BARD Aquaculture and Desert Farming Program

The BARD Aquaculture and Desert Farming Program is administered by the United States Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund, an organization dedicated to advancing collaborative agricultural innovation between the United States and Israel. The program is implemented in partnership with the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture Office of the Chief Scientist, reflecting a binational commitment to addressing shared agricultural challenges. Funding under this program is contingent upon formal approval by Israeli governmental authorities, emphasizing its reliance on public sector support and oversight. BARD has a long history of funding cooperative research projects that strengthen scientific collaboration and promote agricultural sustainability and food security. The primary purpose of the Aquaculture and Desert Farming Program is to enhance food security and increase the production of high quality protein through research and development investments. The program specifically focuses on advancing land based aquaculture systems and improving desert farming practices. Supported projects are expected to deepen understanding of biological and ecological systems related to fish, algae, and other aquatic organisms, while also promoting innovations in fish diversity and quality. In parallel, the program encourages research into agricultural production under arid and desert conditions, with a strong emphasis on sustainable and climate smart practices. Funding is provided through the Pioneer track, which offers grants of up to six hundred thousand dollars for projects with a duration of three years. These funds are intended to support a wide range of research related expenses, including personnel support for non tenured staff, equipment purchases, operational costs, and limited travel necessary for collaboration. However, principal investigators and co principal investigators are not eligible to receive salaries from the grant. Equipment purchases are capped and must be justified, while overhead costs are limited to a defined percentage of direct costs. Additional financial and administrative requirements, including reporting obligations and budget management rules, are outlined in the BARD grant management guidelines. Eligibility for the program is restricted to affiliates of public or private nonprofit research institutions that possess the necessary research and development capabilities. Applications must be submitted through legally constituted institutions and must involve a joint collaboration between a United States scientist and an Israeli scientist. This binational requirement is central to the program’s mission and ensures that funded projects leverage expertise and resources from both countries. The program also allows limited concurrent funding under specific conditions, although applicants holding certain active grants with termination dates beyond a specified threshold may be restricted from applying. The application process requires submission by a fixed deadline, with the next submission date identified as September 16, 2026. Proposals are evaluated based on several criteria, including scientific merit, probability of success, quality of collaboration between partners, and relevance to stakeholders in aquaculture and desert farming sectors. Applicants must follow formal proposal guidelines and submit through designated institutional channels. Following submission, proposals undergo review and selection processes managed by BARD, with successful applicants entering into formal grant agreements and adhering to reporting and compliance requirements throughout the project lifecycle. Funded projects operate on a structured timeline, typically spanning three years. During this period, recipients are required to submit annual scientific and fiscal reports, as well as a final comprehensive report within three months of project completion. Additional requirements include periodic declarations of project progress and an online scientific presentation between the second and third years of the project. These reporting obligations ensure accountability, transparency, and alignment with the original research objectives. Overall, the BARD Aquaculture and Desert Farming Program represents a strategic investment in agricultural innovation, sustainability, and international collaboration. By supporting cutting edge research in aquaculture and desert agriculture, the program aims to address critical global challenges related to food production, environmental sustainability, and resource management while strengthening scientific partnerships between the United States and Israel.

Focus strongly on demonstrating binational collaboration quality and clear scientific merit; align proposal with aquaculture or desert farming priorities; ensure feasibility and stakeholder relevance are clearly articulated