Supplemental and Alternative Crops

The Supplemental and Alternative Crops (SAC) program supports projects that lead to expanded adaptation and increased acreage in the United States of alternative crops grown for food/feedstuff, oil, and feedstocks for industrial value-added products. The program encourages applicants to establish and work through region-based, multi-state research networks to address priority national or regional science needs of the supplemental and alternative crop industries. Key aspects of the program include: • Developing superior-performing alternative crop cultivars and production practices • Conducting fundamental and applied research and extension activities to develop innovative planting, cultivating, and harvesting methods • Enhancing the use of supplemental and alternative crops as pollinator-friendly crops • Expanding development of markets for crops grown as feedstock used in industrial value-added products Applicants must provide evidence of multi-regional cooperation and use the expertise and resources of Land-grant and other colleges and universities, federal agencies, and private industry.