Apply for the Agricultural Innovation Grant

The Agricultural Innovation Grant Program helps farmers and other agriculture businesses implement new agricultural technologies, conservation, and renewable energy innovations — expanding their potential to generate profits, enrich soil and water resources, and produce energy on the farm.

Building on historic investments under the Shapiro Administration, the 2026-27 budget Governor Shapiro signed includes another $10 million for the nation’s first Agricultural Innovation Grant Program, bringing total funding to $30 million. The initial rounds of the program have funded 185 innovative projects statewide and are already helping farmers adopt cutting-edge technologies, generate clean energy, and protect natural resources."

Grant funding is working statewide to strengthen Pennsylvania’s leadership in agricultural innovation, ensure farms of all sizes can thrive, and support a more sustainable and resilient agricultural economy.

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Application Timeline

Round three (2026-2027) of the Agriculture Innovation grant will open August 24, 2026 at 8:00 am and close on September 23, 2026 at 11:59 pm.

Before you apply, please look at our Resource Guide to ensure this is the right fit for your project.

About

Grants will reimburse expenses for project planning, on-site project implementation, and larger grants for projects that have a regional impact.

Project examples include technology that:

• improves efficiency on the farm or in processing,
• generates energy while reducing nutrient waste leaving the farm,
• supports crops that effectively store carbon or replace non-renewable resources.

Projects may also address practical challenges including data collection, biosecurity, and odor remediation.

Eligibility

• A person who grows an agricultural commodity and who has anticipated sales greater than $2,000 per year.
• A person who processes an agricultural commodity and has anticipated sales greater than $10,000 per year.
• A person who provides technical assistance or services to farmers for conservation, engineering, veterinary care, animal disease management, farm management, agricultural commodity production, nutrient management, or similar services.
• A person or cooperative association that utilizes agricultural commodities to create products or energy.

Eligible Projects

A person or cooperative association who utilizes innovation:

• to improve energy efficiency, improve water quality, reduce water consumption, reduce odors, or address solid waste concerns.
• to improve production, processing, commercialization, or utilization of agricultural commodities.
• that produces energy from agricultural sources, including manure, food waste or biomass.
• equipment that provides low-carbon or no-carbon energy sources from agricultural commodities.
• technology that assists eligible applicants with the management of their farms, including diagnostic tools and services.
• technology that assists a packer, processor or cooperative in more efficient sorting, grading, or processing of agricultural commodities.
• that improves biosecurity or health of plants or animals.
• that supports cybersecurity or data analytics.

Funding Opportunities

Reimbursement Grant Program

Program grants should be reimbursement grants. The following can apply:

Innovation planning project grant

An eligible applicant may apply for a grant to develop a strategic plan to utilize innovation to improve agricultural practices, technologies, operations or approaches within a specific business, geographic area, or network. The following shall apply to a grant under this subsection:

• The amount of a grant should be no less than $7,500 and no more than $50,000.
• A grantee must use non-State sourced matching funds equal to at least 30% of the grant amount for the project.

Onsite project grant

An eligible applicant may apply for a grant for a project that focuses on implementing innovation practices, technologies or approaches on an individual farm or property producing or processing an agricultural commodity. The following shall apply to a grant under this subsection:

• The amount of the grant should be no less than $5,000 and no more than $200,000.
• A grantee must use non-State sourced matching funds equal to at least 50% of the grant amount for the project.

Regional impact project grant

An eligible applicant may apply for a grant for a project designed to address challenges, promote efficiencies, or achieve specific goals for multiple eligible applicants. The following shall apply to a grant under this subsection:

• The amount of the grant should be no less than $100,000 and no more than $2 million.
• The grantee must use non-State sourced matching funds equal to at least 50% of the grant amount for the project.
• The project must impact two or more persons or businesses or be a cooperative association that grows, harvests, processes, packs or manages an agricultural commodity.

Application Requirements

An application for the grant should contain the following information:

• The applicant's name, business address and contact information.
• A statement as to whether the applicant seeks an innovation planning project grant, onsite project grant or regional impact project grant.
• The details of the project for which reimbursement grant money is sought, including the following:
  • A project narrative, including a statement of the maximum amount of grant money sought for the project.
  • A project budget.
  • An addendum that will cover:
    • Alignment with the intent of the Program.
    • Metrics for tracking success.
    • An itemized budget.
    • A timeline
    • Letters of support.

Contact

If you have any questions, please contact Michael Roth at michroth@pa.gov for more information regarding the grant.

Resources

• Ag Innovation Grant - Webinar
• Ag Innovation Grant - Flyer
• Resource Guide 2026-2027

Funding Recipients

• 2025
• 2026