Hughes Center 2025 Request for Proposals

Pre-proposals are due by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21.

September 2025

The Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology is a 501(c)(3) corporation affiliated with the University of Maryland, College Park, and the University System of Maryland. The mission of the Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology is to provide leadership to promote environmentally sound and economically viable agriculture and forestry as Maryland’s preferred land use through research, outreach, and collaboration. We deliver science-based, applied, and unbiased information that fosters collaborative solutions. Our work is grounded in the values of equity and environmental justice. More about our Center is available at go.umd.edu/HughesCenter.

Pre-Proposal Overview

The Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology calls for research pre-proposals to address the following topic areas (see below). The Hughes Center anticipates awarding up to $400,000 through a competitive process. Historically, the Hughes Center has awarded three to four proposals per year in the amount of $30,000 to $150,000 per project on average. The Hughes Center does not fund overhead costs. Projects must have a start date on or before June 30, 2026. The duration of a proposal may be one or two years.

Summary: The research proposed should have a meaningful, short-term and long-term impact on the region. Proposals that address agriculture and food systems, land use, soil and water quality, and forest health and forestry are encouraged. The Hughes Center is particularly interested in projects on the topics mentioned above that address funding cuts, dataset losses, and reduced programming at the state level. We also welcome proposals that address other areas of agriculture, the Chesapeake Bay and the environment in Maryland. The following are examples of topic areas:

Agriculture and Food Systems: The Center welcomes pre-proposals on markets, decision support systems, and technologies that will improve the profitability, productivity, and accessibility of the local food system and supply chain. The Center also seeks projects assessing current state-level policies, BMPs, and programs intended to optimize nutrient reduction to the Chesapeake Bay’s waters, as well as optimize local food markets and food production for farms of all sizes. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, A) tracking impacts of changes to state programs and policies on food security and production, B) a scientific assessment of the potential impacts of shifting seasonal weather patterns on farming practices and BMPs, C) determining alternative crop selections adapted to the changing climate, D) creating a metric of how much food produced in Maryland remains in the local system, E) identifying and testing outreach and education efforts that encourage farmer participation in research or evaluation of emerging technologies. F) efforts that support local food councils.

Land use: The Center supports research that informs and updates the public on sustainable land use practices, including social science data on prevailing land use and management attitudes and practices. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, A) as solar energy continues to gain momentum, how can its development coexist with agricultural production, and what policies can minimize negative impacts, B) how do Maryland’s zoning laws affect the upkeep and expansion of agriculture and forestry land, C) deer management is becoming an increasing issue for Maryland’s farmers — are there any program models that could apply to Maryland, or is there any research that could benefit Maryland farmers or policy on this issue, D) what outreach efforts are necessary to support ag fields and forestland, and how can they be increased? Additionally, the Center is seeking pre-proposals on restoration and conservation efforts. Focus areas could include quantifying the effectiveness of conservation projects, coastal land restoration, and preserving and adding to habitat datasets. Projects that evaluate the efficacy and enforcement of current state and federal land use programs are encouraged. Updating land use BMPs is desirable to the Center as well. 

Soil and water quality: Pre-proposals with a focus on nutrient management and soil health are appreciated. Examples of topics to address include A) examining the impact of Maryland’s climate goals on soil health, B) improving water quality in the Chesapeake Bay or in support of Maryland Whole Watershed Act and Fund initiative, C) economic impacts of saltwater intrusion and nutrient pollution in the Chesapeake Bay, and D) incentivizing, funding, and updating technologies and green infrastructure – for instance, wastewater treatments or early warning systems. How can green infrastructure, technology, and tools be more efficient? What are potential new funding sources for green infrastructure?

Forest Health and Forestry: The Hughes Center welcomes pre-proposals on the many cost-related concerns facing forestry today. Research addressing wood fuel, capital investments, operational considerations, and costs is highly desirable. Examples of research topics include A) datasets on the sources and amounts of excess wood, B) identifying market opportunities for wood waste, or recommendations for a specific model or example of a program that would oversee such a market, and C) research into the management of invasive species in Maryland’s forests.

The Submission Process

• Pre-proposal submission is required.
• Pre-proposals must communicate the importance of the research in improving the farms, forests, or waters of Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay.
• No more than one pre-proposal may be submitted per researcher.
• Completed pre-proposals (one-page narrative) must be received by 5:00 p.m. EST, Tuesday, Oct 21, 2025, to hughescenter@umd.edu with the words “Grant Proposal” in the subject line. No late submissions will be accepted.
• Final proposals will be invited on or around Oct. 30, 2025. Requests for full proposals are upon invitation only, based on the evaluation of the pre-proposal.
• Invited full proposals must be received by 5:00 p.m., Nov. 25, 2025, and submitted to hughescenter@umd.edu with the words “Grant Proposal” in the subject line. No late submissions will be accepted.
• Selected projects will be asked to be presented at a board meeting estimated for the third week of January 2026.
• Proposal review and announcement of final project selection will be no later than January 31, 2026.

Who Can Apply: Professionals and academics at Colleges, Universities, nonprofits, and 501(c)(3) organizations with credentials supporting their ability to complete this project. The Center encourages collaborative proposals across disciplines and among organizations, agencies, and institutions. Researchers with outstanding reports due to the Hughes Center are ineligible.

Pre-proposal Format:

• One (1) page maximum should be dedicated to the narrative, including:
  • Title of project
  • Overview of Project
    • Should focus on high-level information with an emphasis on the importance of the project to Maryland or the region
    • Do not include references in the pre-proposal
• Impact
  • On Maryland’s agriculture or forestry industries
  • On environmental or ecosystem indicators, such as nutrient reductions, carbon sequestration, Bay health, etc.
  • (If any) on underserved communities or populations or an aspect of the proposal that addresses equity
• Outreach: How the project information will be disseminated to stakeholders
• Note: Please use 1-inch margins and single-spaced 11-point Times New Roman font.
• One (1) page maximum should contain the following:
  • Principal investigator title and contact information
  • Co-PI or project partners, titles, and contact information
  • Anticipated budget request (The Hughes Center does not support indirect costs.)

Review Process

Hughes Center Board members, staff, and ad hoc reviewers with expertise in the subject area evaluate pre-proposals and select submissions to invite for the full proposal process. For the full proposal outline, see below.

All inquiries regarding the RFP should be directed, in writing, to Hughes Center’s staff at hughescenter@umd.edu. Your pre-proposal and full proposal submissions should be emailed to hughescenter@umd.edu with the words “Grant Proposal” in the subject line.

Invited full proposals should include the following:

Full proposal Format (only upon invitation)

Note: Please use 1-inch margins and single-spaced 11-point Times New Roman font.

• Cover Sheet: Maximum of 1 page
  • Proposal Title
  • Names and Contact Information of the Principal Investigator and all participants
  • Date of Submittal
  • Start and end dates of the project (start date must be on or before June 30, 2026).
  • Topic area addressed
  • Budget total
     
• Proposal: Maximum of 4 pages
  • A clear statement of the need for the project
  • A methods section including experimental or project design and how data will be collected, analyzed, and interpreted
  • Brief description of the role of each participant
  • Potential limitations in completing the project
  • An outreach plan including the methods and tools that will be used to share the findings with stakeholders
  • Timeline of the Project
  • Provide specific dates when deliverables will be available to the Center
  • Include information regarding the outreach efforts to stakeholders, which may extend beyond the grant time period
     
• Budget: Include a chart and description of each category in the chart, Maximum of 1 page. The budget should include the following categories:
  • Salaries
  • Fringe benefits
  • Subcontractors’ salaries/fringe benefits
  • Equipment/materials/supplies
  • Travel
  • Outreach expenses
  • The total amount of the project and the total amount requested from the Hughes Center

Important Notes: Please use a copy of our budget worksheet, available by clicking here. The Hughes Center does not fund overhead costs.

Matching funds are not required. If your organization is providing resources or has conducted significant work that contributes to the proposed project, these are best described in the proposal text. For projects with additional funders, if possible, please provide further information on the likelihood of being awarded and the amount requested from each potential funder.

• Qualifications of the Participants: Maximum of 2 pages per person
  • Brief bio of the project participants with highlights of their skills and expertise that will bring value to this project
  • Current and Pending Support information on other grant-funded projects that are related to this proposal should include
    • PI and co-PI names and project title
    • Supporting Agency
    • Amount of Award
    • Beginning and ending dates of the grant award

The following are the evaluation criteria for invited full proposals:

• How well does the proposal meet the mission and goals of the Hughes Center?
• Does the proposal help further the knowledge base in the agricultural, forestry, natural resource, or policy arenas so that something significant and beneficial to working lands and the Chesapeake Bay and its resources can be derived from the work?
• Does the project display scientific merit in theory, methods, and design?
• Has a realistic and achievable public education/awareness/outreach component been included?
• Do the Investigator(s) appear qualified to perform the work as outlined?
• Is the budget feasible for the scope and time frame of the project?
• Is the time frame adequate for the work proposed?
• Is this work original and not duplicated elsewhere?
• Has the proposal identified key collaborators who can assist in achieving project outcomes and goals?
• Rate the project’s impact, if any, on underserved communities or populations or its ability to address equity