify rapid threat relevance.