There are opportunities for SBIR funding of environmental technologies in the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) SBIR Phase I Solicitation closing on September 4, 2008. There are at least three possible areas of collaboration between USDA’s SBIR topics and EPA’s technology needs. EPA technology needs are described in the last Phase I Solicitation that is still posted on the EPA SBIR Website. The linkages between the EPA technology needs and USDA topics are summarized below:  

     EPA TECHNOLOGY NEEDS (TOPICS)                    Corresponding USDA TOPICS

     Water and Water Monitoring                                     USDA Topic 8.4 

     Biofuels and Biobased Products                                USDA Topic 8.8

     Animal Waste Management                                      USDA Topic 8.11

Small businesses should carefully read the solicitation and comply with the proposal instructions, electronic application submission procedures, administrative requirements and technical issues. Alaska companies should contact TREND with questions about the SBIR solicitations and for technical assistance.  The USDA SBIR Solicitation is not identical with the EPA SBIR Solicitation.  Businesses are submitting proposals to USDA and USDA (not EPA) requirements apply.  EPA needs do not correspond exactly to USDA Topics.  See the USDA Solicitation for specific subtopic descriptions.  Three topic linkages are described below:  

     USDA Topic 8.4 (Air, Water and Soils)  --  Technologies to optimize water

                conservation at a watershed scale,  Monitoring of surface

                water and groundwater, and Improved methods for reuse of

                wastewater.  See Solicitation for specific details.

     USDA Topic 8.8 (Biofuels and Biobased Products)  --  New biobased

                plastics manufacture, Sustainable production of biomass into

                ethanol and biodiesel, biocatalysts and reduction of harmful

                byproducts. NO corn grain ethanol technologies accepted.

     USDA Topic 8.11 (Animal Manure Management) --  Better ways to handle,

                collect, store, transport, treat and recycle animal manure,

                Methods to reduce impacts on surface water and groundwater,

                Detection and control of air emissions, and Processing of

                animal manure into value-added products including biofuels and

                energy.

The USDA SBIR Phase I Solicitation is NOW available at:  http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/rfas/sbir_rfa.html