SBIR Features of USDA SBIR Program Award Grants Only Awards Based on Scientific and Technical Merit Ideas are Investigator-Initiated Proposals Reviewed by Confidential Peer Review Using Outside Experts From Non-profit Organizations Funds Allocated to Topic Areas in Proportion to Number of Proposals Received

SBIR Features of USDA SBIR Program Phase I Grants = 8 Months/$80,000 Phase II Grants = 2 Years/$300, Month No-cost Extension Available All Applicants Receive Verbatim Copies of Reviews

SBIR Topic Areas Forests & Related Resources Plant Production & Protection Animal Production & Protection Air, Water & Soils Food Science & Nutrition Rural & Community Development Aquaculture Industrial Applications Marketing & Trade Wildlife Animal Waste Management

SBIR Forests and Related Resources Focus is on the development of innovative products, processes, or services that facilitate the forest resource community’s ability to serve the needs of consumers, industry, and the environment. Forest Biology, Biotechnology, and Biometrics Pulp and Paper Technology New Products and Uses for Wood Wildfire Prevention and Control

SBIR Plant Production and Protection – Biology Focus is on the development of innovative products, processes, or services that enhance agronomic and horticultural crop genetic improvement and health. Improved crop quality and yield Development of new crops Crop protection from insects, disease and abiotic stress Plant Biotechnology: Molecular biology Genomics Cell and tissue biology

SBIR Innovation : Developed a naturally occurring soil microorganism (Bacillus subtilis QST713) into an efficacious, safe fungicide for use in fruit, nut, vine and vegetable crops. Serenade® is the first broad-spectrum foliar biofungicide that provides growers with effective, safe alternatives to synthetic fungicides. Success Stories: AgraQuest, Inc.

SBIR Commercialization: Serenade Biofungicide® was registered by the US EPA in It is registered for use on 139 crops and over 50 diseases. It is now sold in 15 countries. Serenade was used on 78.2% of Florida tomato acres, 15.1% of California premium wine grape acres and 17.4% of California lettuce acres in Success Stories: AgraQuest, Inc.

SBIR Success Stories: AgraQuest, Inc.

SBIR With SBIR assistance AgraQuest, Inc. is also developing: Continued Success: A biofumigant from a naturally occurring fungus, Muscodor albus extremely effective in killing diseases that cause rotting in fruits and vegetables. Virtuoso™, a Streptomyces-based bioinsecticide that is expected to complete final USEPA submission in August, Success Stories: AgraQuest, Inc.

SBIR Success Stories: AVACHEM Joint Venture Innovation : Developed a new class of pesticides that:  Are less toxic than conventional pesticides  Degrade rapidly  Do not harm wildlife or other non-target organisms  Are able to effectively control Varroa mites on Honey Bees

SBIR Plant Production and Protection – Engineering Focus is on the development of innovative products, processes, or services that enhance agronomic and horticultural crop production and environmental protection. Improved greenhouse equipment Improved crop planting, growing, and harvesting equipment Precision farming technology Remote-sensing for crop monitoring

SBIR Success Stories: Capstan Ag Systems, Inc. Innovation : Proof that highly accurate metering of agricultural liquids through pulsing solenoid valves is feasible, economic, and desirable for users.

SBIR Success Stories: Capstan Ag Systems, Inc. Impact : Over 20 million acres are being sprayed annually using with Capstan designed systems. These systems are superior in:  Suppressing exposure to pesticide drift  Aligning application rates with variable needs within fields  Economizing material  Lessening the probability of excess nitrogen moving into the water table

SBIR Animal Production and Protection Focus on the development of innovative technology that enhances the reliable production of food animals and safe animal products, while conserving resources and reducing costs of production. Animal reproduction Animal genetics and breeding Animal nutrition Animal protection including: Diagnostics Therapies Immunization Pest controls Prevention Health cost assessment

SBIR Air, Water, and Soils Focus is on the development of innovative technology for conserving and protecting air, water, and soil resources, while sustaining agricultural productivity. Reduction of losses of soil and soil nutrients Enhancing soil properties with minimal impact Decrease air and water pollution from agricultural activity Water conservation and quality preservation Improved irrigation for agriculture and forestry Remote-sensing and information technology

SBIR Food Science and Nutrition Focus is on the development of innovative products, processes and services that facilitate the ability of the food manufacturing community to provide a safe, secure, and nutritious food supply. New food products and manufacturing processes Quality control technology Economics and statistics Nutrition education Packaging Food safety: Microbiology Toxicology Diagnostics Preservation

SBIR Rural and Community Development Focus is on the innovative application of technology to address problems and opportunities that exist in rural areas. New agricultural enterprises Transportation Education Health care Information services Telecommunications

SBIR Eureka’s Freedom Tent Success Stories: Blue Sky Designs Innovation : Developed accessible tent designs and technologies to improve access to camping for people with disabilities and aging baby boomers.

SBIR Success Stories: Blue Sky Designs A licensing agreement was reached with Eureka! for the Combination Tent/Vestibule and one of the door designs. Eureka’s Freedom tent called “top product of the show” by the Salt Lake Tribune at the 2004 Outdoor Retailer Show. Three or more additional designs (not targeted to people with disabilities) will come to market in Commercialization:

SBIR Aquaculture Focus is on the development of innovative products, processes, and services that facilitate the growth and sustainability of the domestic aquaculture industry. New aquaculture products Enhanced reproductive efficiency Genetic improvement, including biotechnology Integrated aquatic animal health management Improved production systems and management strategies

SBIR Industrial Applications Focus is on the development of technology that facilitates the production of industrial products from agricultural materials. Enhanced production technology Improved quality control New products including: Oils and lubricants Biofuels Agricultural fiber-based products Starch-based products

SBIR Success Stories: Resodyn Corporation Innovation : Developed a unique process for the conversion of low value feedstock to biodiesel which can be produced at costs competitive to traditional diesel fuel

SBIR Impact: Success Stories: Resodyn Corporation Pilot plant for biodiesel production  Consistent production of both high quality biodiesel and a glycerin by- product  Lowest production costs in the industry  Competitively price capital investments  Elimination of waste water discharge  Complete solvent recovery

SBIR Marketing and Trade Focus is on the identification of marketing strategies to increase sales of agricultural, forestry, and aquacultural products, both domestically and abroad. Development of marketing systems Development of innovative real-time/near real-time information systems Assessments and specification of marketing opportunities Design or establishment of market-based mechanisms for enhanced environmental benefits

SBIR Success Stories: Rainbow Organic Farms Company “SBIR provided the necessary funding to create a new economic future for our local small family farms”. -- Diana Endicott

SBIR Success Stories: Rainbow Organic Farms Company Innovation :  Developed the first USDA ISO 9000 based Quality System Verification Program (QSVP) for Good Natured Family Farms (GNFF) all-natural beef and free- range poultry raised on local small family farms.  QSVP model provides comprehensive standard operating procedure (SOPs) for identification, traceability and label claim verification for production, processing, and retail sales.

SBIR Impact: Success Stories: Rainbow Organic Farms Company Pilot plant for biodiesel production  Developed and trademarked ‘Good Natured Family Farms’ all-natural branded food product line and achieved wholesale gross sales in 2004 of 2.5 million dollars.  The 40 Good Natured Family Farms Alliance members farm over 16,000 acres of farmland.  Recognized for two major awards including: Kansas City BTG Environmental Excellence Award and the National Agriculture Center and Hall of Fames’ Farmers Honor Acre Award.

SBIR Wildlife Focus is on the development of technology for environmentally sound improvements in wildlife management to reduce adverse impacts of wildlife on agriculture and people and to enhance the sustainability of wildlife populations. Impact of wildlife on agriculture Influence of agriculture on wildlife Wildlife control, management, reproduction and health Habitat management and restoration

SBIR Animal Waste Management Focus is on the development of technology and environmentally sound approaches for improved management of animal waste. Systems for handling animal waste Solid and liquid waste Air pollution monitoring and abatement Water resource monitoring and protection Value-added products

SBIR Technology Areas Supported by USDA/SBIR Program Information Technology Robotics Electronics Biotechnology Nanotechnology Microelectro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) Acoustics Remote Sensing Genetic Engineering Material/Coatings Food Safety Biofuels Machine Vision Precision Agriculture Engineering Physics Chemistry

SBIR Priority Research Areas Encourage proposals addressing: Anti-bioterrorism Food Supply Crops and Forests Livestock, Aquaculture, Wildlife Rural Homeland Security (e.g. emergency communications, water supplies, emergency response, Agriculturally-Related Manufacturing Technology

SBIR Agriculturally-related Manufacturing Technology Proposals that focus on innovative new technologies that will improve agriculturally-related manufacturing efficiency are encouraged

SBIR University Involvement in USDA SBIR Strongly encouraged University faculty may serve as consultants or receive a subcontract (both limited to no more than 1/3 of Phase I award or 1/2 of Phase II award) and continue to work full time at university University faculty may serve as principal investigator on the grant, by reducing university employment to 49% for duration of grant and if the SBIR research is performed someplace other than their research lab It is usually not acceptable for university faculty to serve as consultants and have all the research done in their lab

SBIR History of USDA SBIR Funding

SBIR Phase I: Vision and Focus! Present a vision of where you want to be at the end of Phase II. Phase I focus should be on the critical enabling factor(s) that will allow the project to proceed. If….Then: If we can demonstrate feasibility of this factor(s), then we will have the confidence and USDA will have the confidence to proceed into Phase II.

SBIR USDA SBIR Review Process for Phase I There is a different review panel for each topic area An outstanding research scientist is selected as topic manager for each review panel Proposals undergo initial screening and then are assigned to the appropriate topic area

SBIR Each proposal is sent to 4 ad-hoc reviewers who mail in written reviews Each proposal is reviewed by two-three members of the review panel Based on both the panel and ad-hoc reviews and the panel discussion, each proposal is ranked, and the top ranked ones are recommended for an award USDA SBIR Review Process for Phase I (cont.)

SBIR The SBIR program follows the panel recommendations closely and allocates funds to each topic area in proportion to the number of proposals submitted Proposals recommended for funding undergo an administrative review prior to the grant being awarded A panel summary plus verbatim copies of the reviews, minus the score and name of the reviewer, are sent to the project director for all proposals, funded or not USDA SBIR Review Process for Phase I (cont.)

SBIR Solicitation/Proposal Schedule: FY 2005/2006 FY 2006 Solicitation will be Released 6/1/05 Phase I Proposal Deadline Date will be 9/1/05 Panels Meet in January & February of 2006 Award Decisions Made by 3/1/06 Phase I Grant Period will be from 5/15/06 to 12/31/06 FY 2006 Phase II Deadline Date will be 2/2/06

SBIR U.S. Department of Agriculture Small Business Innovation Research Program Waterfront Centre, Suite th Street, SW Washington, DC Phone: (202)  Fax: (202) Web Site:

SBIR USDA SBIR HOMEPAGE Program Information Solicitation (Request for Applications) Technical Abstracts Link to SBA and Other SBIR Programs Upcoming SBIR Conferences

SBIR U.S. Department of Agriculture Small Business Innovation Research Program Dr. Peter Burfening Animal Production and Protection; Wildlife Dr. Charles Cleland Forests and Related Resources; Air, Water, and Soil; Aquaculture Dr. William Goldner Plant Production and Protection (Biology and Engineering); Industrial Applications Dr. Richard Hegg Animal Waste Management Dr. Suresh Sureshwaran Food Science and Nutrition; Rural and Community Development, Marketing and Trade Andrew P. Wilson Program Specialist - SBIR