Hatch/Hatch Multistate

Hatch Projects

The purpose of Hatch projects is to support individual faculty contributions to state-specific agricultural research. These 5-year broad research projects are typically led by a single Project Director (PD) within one institution, although they may involve collaborative units within or outside of that institution. Hatch projects are designed to address agricultural challenges relevant to a particular state or institutional context. They must have measurable goals and impacts and meet the mission of AgBioResearch and the broader research mission of USDA-NIFA.  Each proposal undergoes an internal peer review process, endorsed by unit administrator, ABR Directors, and is submitted to the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for final review and approval.

Hatch Multistate Research Projects

Hatch Multistate Research projects are designed to: 1) Support multidisciplinary research and coordinate research teams; 2) Require cooperative, jointly planned efforts involving multiple states, universities, and agencies; and 3) Provide mutual benefits to the participating states. Each project involves a team of investigators and institutions working collaboratively to address complex, high-priority problems that are too large or multifaceted for a single state to resolve. The regional research undertaking is, in essence, a substitution for other research work, or is complementary to ongoing projects. These projects are tracked and coordinated through the National Information Management and Support System (NIMSS), which also facilitates information exchange. Faculty can search the NIMSS system to identify Multistate Research projects they wish to join - either as a participant, as MSU representative, or as the MSU lead for a national project. To serve as MSU’s representative on a Hatch Multistate Research project, faculty must submit an initiation proposal, which does not require peer review. Please contact Kang Xia (xiakang@msu.edu), if you wish to create and lead a new multistate project.

A portion of our Hatch funds are designated as Regional Research Funds or Multistate Research Funds and can be used only for formal regional research undertakings.

Participation in a regional research project does not imply or assure that the participant will receive additional new funds for the regional research undertaking. In almost all instances, Regional Research Funds assist in offsetting faculty salaries, help operate and maintain research infrastructure, are a source of funding used by ABR to fund equipment proposals, and support faculty travel to Multistate research project meetings. MSU representatives and leads receive travel support to attend the project’s annual meeting.