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/$300,000
• 12 Month No-cost Extension Available
• All Applicants Receive Verbatim Copies of Reviews
SBIR
Topic Areas
• Forests & Related
Resources
• Rural & Community
Development
• Plant Production &
Protection
• Aquaculture
• Animal Production &
Protection
• Marketing & Trade
• Air, Water & Soils
• Animal Waste
Management
• Food Science & Nutrition
• Industrial Applications
• Wildlife
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
Plant Biotechnology:
• Development of new crops
• Molecular biology
• Crop protection from insects,
disease and abiotic stress
• Genomics
• Cell and tissue biology
SBIR
Success Stories:
AgraQuest, Inc.
www.agraquest.com
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.
SBIR
Success Stories:
AgraQuest, Inc.
www.agraquest.com
Commercialization:
Serenade Biofungicide® was registered by the US
EPA in 2000. 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 2003.
SBIR
Success Stories:
AgraQuest, Inc.
www.agraquest.com
SBIR
Success Stories:
AgraQuest, Inc.
www.agraquest.com
Continued Success:
With SBIR assistance AgraQuest, Inc. is also developing:
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, 2005.
SBIR
Success Stories:
AVACHEM Joint Venture
Innovation:
Developed a new class of
pesticides that:
 Are less toxic than
conventional pesticides
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Degrade rapidly
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Do not harm wildlife or other
non-target organisms
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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.
www.capstanag.com
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.
www.capstanag.com
Impact:
Over 20 million acres are being sprayed
annually using with Capstan designed
systems.
These systems are superior in:
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Suppressing exposure to pesticide drift
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Aligning application rates with variable
needs within fields
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Economizing material
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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.
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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
• Health care
• Transportation
• Information services
• Education
• Telecommunications
SBIR
Success Stories:
Blue Sky Designs
www.blueskydesigns.us
Innovation:
Developed accessible tent
designs and technologies to
improve access to camping for
people with disabilities and aging
baby boomers.
Eureka’s Freedom Tent
SBIR
Success Stories:
Blue Sky Designs
www.blueskydesigns.us
Commercialization:
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 2006.
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
www.resodyn.com
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
Success Stories:
Resodyn Corporation
www.resodyn.com
Impact:
Pilot plant for biodiesel production

Consistent production of both high
quality biodiesel and a glycerin byproduct

Lowest production costs in the
industry

Competitively price capital
investments
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Elimination of waste water
discharge
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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 freerange 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
Success Stories:
Rainbow Organic Farms Company
Impact:
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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.
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The 40 Good Natured Family Farms
Alliance members farm over 16,000
acres of farmland.
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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
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Information Technology
Robotics
Electronics
Biotechnology
Nanotechnology
Microelectro Mechanical
Systems (MEMS)
• Acoustics
• Remote Sensing
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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
Year
Budget MM
Phase I
Phase II
1998
11.70
77/420
37/58
1999
13.30
84/425
32/56
2000
15.56
89/480
36/59
2001
16.25
90/480
37/63
2002
15.70
86/449
39/68
2003
17.74
88/656
38/67
2004
18.18
99/580
38/64
2005
19.40
93/557
~40/79
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
USDA SBIR Review Process for
Phase I (cont.)
• 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
SBIR
USDA SBIR Review Process for
Phase I (cont.)
• 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
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 2312
800 9th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20024
Phone: (202) 401-4002  Fax: (202) 401-6070
E-mail: sbir@csrees.usda.gov
Web Site: www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/sbir
SBIR
USDA SBIR HOMEPAGE
www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/sbir
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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
Dr. Richard Hegg
Animal Production and Protection;
Wildlife
Animal Waste Management
Dr. Charles Cleland
Dr. Suresh Sureshwaran
Forests and Related Resources;
Air, Water, and Soil; Aquaculture
Food Science and Nutrition; Rural
and Community Development,
Marketing and Trade
Dr. William Goldner
Andrew P. Wilson
Plant Production and Protection
(Biology and Engineering);
Industrial Applications
Program Specialist - SBIR
SBIR