Project Grant 201138821310342

Silvec Biologics Inc. was awarded a $174,964 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Project Grant from the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture to develop a proprietary process to control fungi using RNA interference. The SBIR program aims to support scientific innovation to build a strong national economy. Under the award, Silvec will pursue four key objectives through January 2023. The company will identify small interfering RNAs compatible with...

This Project Grant award of $620,599.00 from the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Engineering program (CFDA 47.041) to the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (Tees) will investigate the behavior of cyclodextrin-based nanopesticide particles. The research will use experimental and computational approaches to examine how these particles aggregate and interact with materials like silica and cellulose. This fundamental knowledge aims to guide the agricultural and industrial sectors...

The Connecticut Agricultural Experimental Station was awarded a $636,646 Project Grant from the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) competitive grants program. The grant will fund research to develop a novel and sustainable nanoparticle platform for delivering effective and prolonged supplies of double-stranded RNA molecules in plants. Specifically, the Station will synthesize three...

This Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Division of Industrial Innovation, totaling $250,000, supports research at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to develop effective and safe pesticide formulations for protecting crops from fungal diseases. Under the Engineering program (CFDA 47.041), the awardee will identify naturally produced molecules with enhanced fungicidal activity against Botrytis cinerea and Phakopsora pachyrhizi, major pathogens causing billions in annual crop...

This $315,000 federal Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Integrative Activities (IA) program supports research at Auburn University on the use of branched amphiphilic peptide capsules (BAPCs) for delivering double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) as a targeted biopesticide. The goal is to explore how variations in the size, charge, and composition of these BAPC nanomaterials can optimize the effectiveness, stability, and environmental safety of dsRNA-based pesticides. The project...

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) awarded Baylor University $263,314 under the Cooperative Agreement program "Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care" (CFDA 10.025) to evaluate the use of radiation-excitable nanoparticles for sterilizing insects in support of sterile insect technique (SIT). SIT aims to reduce populations of economically damaging insects by releasing sterile males to mate with wild females that then do not...

This Project Grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) provides $274,999 to Robigo, Inc. for research under the NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships program (CFDA 47.084). The award will support development of a microbial biopesticide platform to precisely target and eliminate crop pathogens without harming beneficial microbes, pollinators, or humans. Leveraging synthetic biology, CRISPR, and data science, the company aims to engineer improvements increasing efficacy and viability...

This National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II Cooperative Agreement award to Silvec Biologics Inc. provides $994,939 in funding to develop novel RNA therapies to immunize grapevines, citrus trees, and other agricultural crops against deadly bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The key objectives are to: (1) optimize small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) against the Xylella fastidiosa bacterium that causes olive quick decline syndrome, Pierce's disease in grapes,...

This Project Grant award of $1,000,000 from the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (CFDA 47.084) program aims to develop an automated pest management system for rural farms. The key products and services to be delivered include: Integrating artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things (IoT), machine learning, and affordable communication networks to reduce reliance on manual labor and outdated practices in pest management. This will enhance...

Federal Grant Award Summary Texas A&M AgriLife Research received a $238,164 Project Grant award from the Institute of Food Production and Sustainability under the Crop Protection and Pest Management (CPPM) Competitive Grants Program (CFDA 10.329) on September 30, 2025, with a completion date of September 29, 2027. The project delivers integrated pest management solutions for greenhouse-grown tomato crops by combining biological control with artificial intelligence (AI)-powered monitoring...