The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Pierce’s Disease and Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Board (PD/GWSS Board) is currently accepting proposals for its 2025 Research and Outreach Program, aimed at addressing serious pests and diseases affecting winegrapes in California. This program supports research and outreach initiatives that offer practical solutions to protect and improve vineyard health, with a strong preference for multi-disciplinary and collaborative projects that include extension activities.
The PD/GWSS Board prioritizes funding for projects targeting Tier 1 issues such as Pierce’s disease (especially its vector, the glassy-winged sharpshooter), grapevine leafroll disease, grapevine red blotch disease, and mealybug pests of winegrapes. Proposals related to Tier 2 issues—including brown marmorated stink bug, grapevine fanleaf disease, and spotted lanternfly—will also be considered, though they carry lower funding priority. For specific Tier 1 diseases and pests, the program seeks projects addressing virus latency, area-wide management strategies, roguing and replanting recommendations, prevention education, and consistent viral diagnostics.
Proposals must be submitted electronically by January 31, 2026, through the CDFA portal. Funding awards will begin in the California FY 2026–27 (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027), with projects eligible for up to three years of support. Continued funding is contingent upon satisfactory progress and project relevance. Award decisions are expected around May 15, 2026. Prior funding awards ranged from $4,300 to $383,000 annually. Applicants must include required components, such as progress reports and summary videos, and participate in PD/GWSS-sponsored symposia.
Eligible applicants include individuals or groups affiliated with nonprofit institutions that possess expertise in winegrape pest and disease research or outreach. Applicants from the University of California and California State University systems may use the AB 20 Model Agreement Template if all required RFP elements are included. Projects must comply with applicable state and federal permitting requirements, and awardees must provide public access to peer-reviewed publications as per California law.
Proposals are evaluated based on criteria such as objective clarity, relevance to industry needs, workplan feasibility, team qualifications, resource availability, and budget appropriateness. The review process includes both panel review and PD/GWSS Board recommendation to the CDFA Secretary. Confidential material should not be submitted, and proposal content may be subject to Public Records Act disclosure. For more information, applicants may contact the PD Control Program at pdresearch@cdfa.ca.gov or 916-900-5024.
Address priority Tier 1 topics; reference NAS “Advancing Vineyard Health” study; propose new, non-duplicative approaches; include education and outreach elements.
