Stimulating and Cultivating Innovative Research In Aquaculture. An Overview Of The USDA Small Business Innovation Research Program's Impact On Aquaculture

The Small Business Innovation Research program (SBIR) was created through congressional legislation in 1983. The program mandates that all federal agencies with more than $100 million in extramural R&D must set aside 2.5% of their extramural R&D funds for an SBIR program. There are currently eleven participating federal agencies that contribute funding in excess of 2 billion dollars each year. The USDA’s SBIR program contains ten topic areas including Aquaculture. The Aquaculture topic area aims to develop new technologies that will enhance the knowledge and technology base necessary for the continued growth of the domestic aquaculture industry as a form of production agriculture  In this context new technologies are needed to protect aquaculture species against disease and to improve production efficiency. Emphasis is placed on research leading to improved production efficiency and increased competitiveness of private sector aquaculture in the United States. Studies on commercially important, or potentially important, species of fish, shellfish and plants from both freshwater and marine environments are included. Technologies are needed to ensure the safety of aquaculture species from heavy metals and other hazardous materials and from human pathogens.