F3 Innovate Launches Innovation Grant Program

F3 Innovate (F3i) announced the opening of applications for its inaugural Innovation Grant program. The initiative will award up to $200,000 across 4-12 projects this Fall, with individual grants of up to $50,000 each, to accelerate transformative agriculture and food technologies toward commercial adoption.

F3i's grant program seeks to drive breakthrough innovations that address critical

challenges across the agriculture supply chain while creating economic opportunities and

diversifying the region's economy.

Priority Research Areas Include:

• Digital Agriculture and Data Science: AI and machine learning applications, IoT

  sensors, and data analytics for supply chain optimization

• Equipment and Automation: Agricultural robotics, precision agriculture equipment,

  and automated harvesting technologies

• Drought Resiliency and Stewardship: Drought-resistant crop varieties, carbon

  sequestration technologies, and water conservation solutions

• Equipment and Systems Testing: Testing protocols, systems integration, and

  performance optimization

• Small Farm and Food Entrepreneurship: Technologies accessible to small-scale

  farmers and supply chain solutions for specialty crops

The program prioritizes funding multiple smaller projects rather than fewer large projects to

maximize the number of innovative solutions available to benefit growers across the Central

Valley's five-county region (Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, and Tulare).

Eligibility and Application Process

Eligible applicants include local and domestic academic researchers, students, start-ups,

entrepreneurs, and farmers/farmworkers. Priority will be given to projects that directly benefit California's Central Valley agriculture and address challenges specific to the region.

The application process features two phases:

Phase 1: Round 1 application (Due August 8, 2025)

Phase 2: Round 2 application for invited candidates (Due September 2, 2025)

Award Notifications: Late September 2025

Projects will be evaluated on problem identification, solution quality, Central Valley relevance, stakeholder engagement, market potential, and economic impact potential.

Learn more, read the RFP, and get application instructions at F3i's new website:

https://www.f3i.org/innovation-grant