UCR Research and Economic Development Newsletter:  January 26, 2014

Michael Pazzani

Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development

http://research.ucr.edu

Back Issues of Newsletter: http://research.ucr.edu/vcr/newsletters.aspx

Grant Opportunity Search: http://pivot.cos.com  

 


·         National Endowment for the Humanities Workshop: Feb 5, 2PM

·         Foundation Grants

·         Slides from Lewis-Burke (Funding Consultants) 

·         USDA: Bad News, Good News

·         Kauai Birds


National Endowment for the Humanities Workshop: Feb 5, 2PM

 

Wednesday, February 5th

2:00 P.M. — 5:00 P.M.

(Registration and sign-in starts at 1:30 P.M.)

University of California, Riverside

Alumni and Visitors Center

3595 Canyon Crest Drive

Complimentary Parking Will be Available in Lot 24

 

This workshop is open to the public. In the first half of the work-shop, Dr. Mark Silver (NEH Research Division) will provide an overview of NEH funding opportunities and offer tips for writing competitive proposals, focusing especially on research grant programs. In the second half of the workshop, he will run a mock application review panel. Participants will read, discuss, and rank proposals following NEH’s procedures in order to understand more fully how applications are evaluated and recommended for NEH funding.

 

About the Speaker:

Mark Silver is the Asia specialist on the staff of NEH's Research Division. He works primarily in the Division's programs for individuals, including Fellowships, Summer Stipends, and Awards for Faculty (for which he is the team leader), but he also chairs review panels in the Collaborative Research and Scholarly Editions and Translations programs. Before joining the Endowment, he taught Japanese language and literature at Middlebury College, Connecticut College, and Colgate University. He has published reviews and peer-reviewed articles in the field of Japanese Studies, as well as a book titled Purloined Letters: Cultural Borrowing and Japanese Crime Literature, 1868-1937 (Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 2008). He holds a Ph.D. in East Asian Languages and Literatures from Yale University.

Upcoming NEH Deadlines

 

 

Digital Humanities Implementation Grants

February 19, 2014

Office of Digital Humanities

Summer Seminars and Institutes

March 4, 2014

Division of Education Programs

Institutes for Advanced Topics in the Digital Humanities

March 11, 2014

Office of Digital Humanities

Awards for Faculty at Hispanic-Serving Institutions

April 15, 2014

Division of Research Programs

Fellowships for Advanced Social Science Research on Japan

May 1, 2014

Division of Research Programs

Preservation and Access Research and Development

May 1, 2014

Division of Preservation and Access

Fellowships

May 1, 2014

Division of Research Programs

Challenge Grants

May 1, 2014

Office of Challenge Grants

Preservation and Access Education and Training

May 1, 2014

Division of Preservation and Access

Bridging Cultures through Film: International Topics

June 11, 2014

Division of Public Programs

Humanities Initiatives at Tribal Colleges and Universities

June 26, 2014

Division of Education Programs

Humanities Initiatives at Hispanic-Serving Institutions

June 26, 2014

Division of Education Programs

Humanities Collections and Reference Resources

July 17, 2014

Division of Preservation and Access

Media Projects: Production Grants

August 13, 2014

Division of Public Programs

Museums, Libraries, and Cultural Organizations: Implementation Grants

August 13, 2014

Division of Public Programs

Media Projects: Development Grants

August 13, 2014

Division of Public Programs

Museums, Libraries, and Cultural Organizations: Planning Grants

August 13, 2014

Division of Public Programs

Fellowship Programs at Independent Research Institutions

August 14, 2014

Division of Research Programs

Enduring Questions

September 11, 2014

Division of Education Programs

Digital Humanities Start-Up Grants

September 11, 2014

Office of Digital Humanities

Documenting Endangered Languages

September 15, 2014

Division of Preservation and Access

Summer Stipends

September 30, 2014

Division of Research Programs

Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections

December 3, 2014

Division of Preservation and Access

Scholarly Editions and Translations Grants

December 9, 2014

Division of Research Programs

Collaborative Research Grants

December 9, 2014

Division of Research Programs

National Digital Newspaper Program

January 15, 2015

Division of Preservation and Access

 


Foundation Opportunities

 

Spencer Foundation Invites Proposals for Education Research Projects

•        http://www.spencer.org/content.cfm/the-new-civics-rfp

•        Deadline: February 6, 2014 for small grants; April 29, 2014 for large grants

•        Amounts: up to $350,000 for large grants; up to $50,000 for small grants

Established in 1962, the Spencer Foundation is dedicated to the belief that research is necessary to the improvement of education. The foundation supports high-quality investigations of education-related topics through its research programs and works to strengthen and renew the educational research community through its fellowship/training programs and related activities.

Through its New Civics initiative, the foundation is accepting research proposals that ask critical questions about how education can more effectively contribute to the civic development of young people. Of special interest are projects designed to improve understanding of the avenues for and impediments to civic learning and civic action among young people who do not attend college, who reside in marginalized communities, who are recent immigrants or immigrants of different legal statuses, or who are less economically privileged.

For grant requests of up to $50,000, proposals must be received no later than February 6, 2014. For projects that require a higher level of funding (up to $350,000), the deadline for preliminary proposals is April 29, 2014.

 

Kenneth Rainin Foundation: Accepting LOI’s for Innovator Awards  : Inflammatory Bowel Disease

•        http://krfoundation.org/health/overview/

•        Deadline:  February 15, 2014

•        Amount: $100,000

This program awards $100,000 grants for one-year proof of principle cutting edge research projects that are potentially transformative to diagnosing, treating and curing Inflammatory Bowel Disease. To learn more and to submit a Letter of Inquiry online, please visit website.

 

Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Invites Grant Applications for Data-Intensive Research Projects

•        http://www.moore.org/programs/science/data-driven-discovery/ddd-investigators

•        Deadline: February 24, 2014 by 5:00 P.M. P.T. (Pre-applications)

•        Amount: up to $1.5Million over 5 yrs

 

The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation is inviting pre-applications for data-driven research projects through its Data-Driven Discovery Initiative, which seeks to advance the practice of data-intensive science and take advantage of the increasing volume, velocity, and variety of scientific data available to spur new discoveries.

 

The goal of the program is to support research by individuals who exemplify multidisciplinary, data-driven science. These innovators are striking out in new directions and are willing to take risks that have the potential to deliver a huge payoff with respect to some aspect of data-intensive science.

Successful applicants must make a strong case for developments in the natural sciences (biology, physics, astronomy, etc.) or science-enabling methodologies (statistics, machine learning, scalable algorithms, etc.); applicants that credibly combine the two are especially encouraged. (Please note: the program does not fund disease research.)

The foundation expects to award about fifteen five-year grants of up to $1.5 million each.

 

Human Frontier Science Program Invites Applications for Innovative Life Science Research

•        http://www.hfsp.org/funding/research-grants/information-and-guidelines

•        Deadline: March 20, 2014 (Registration-required);

•        March 27, 2014 for Letter of Intent (required)

•        Amount: up to $1,350,000 over 3 yrs

 The Human Frontier Science Program, which supports international collaborations in basic life science research, is inviting grant applications in support of innovative approaches to understanding complex mechanisms of living organisms.

HFSP offers two areas of funding — Program grants and Young Investigator grants. Program grants are designed for independent scientists at all stages of their careers, while Young Investigator grants are for members of research teams who are within five years of establishing an independent laboratory and within ten years of obtaining their Ph.D.s. Both provide three years of support for two- to four- member teams, with no more than one member from any one country (unless that is critical for the innovative nature of the project). Applicants are expected to develop novel lines of research distinct from their ongoing research.

Awards are dependent on team size; successful teams will receive up to $450,000 per year. The principal applicant must be located in one of the HFSP member countries, but co-investigators may be located in any country.

Once applicants are registered and receive a reference number, they must submit Letters of Intent by March 27, 2014. Applicants will be notified in July 2014 whether they are invited to submit a full application, which will be due in September 2014.

 

ASPB Plant Biology Learning Objectives, Outreach Materials & Education Grant

•        https://bloome.aspb.org/

•        Deadline: April 15, 2014

•        Amount: up to $50,000

 

The ASPB Education Foundation is accepting proposals from members of the American Society of Plant Biologists for education and outreach activities that advance knowledge and appreciation of plant biology.

 

In the past, ASPB’s plant biology education grants were capped at $30,000. This year, grants of up to $50,000 will be awarded to support education and outreach projects that enrich and promote youth, student, and general public understanding of the importance of plants. Projects can cover a wide range of concepts, including the use of plants for sustainable production of medicine, food, fibers, and fuels; the critical role plants play in sustaining functional ecosystems in changing environments; the latest developments in plant biotechnologies, including genetic modifications that improve the quality and disease- and stress-resistance of crops; discoveries made in plants that have led to improved human health and well-being; and careers related to plant biology.

 

To be eligible, the project's manager must be a current member of ASPB. Applications will be accepted beginning February 1, 2014.  Winning projects must spend all grant funds by September 1, 2014; in special cases, an extension of this deadline will be considered if requested by August 1, 2014.

 

William T. Grant Foundation Invites Applications for Youth Social Setting Research Projects

·         http://www.wtgrantfoundation.org/funding_opportunities/research_grants/social-settings

·         Deadline: May 6, 2014 by 3:00 P.M. E.S.T. (Letters of Inquiry)

·         Amount: up to $600,000

The William T. Grant Foundation is accepting applications from organizations looking to understand how youth settings work, how they affect youth development, and how they can be improved.

Grants of up to $600,000 will be awarded for research projects that address theory, policy, and/or practice affecting the settings of youth between the ages of 8 and 25 in the United States. Social settings are defined as the social environments in which youth experience daily life. This includes environments with clear boundaries such as classrooms, schools, and youth-serving organizations, as well as those with less prescribed boundaries such as neighborhoods or other settings in which youth interact with peers, family members, and other adults.

 

 


Slides from Lewis-Burke (Funding Consultants)

 

PowerPoint slides used by Lewis-Burke in January with info on various federal funding agencies are available at

 

http://research.ucr.edu/OrApps/VCR/Presentations/LewisBurke/Default.aspx

 

The titles of the slides are below

 

 


USDA: Bad News, Good News

 

The bad news is that UCR  is not yet one of the top 100 universities in federal funding.

 

The good news, is that given our Hispanic and Asian-American student population, UCR is eligible for what USDA calls strengthening grants.

 

Strengthening Grant Types

Investigators are encouraged to contact the Program Area Priority Contact for the appropriate program area priority, regarding suitability of project topics to verify that their submission is appropriate to the program area priority. For Equipment Grants, investigators are also encouraged to contact the appropriate Program Area Priority Contact regarding appropriateness of requested equipment for topics within program area priority requirements

 

b) Equipment Grants

Intended to help fund items of equipment that will upgrade infrastructure. Requests for computer equipment are allowed only if the equipment is to be used in an activity integral to the proposed project. Requests for computer equipment will not be permitted if the equipment will primarily serve as a word processor or perform administrative functions.

Each request shall be limited to one major piece of equipment within the cost range of $10,000-$250,000 and are not renewable.

 

For Equipment Grants: The amount of Federal funds provided may not exceed 50 percent of the cost of the equipment acquired using funds from the grant, or $50,000, whichever is less. Grantees are required to match 100 percent of Federal funds awarded from non-Federal sources.

 

. . .

c) Seed Grants

Seed Grants are to provide funds to enable investigators to collect preliminary data or perform other preliminary activities in preparation for applying for future grants from AFRI. The grants are not intended to fund stand-alone projects, but rather projects that will lead to further work applicable to one of the AFRI Program Areas. Seed Grant applications proposing an Integrated Project only need to include one of the three functions (research, education, extension) and justify how this Seed Grant will allow the applicant to become competitive for future Integrated Project funding.

Seed Grants are limited to a total of $150,000 (including indirect costs) for two year duration and are not renewable.

d) Strengthening Standard Grants

Standard Grant applications that meet the eligibility requirements for Strengthening Grants are eligible for reserved strengthening funds as a Strengthening Standard Grant. The eligibility requirements only apply to the lead PD and are not required for co-PD(s) associated with the project.

e) Strengthening Conference Grants

Conference Grant applications that meet the eligibility requirements for Strengthening Grants are eligible for reserved strengthening funds as a Strengthening Conference Grant. The eligibility requirements only apply to the lead PD and are not required for co-PD(s) associated with the project.

=========

 

Note: Following are 6 program areas, each with several  program area priorities.

 

Program Area Priorities – Each application must address one of the following six Program Area Priorities:

 

1. Plant Breeding for Agricultural Production

 

Program Area Priority Code – A1141

Program Area Priority Contact – Dr. Ann Marie Thro (202) 401-6702 or athro@nifa.usda.gov

Plant breeding is a foundational element for sustainable food production.

This priority is focused on public breeding efforts to improve crop yield, efficiency, quality and/or adaptation to diverse agricultural systems and includes:

• Pre-breeding and germplasm enhancement, cultivar development, selection theory, applied quantitative genetics, and participatory breeding;

• Development of tools to predict phenotype from genotype to accelerate breeding of finished varieties; or

• Conference grants to identify regional needs for plant breeding research, education or extension.

 

Other Program Area Priority Requirements for Plant Breeding for Agricultural Production:

• Research that incorporates training of field-based plant breeders is encouraged.

• Plant breeders are encouraged to submit applications.

• Applications to Program Area Priority, Plant Breeding for Agricultural Production (A1141) must provide a description and budgeted plan for the release of research results (e.g., data, germplasm, cultivars, genetic resources) that is compliant with the terms and conditions that govern USDA NIFA funded projects in the areas of plant breeding, genetics and genomics, especially page 5 (Genetic Resources from Outside of the U.S); pages 6-8 (Patents and Inventions including Plant Variety Protection); and pages 10-12 (Release of Animal or Plant Genome Sequence Data and Distribution of Animal or Plant Genomic Resources, and the Release or Distribution of Plant Germplasm). Terms and conditions can be found at: www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/rtc/agencyspecifics/nifa_413.pdf

 

 

2. Plant Growth and Development, Composition and Stress Tolerance

 

Program Area Priority Code – A1101

Program Area Priority Contact – Dr. Liang-Shiou Lin (202) 401-5045 or llin@nifa.usda.gov

Molecular, biochemical, cellular and whole-plant approaches to:

• Understanding how plant growth and development affect plant productivity;

• Improving plant composition and nutritional quality; or

• Understanding mechanisms of plant response to abiotic stresses.

 

NOTE: Biotechnological approaches addressing these problems may be appropriate for this program area priority. Investigators interested in the mechanisms of plant responses to biotic stresses should consider submitting to the Understanding Plant-Associated Microorganisms and Plant-Microbe Interactions (A1121) or the Plant-Associated Insects and Nematodes (A1111) Program Area Priorities.

 

3. Photosynthetic Efficiency and Nutrient Utilization in Agricultural Plants

 

Program Area Priority Code – A1151

Program Area Priority Contact – Dr. Shing Kwok (202) 401-6060 or skwok@nifa.usda.gov

Molecular, biochemical, cellular and whole-plant approaches to:

• Increasing plant productivity through studies of carbon assimilation, source-sink relationship, and photosynthetic efficiency; or

• Improving nutrient (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus) uptake, assimilation, accumulation, and/or utilization through studies in crops or studies of plant-microbe interactions.

 

4. Understanding Plant-Associated Microorganisms and Plant-Microbe Interactions

 

Program Area Priority Code – A1121

Program Area Priority Contact – Dr. Ann Lichens-Park (202) 401-6460 or apark@nifa.usda.gov

This priority area supports projects on mechanisms of plant-microbe interactions, communication within microbial populations, communication between plants and microbes, and studies of epidemiological characteristics of agriculturally important microbes. Proposals may focus on fungi, oomycetes, bacteria, viruses and/or the plants associated with them. Systems studied must be strongly justified in terms of relevance to agriculture. However, proposals focusing solely or largely on model plants, such as Arabidopsis, are not appropriate for this program. The program encourages use of functional genomics approaches.

Research focus areas must include one or more of the following:

• Elucidation of molecular mechanisms used by microorganisms to interact with plant hosts and/or with other microorganisms associated with plants. Applications may address pathogenic and/or beneficial interactions. Interactions addressed may be physical interactions, such as mechanisms used by microbial effector proteins to enter plant hosts and/or chemical interactions, such as chemical signaling;

• Elucidation of molecular mechanisms used by plants to respond to or interact with microorganisms; or

• Studies examining epidemiological factors that influence disease spread.

 

NOTE: Studies of plant-microbe interactions that improve plant nutrient uptake or utilization are not appropriate for this program area priority; these projects should be submitted to Program Area Priority, Plant Photosynthetic Efficiency and Nutrient Utilization (A1151).

 

5. Controlling Weedy and Invasive Plants

Program Area Priority Code – A1131

Program Area Priority Contact – Dr. Michael Bowers (202) 401-4510 or mbowers@nifa.usda.gov10

This priority area supports projects that focus on compelling scientific questions underlying current issues in weed and invasive plant management in crops, managed forests and rangeland including:

• Ecological processes related to biocontrol and/or integrated pest management;

• The evolution, spread and mitigation of herbicide resistance based on an understanding of ecological fitness and gene flow; or

• Other ecological or evolutionary studies that would inform weed management strategies, including links between agronomic practices and weed problems.

 

6. Plant-Associated Insects and Nematodes

Program Area Priority Code – A1111

Program Area Priority Contacts – Dr. Mary Purcell-Miramontes (202) 401-5168 or mpurcell@nifa.usda.gov

This priority area supports projects to increase fundamental and applied knowledge of biological and environmental processes that affect the abundance and spread of plant-associated pest and beneficial insects or nematodes in agricultural systems (including managed forests and rangelands). Research on factors associated with the decline of insect pollinators, disruption of natural enemies, and development of solutions to mitigate these problems is particularly emphasized. While realizing the value of discovery-oriented research, this priority area will emphasize hypothesis-driven research. Projects that include an evaluation of pest or pollinator management are strongly encouraged to include an economic analysis.

Research focus areas must include one or more of the following:

• Interactions of insects or nematodes with other insects or nematodes, plants or microbes. Both organismal and molecular level approaches are appropriate;

• Mechanisms of plant response to insects or nematodes. Elucidation of signaling mechanisms between plants and insects or nematodes are encouraged; or

• Fundamental research that leads to biologically-based pest management approaches to managing insects and nematodes (systems level research may be considered).

 

NOTE: Projects in this priority area may develop integrated pest management or other ecologically-based management programs (either in the short or long term). Projects on pests of livestock or nuisance pests in urban systems are not supported by this program area priority.

Other Program Area Key Information applicable to ALL Plant Health and Production and Plant Products priority areas 1-6:

• All applications must adhere to the requirements beginning in Part IV.

• Applications from, and collaborations with, small to mid-sized institutions, minority-serving institutions, and/or EPSCoR states are strongly encouraged.

 

2. Animal Health and Production and Animal Products

Background

Animal production and health play critical roles in the sustainability and competitiveness of U.S. agriculture. They contribute significantly to the nation’s economy, global food production and food security. Our competitiveness depends on understanding the critical biological and physiological mechanisms underlying nutrition, growth, reproduction, and health in livestock, poultry, equine, and aquaculture species. Research at the genetic, genomic, molecular, cellular and organ systems levels is essential. We need to expand our knowledge using basic and applied research to reduce production and health costs, enhance nutritional quality of animal products, and minimize environmental impacts. This information is required to develop better management strategies for both conventional and organic production systems to improve production efficiency and animal well-being, enhance animal health, and develop improved animal products for human use. These strategies may include the application of biotechnology, conventional breeding, and breed development. 11

The AFRI Animal Health and Production and Animal Products program area addresses the following priorities within the 2008 Farm Bill: B. Animal Health and Production and Animal Products - Animal systems (subpriorities i. aquaculture; ii. cellular and molecular basis of animal reproduction, growth, disease, and health; iii. animal biotechnology; iv. conventional breeding, including breed development, selection theory, applied quantitative genetics, breeding for improved food quality, breeding for improved local adaptation to biotic stress and abiotic stress, and participatory breeding; v. identification of genes responsible for improved production traits and resistance to disease; vi. improved nutritional performance of animals; vii. improved nutrient qualities of animal products and uses; and viii. the development of new and improved animal husbandry and production systems that take into account production efficiency, animal well-being, and animal systems applicable to aquaculture).

The Animal Health and Production and Animal Products program area directly aligns with the Research, Education, and Economics Action Plan (www.ree.usda.gov/ree/news/USDA_REE_Action_Plan_02-2012_2.pdf) and specifically addresses: Goal 1. Local and Global Food Supply and Security; Goal 2. Responding to Climate and Energy Needs; and, Goal 3. Sustainable Use of Natural Resources.

In FY 2014, AFRI invites Research Project applications that support Standard, Conference and FASE Grant types relevant to the seven priority areas of the Animal Health and Production and Animal Products Program Area described below.

Additionally in FY 2014, NIFA has partnered with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) of the United Kingdom (UK) for a new priority area to solicit Collaborative Standard research applications in two areas: Animal Health and Disease; and, Veterinary Immune Reagents. The goal of this pilot partnership is to leverage fiscal, physical and intellectual resources to facilitate coordinated research that addresses high impact diseases and animal health issues relevant to stakeholders in both countries. The UK component of the US-UK Collaborative Project will be funded under the umbrella of the Living With Environmental Change (LWEC) partnership (www.lwec.org.uk) and the Global Food Security Programme (www.foodsecurity.ac.uk).

Letter of Intent Deadline – February 27, 2014 (5:00 p.m. ET); see Part IV, A for instructions

Program Area e-mail for Submission of Letter of Intent – animals@nifa.usda.gov

Application Deadline – May 1, 2014 (5:00 p.m. ET)

Total Program Funds – Approximately $18 million

Proposed Budget Requests –

• Standard Grants must not exceed $500,000 total (including indirect costs) for project periods of up to 5 years.

• Conference, and Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants must adhere to the guidelines outlined beginning in Part II, D. 3.

• Requests exceeding the budgetary guidelines will not be reviewed.

 

Program Area Priorities – Each application must address one of the following seven Program Area Priorities:

1. Animal Reproduction

 

Program Area Priority Code – A1211

Program Area Priority Contact – Dr. Mark Mirando (202) 401-4336 or mmirando@nifa.usda.gov

Cellular, molecular, genomic/genetic or whole-animal aspects of animal reproduction, especially focusing on:

• Gonadal function (including production, function, and preservation of gametes);

• Hypothalamic-pituitary axis; or

• Embryonic and fetal development (including interaction between the conceptus and its uterine environment).

 

2. Animal Nutrition, Growth and Lactation

 

Program Area Priority Code – A1231

Program Area Priority Contact – Dr. Steven Smith (202) 401-6134 or sismith@nifa.usda.gov12

Cellular, molecular, genomic/genetic or whole-animal aspects of nutrition, growth and lactation, especially focusing on:

• Nutrient utilization and efficiency;

• Innovative approaches to feed formulation or use of novel alternative feedstuffs; or

• Improving the quality and efficiency of producing meat, milk, eggs, and animal fiber.

 

3. Animal Well-Being

Program Area Priority Code – A1251

Program Area Priority Contacts – Dr. Margo Holland, (202) 401-5044 or mholland@nifa.usda.gov and Dr. Peter Johnson (202) 401-1896 or pjohnson@nifa.usda.gov

Evaluation of current management practices and development of new management practices that reduce animal stress and optimize sustainable production efficiency. Areas of focus may include but are not limited to:

• Behavioral and/or physiological methods to objectively measure animal stress and well-being;

• Prevention or alleviation of pain or stress associated with management practices, including stocking density, handling and transportation; or

• Methods of humane slaughter or on-farm euthanasia.

 

NOTE: Proposals that address animal welfare with a significant engineering component such as the design, manufacture, and operation of structures, technologies, machines, processes, and/or systems should be submitted to the Agriculture Systems and Technology Program Area Priority: Engineering, Products, and Processes (A1521).

4. Animal Health and Disease

 

***Also see US-UK Collaborative Project funding opportunity described below in Section 7.***

Program Area Priority Code – A1221

Program Area Priority Contacts – Dr. Margo Holland, (202) 401-5044 or mholland@nifa.usda.gov

and Dr. Peter Johnson (202) 401-1896 or pjohnson@nifa.usda.gov

Cellular, molecular, genomic/genetic or whole-animal aspects of animal health and disease, especially focusing on:

• Maintenance of homeostasis;

• Disease prevention (vaccines, diagnostics, enhanced innate or adaptive immunity, disease resistance or susceptibility, or management); or

• Therapeutic interventions for disease reduction/treatment (including alternatives to current antimicrobial treatments).

 

5. Tools and Resources - Animal Breeding, Genetics and Genomics

 

Program Area Priority Code – A1201

Program Area Priority Contact – Dr. Lakshmi Kumar Matukumalli (202) 401-1766 or lmatukumalli@nifa.usda.gov

Development of community genetic and genomic resources and tools including software, experimental protocol/methods for breeding, advancing basic biology and applied animal health and nutritional focus such as:

• Improvement of genome assembly and annotation;

• Discovery and analysis of genetic diversity within and across breeds or populations (e.g., detection of signatures of selection);

• Application of genome-wide methods for identification of gene regulatory regions;

• Novel quantitative genetics methods including selection theory and modeling;

• User-friendly web interfaces and data visualization tools having knowledge exchange capabilities between federated databases within and across species; or

• Development of cyber-infrastructure tools, that will benefit agricultural animals through customization and addition of new software tools, for genotype-phenotype associations from

 

analysis of large-scale sequence and/or genotype data, databases, and user-friendly web-interface.

 

NOTE: The emphasis of this program area priority is on the development of tools and resources. Applications that assess genome variation (e.g., selecting within a breed for a specific trait of interest) and relevance to function and phenotype for improved animal production or health, conventional animal breeding, breed development, or applied quantitative genetics should be directed to Program Area Priorities 1, 2, 3, or 4 identified above.

6. Tools and Resources - Veterinary Immune Reagents

 

***Also see US-UK Collaborative Project funding opportunity described below in Section 7.***

Program Area Priority Code – A1223

Program Area Priority Contacts – Dr. Peter Johnson (202) 401-1896 or pjohnson@nifa.usda.gov and Dr. Margo Holland, (202) 401-5044 or mholland@nifa.usda.gov

Development of publicly accessible immunological reagents for agriculturally-relevant animal species. Applicants must:

• Address one of the following five species groups (ruminants: primary focus on bovine; swine; poultry; equine; or, aquaculture: primary focus on catfish and salmonids). Applications should clearly outline the methods that the project team will use to determine the US immunology research communities’ highest priority needs for the species;

• Describe a strong management and implementation plan that includes standard operating procedures and addresses the following: quality control and quality assurance of developed reagents to ensure sensitivity and specificity; distribution and maintenance of the developed reagents, including a mechanism to avoid future reagent loss that guarantees the sustainability of developed reagents;

• All reagents must be made publicly available, reasonably priced, and readily accessible; and

• Describe how the project management structure will connect with principal national stakeholders and/or partners for the particular species group (such as through an Advisory Committee, etc.); international linkages are encouraged, when appropriate. Strong linkages with the larger community will help assure a high degree of accountability for community needs; synergies are facilitated and unnecessary duplication can be avoided.

 

Program Area Priority Additional Information:

• Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact one of the Program Area Priority Contacts prior to submission of letter of intent.

• A maximum of one award per species is anticipated for a maximum total of five awards. If an award is made in FY 2014 for a species, that species will not be eligible for a second immune reagent award from the FY 2015 RFA.

• To foster mutual learning and synergies among projects, AFRI will facilitate networking among species awardees each year through one Project Director meeting at a location to be determined and three video conferences. Each award team will share their progress to date (e.g., timeline metrics, including any ongoing challenges and those solved) and next steps, and also consider collaboration opportunities among one or more award teams for mutual benefit.

. . .

 

3. Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health

Background

Human health is significantly affected by the safety, quality, and nutritive value of food. Knowledge generated from this program will enhance the microbial, physical, and chemical safety of foods, and provide information on the function and efficacy of foods, nutrients, and other bioactive components in promoting health. In addition, knowledge generated will improve processing, packaging and storage technologies to enhance the safety, quality and shelf life of foods. This knowledge will improve our understanding of human behaviors and how they are influenced by economic and other incentives in ways that enhance the safety, quality, and nutrient value of the food supply.

The AFRI Food Safety, Nutrition and Health program area addresses the following priorities within the 2008 Farm Bill: C. Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health - Nutrition, food safety and quality, and health (subpriorities i. microbial contaminants and pesticide residues relating to human health; ii. links between diet and health; iii. bioavailability of nutrients; iv. postharvest physiology and practices; and v. improved processing technologies).

The AFRI Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health program area directly aligns with the Research, Education, and Economics Action Plan (www.ree.usda.gov/ree/news/USDA_REE_Action_Plan_02-2012_2.pdf). It specifically addresses: Goal 1. Local and Global Food Security Chain; Goal 4. Nutrition and Childhood Obesity; and Goal 5. Food Safety.

In FY 2014, AFRI invites Research Project applications for Standard, Conference, and FASE Grant types relevant to the three priority areas of the Food Safety, Nutrition and Health Program Area described below.

Letter of Intent Deadline – February 18, 2014 (5:00 p.m. ET); see Part IV, A for instructions

Program Area e-mail for Submission of Letter of Intent – foodnutrition@nifa.usda.gov18

Application Deadline – May 6, 2014, 2014 (5:00 p.m. ET)

Total Program Funds – Approximately $9 million

Proposed Budget Requests-

• Standard Grants must not exceed $500,000 total (including indirect costs) for project periods of up to 4 years.

• Conference, and Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants must adhere to the guidelines outlined beginning in Part II, D. 3.

• Requests exceeding the budgetary guidelines will not be reviewed.

 

Program Area Priorities – Each Application must address at least one of the following three Program Area Priorities:

1. Improving Food Safety

 

Program Area Priority Code – A1331

Program Area Priority Contact – Dr. Jeanette Thurston, (202) 720-7166 or jthurston@nifa.usda.gov

• Develop and validate novel concentration and purification methods for the rapid, low-cost, and efficient isolation or capture of viable or infectious human pathogens from foods and/or environmental samples related to food production, harvesting and processing (for example, irrigation and processing water, soil, manure, food contact surfaces). Projects that include the development and validation of methods that are effective in multiple matrices and for multiple pathogens are preferred;

• Identify and characterize emerging or under-researched foodborne hazards (e.g., pathogens, chemicals, microbial toxins, and/or engineered nanoparticles) and develop effective control strategies. Studies to develop control strategies for known foodborne hazards on previously unrecognized food vehicles or on foods that are not commonly associated with a particular foodborne hazard are also encouraged; or

 

Elucidate physical and/or molecular mechanisms that allow foodborne hazards (e.g., pathogens, chemicals, microbial toxins, and/or engineered nanoparticles) to attach onto and/or internalize into fresh and fresh-cut produce, nuts, and/or food contact surfaces associated with produce production and/or processing. Studies that elucidate the fate and/or dissemination of foodborne hazards in and/or on fresh produce, fresh-cut produce, nuts and/or food contact surfaces associated with produce production and/or processing are also encouraged.

Program Area Priority Additional Information:

• The study of multiple hazards is encouraged, where appropriate.

• The study of multiple fresh fruits, vegetables, and/or nuts is encouraged, where appropriate.

• To increase the potential impact of projects addressing the control of emerging hazards, inclusion of animal scientists, food microbiologists, veterinarians, engineers, social scientists, Extension educators, curriculum developers, economists, and others, where appropriate, is encouraged.

• For projects addressing the development of control strategies, identifying and promoting the development of economic and other incentives that lead to behavioral changes that promote food safety is encouraged.

 

2. Improving Food Quality

Program Area Priority Code – A1361

Program Area Priority Contacts – Dr. Jodi Williams, (202) 720-6145 or jwilliams@nifa.usda.gov

Enhance understanding of the physical, chemical, and biological properties of foods and food ingredients. Knowledge gained should be used to:

• Improve the quality, shelf-life, and sensory attributes of food.

• Improve the convenience and nutrient value of food.

• Develop novel (or improve existing) processing and/or packaging technologies that are safe, effective, and affordable.

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Program Area Priority Additional Information:—

• Post-harvest projects that have a food safety component may be submitted, but the primary emphasis must be on improving food quality.

• For projects addressing technology development, identifying and promoting the development of economic and other incentives that lead to behavioral changes that promote food quality is encouraged.

 

3. Function and Efficacy of Foods

 

Program Area Priority Code – A1341

Program Area Priority Contacts – Dr. Deirdra Chester (202) 401-5178 or dnchester@nifa.usda.gov.

Improve function and efficacy of foods, nutrients and/or other dietary bioactive components in promoting health.

• Applications should focus on the role of bioactive components in food in preventing inflammation or promoting gastrointestinal health. Justification must be provided for the relationship of the component(s) being studied to human health outcomes. Priority will be given to projects that use a whole food approach or that address health effects of a combination of two or more bioactive components found in food.

 

Program Area Priority Additional Information:

• Support will not be provided for research on the development of dietary supplements, research on dietary therapies for existing disease, or for the establishment, expansion, or maintenance of dietary databases. Surveys of the nutritional status of population groups are not acceptable for this program.

 

Other Program Area Key Information applicable to ALL Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health priority areas 1-3:

• All applications must adhere to the requirements beginning in Part IV.

• Applications from, and collaborations with, small to mid-sized institutions, minority-serving institutions, and/or EPSCoR states are strongly encouraged.

• Prior to submission, all applicants are encouraged to contact the “Program Area Priority Contact” listed above to discuss whether the project idea addresses the program area priorities.

• While upper limits are placed on grant requests and grant durations, this program area also strongly encourages proposals from investigators, who are in transition to new areas of investigation, particularly high risk/high return proposals that may require lower funding levels or shorter grant periods.

• Applications should consider sustainability issues related to the research being proposed. Sustainable technologies include those that balance the interactions between economic, environmental and social factors, while ensuring productivity levels that address current and future global food demands.

• Conference grants are not limited to the specified program area priorities and may broadly address all topic areas in food safety, food quality and/or nutrition.

 

4. Renewable Energy, Natural Resources, and Environment (RENRE)

 

Background

Healthy agroecosystems and the maintenance of supporting natural resources are essential to the sustained long-term productivity of agricultural goods and services. The sustainability of U.S. agriculture is threatened by the degradation and/or loss of ecosystem services1 through natural processes or anthropogenic (human) interventions such as reduced biological diversity, water and air pollution, and loss of soil quality.

1 Ecosystem services are the benefits to society from agroecosystems including carbon storage, water filtration, and habitat for wildlife and cultural values such as landscape views, and hunting and fishing. Millennium Ecosystem Assessment http://www.unep.org/maweb/en/index.aspx, 2005.20

Agroecosystems includes crop production systems, animal production systems (either intensive or extensive), and pasture, range, and forest lands that are actively managed to provide economic, societal, and environmental benefits for individuals, communities, and society at large. Sustainable management of agroecosystems requires improved understanding of interactions among physical, chemical, and biological processes and their response to changing conditions. It also requires scientific knowledge that integrates the complex interactions between management practices and natural processes in order to anticipate and avoid critical thresholds of irreversible damage or loss.

Research outcomes will model promising agricultural systems that have balanced human social needs2 with natural systems to produce more food in more sustainable ways, and contribute to use-inspired foundational research that adds to the understanding of sustainable production of agroecosystems while retaining needed ecosystems services. Sustainability implies the interactions among—societal, economic, and environmental dimensions working across disciplines, looking long term across multiple scales, understanding responses in terms of resilience and adaptation, and on the synergies among responses. This program anticipates funding projects that reflect diverse spatial and temporal scales across geographic diversity.

The program aligns with the 2012 Research, Education, and Economics Action Plan and specifically addresses Goal 3, Sustainable Use of Natural Resources, Landscape Scale Conservation and Management to: 1) improve fertilizer recommendations, optimize production and environmental goals, as well as management technologies and improved models to evaluate nitrogen’s life cycle for agricultural system needed to enhance crop nitrogen use and to mitigate nitrogen losses, and 2) develop new types of cropping systems and integrated crop-livestock systems that utilize biodiversity and generate a broader set of ecosystem services.

In FY 2014, AFRI invites Research Project applications for Standard, Conference, and FASE Grant types relevant to the two priority areas of the Renewable Energy, Natural Resources and Environment.

Letter of Intent Deadline – March 12, 2014 (5:00 p.m. ET); see Part IV, A for instructions

Program Area e-mail for Submission of Letter of Intent – naturalres@nifa.usda.gov

Application Deadline – June 4, 2014 (5:00 p.m. ET)

Total Program Funds – Approximately $9 million

Proposed Budget Requests

• Standard Research Grants must not exceed $500,000 total (including indirect costs) for project periods of up to 4 years.

• Conference, and Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants must adhere to the guidelines outlined beginning in Part II, D. 3.

• Requests exceeding the budgetary guidelines will not be reviewed.

 

The following Program Area Priorities seek to improve the understanding of fundamental processes and interactions among the economic, environmental, and social pillars of sustainability in actively managed agroecosystems, rangelands, and/or forests.

Program Area Priorities – Each application must address one of the following two Program Area Priorities described below:

1. Nitrogen and Phosphorus Cycling

 

Program Area Priority Code – A1401

Program Area Priority Contacts – Dr. Ray Knighton (202) 401-6417 or rknighton@nifa.usda.gov

This Program Area Priority seeks projects that evaluate the physical and biogeochemical (including microbial) processes affecting the flow, fate and transport, transformation, movement, and storage of nitrogen and phosphorus. There are two priority areas:

• Projects that address management practices and/or processes across soil-air-water interfaces that will lead to substantial improvements in nutrient use efficiency or improvements to impaired natural resources within a managed agroecosystem. Applicants should focus on the interactions between the social and human dimensions with environmental and economic dimensions and must explain how a better understanding of the fundamental processes will help sustain ecosystem services.

 

• Projects will offer foundational research that supports decision-support tools for assessment of ecosystem services like the following: 1) Predictive and/or hind-casting tools to assess control technologies to mitigate nitrogen and phosphorus movement or impairment; or 2) Improve process-based models to analyze nitrogen and phosphorus life cycles in agroecosystems, rangelands, and forests.

 

High-risk/high reward projects should demonstrate a transformative approach to the problem (not an incremental improvement over current practices) while also making a case for feasibility. This program seeks projects that offer new approaches to increasing the efficiency of nitrogen and/or phosphorous assimilation in cropping systems by at least 50% over current levels that may be measured by nutrient use efficiency criteria.

2. Agroecosystem Management

 

Program Area Priority Code – A1451

Program Area Priority Contacts – Dr. Michael Bowers (202) 401-4510 mbowers@nifa.usda.gov and Dr. Jill Auburn (202)-720-2635 jauburn@nifa.usda.gov

This Program Area Priority seeks projects that develop and evaluate innovative agroecosystem management practices and systems for their potential to enhance ecosystem services. There are two priority areas:

• Projects that connect biodiversity specifically as an ecosystem service to production system functionality, productivity, socioeconomic viability, sustainability and the production of other ecosystem services related to air, water, soil, habitat and land use. Biodiversity is defined here in a broad context to include genetic diversity, crop and/or landscape diversity over space and/or time, and/or species diversity in both the managed and unmanaged components of the agroecosystem. The focus can be at the field, farm or landscape level, however, the relevance of the project to management practices and systems must be made very clear.

 

• Agroecosystem projects designed to develop management systems that significantly increase the output and/or value of at least three ecosystem services compared with the current management system for the region. Applicants are expected to select ecosystem services from at least two categories (provisioning, regulating, supporting or cultural) as defined by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment with an explicit estimate of the magnitude of increase expected for each ecosystem service selected. The approach may be genetic, management, technology or a combination.

 

NOTE: Projects that focus primarily on economics should apply instead to the Agricultural Economics and Rural Communities (AERC) Program Area in this solicitation

Other Program Area Key Information applicable to ALL Renewable Energy, Natural Resources and Environment Priorities:

• Applicants may include one or more of the following implementation strategies:

o Long Term Research--The funded projects may partner with research programs and institutions with existing networks that perform “long-term” (10-20 years) research functions

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such as the USDA Long-Term Agroecosystem Research Network (LTAR), NSF Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) or others.

o Data Integration for Decision Making--Projects may focus on organizing and managing large data sets about economic, environment and social factors and their interactions to assess sustainability risk, valuing biodiversity and ecosystem services for landscape planning, and management or to make key policy and on farm decisions. Sources of data might include information from the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, LTAR data, the USDA Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Digital Commons or others.

o Adaptive Management--Project may focus on developing and accessing models and approaches for applying adaptive management strategies for more efficient and faster responses to shifting climate and other unforeseen natural or man-made events that affect agriculture and food production.

• NIFA is requesting applications for conferences/workshops that result in documented synthesis of research and inform future research priorities that may include meta-analysis that emphasizes current and future critical needs. All conferences/workshops are assumed to be offered as a comprehensive consideration of the three pillars of sustainability and interactions among the components. Conferences/workshops might include topics like: science innovation for sustainable agriculture, adaptive management, data management and decision making using the USDA Digital Commons, long-term data for decision making, new research collaborations or Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) through minority serving institutions.

• Research projects may provide students with research fellowships and internships through stipends, tuition, fees, and travel to participate in scientific conferences or workshops or participate in community involvement activities at the P-20 level. These activities may also include an international experience and completion of a 1-3 month cross-disciplinary internship with an industry partner or national laboratory.

• All systems under study must be strongly justified in terms of importance to sustainability.

• All applications must adhere to the requirements beginning in Part IV.

• Applications from, and collaborations with, small to mid-sized institutions, minority-serving institutions (1890, 1994 and HSI), and/or EPSCoR states are strongly encouraged. This program encourages applicants to address strategies that facilitate the adoption of sustainable practices by different groups with different cultural perspectives.

• Collaboration with international partners is encouraged when appropriate; however, applications must be submitted by eligible U.S. institutions.

• Logic models are encouraged and may be useful for clarification of project goals, objectives and expected impacts.

• Letters of intent must identify the specific priority area, sub-priority area, and planned indicators to evaluate success.

 

5. Agriculture Systems and Technology

This Program Area emphasizes the interrelationships between agricultural system components to develop the next generation of engineered systems, products, processes, and technologies. It blends biological, physical, and social sciences. This approach will lead to sustainable, competitive, and innovative solutions for U.S. and global agriculture and food production. Some key disciplinary contributors may include: engineering; agricultural economics; chemistry; microbiology; soil science; animal and plant sciences; veterinary medicine; genetics; social sciences; behavioral sciences; food safety; physics; materials science; and toxicology. To the extent possible, applicants are encouraged to incorporate interdisciplinary sciences. By doing so, projects are more likely to incorporate varying dimensions of sustainability (economic, environmental, and social) and have a greater impact on agricultural problems. The broad list of topics encompassed by this area includes, but is not limited to new uses and products from traditional and nontraditional crops, animals, byproducts, and natural resources; robotics, automation, precision and geospatial technologies, energy efficiency, computing, and expert systems; new hazard and risk assessment and mitigation measures; and water quality and management and irrigation. 23

The Agriculture Systems and Technology program area addresses the following priorities within the 2008 Farm Bill: E. Agriculture Systems and Technology - Engineering products and processes (subpriorities i. new uses and new products from traditional and nontraditional crops, animals, byproducts, and natural resources; ii. robotics, energy, efficiency, computing, and expert systems; iii. new hazard and risk assessment and mitigation measures; and iv. water quality and management).

The Agriculture Systems and Technology program area directly aligns with the Research, Education, and Economics Action Plan (www.ree.usda.gov/ree/news/USDA_REE_Action_Plan_02-2012_2.pdf) and specifically addresses: Goal 1. Local and Global Food Supply and Security and Goal 3. Sustainable Use of Natural Resources.

In FY 2014, AFRI invites Research Project applications for Standard, Conference, and FASE Grant types relevant to the two priority areas of the Agriculture Systems and Technology Program Area described below.

Letter of Intent Deadline- February 5, 2014 (5:00 p.m. ET); see Part IV, A for instructions

Program Area e-mails for Submission of Letter of Intent - epp@nifa.usda.gov for Engineering, Products, and Processes; and nano@nifa.usda.gov for Nanotechnology for Food and Agriculture

Application Deadline: April 9, 2014 (5:00 p.m. ET)

Total Program Funds: Approximately $6 million

Proposed Budget Requests –

• Standard Grants must not exceed $500,000 total (including indirect costs) for project periods of up to 5 years.

• Conference, and Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants must adhere to the guidelines outlined beginning in Part II, D. 3.

• Requests exceeding the budgetary guidelines will not be reviewed.

 

Program Area Priorities – Each Application must address at least one of the following two Program Area Priorities:

1. Engineering, Products, and Processes

 

Program Area Priority Code – A1521

Program Area Priority Contacts – Dr. Daniel Schmoldt (202) 720-4807 or dschmoldt@nifa.usda.gov and Ms. Charlotte Kirk Baer (202) 720-5280 or cbaer@nifa.usda.gov

This Program Area Priority focuses on engineering, products, and processes to improve agriculturally relevant plant, animal, forestry, and natural resource systems. Applications must have a significant engineering component. Engineering is defined as the application of scientific and mathematical principles to practical ends such as the design, manufacture, and operation of efficient and economical structures, technologies, machines, processes, and systems. Some broad research emphasis areas include (but are not limited to):

• Enable engineering, computing, and information systems for forestry and natural resources or for plant and animal production, processing, and distribution;

• Improve the efficiency of energy and water use;

• Minimize and/or utilize waste and byproducts generated in agricultural and food systems;

• Develop and test risk assessment and mitigation measures to reduce hazards to agricultural workers; and

• Refine the sustainability of agricultural and forestry systems that balance economic, environmental, and social outcomes.

 

NOTE: Applications that deal with improving food quality, safety, or nutritional value should be submitted to the Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health Program Area in this solicitation.

2. Nanotechnology for Agricultural and Food Systems

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Program Area Priority Code – A1511

Program Area Priority Contacts – Dr. Hongda Chen (202) 401-6497 or hchen@nifa.usda.gov and

and Dr. Mervalin Morant (202) 401-6602 or mmorant@nifa.usda.gov

Nanoscale science, engineering, and technology embrace opportunities in a broad range of critical challenges facing agriculture and food systems. This Priority Area encourages applications in the following broad areas: innovative ideas and fundamental sciences to develop nanotechnology enabled solutions for food security through improved productivity, quality, and biodiversity; improved nutritional value of feeds and more effective therapies that significantly impact animal health and wellness; enhanced food safety and biosecurity; and increased protection for natural resources, the environment, and agricultural ecosystems. The Program Area Priority scope includes, but is not limited to:

• Novel uses and high value-added products of nano-biomaterials of agricultural and forest origins for food and non-food applications; [Applications involving intentional addition of nanoparticles or nanostructured materials into foods for human consumption will not be solicited this year.]

• Nanoscale-based sensing mechanisms and smart sensors for reliable and cost-effective early detection of insects, diseases, pathogens, chemicals, and contaminants;

• Monitoring physiological biomarkers for optimal crop or animal productivity and health;

• Minimally invasive field survey tools for agricultural production;

• Precision agriculture technologies including applications of agricultural chemicals and water resources;

• Assessment and analysis of the perceptions and social acceptance of nanotechnology and nano-based food or non-food products by the public and agriculture and food stakeholders, using appropriate social science tools; and

• Discovery and characterization of nanoscale phenomena, processes, and structures relevant to agriculture and food.

 

To ensure responsible development and deployment of nanotechnology and reap the benefits, applications should consider incorporating proper risk assessment studies as appropriate. These may include characterization of hazards and exposure levels, transport and fate of nanoparticles or nanomaterials in crops, soils (and soil biota), and livestock. This may also include animal feed formulations and processes that utilize novel materials or develop new nanostructured materials or nanoparticles that are bio-persistent in digestive pathways. Finally, all the applications, especially those with potential commercial impact, are encouraged to include economic analyses of anticipated benefits to agriculture, food, and society.

Nanotechnology is defined by the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) as “…the understanding and control of matter at dimensions between approximately 1 and 100 nanometers, where unique phenomena enable applications. Encompassing nanoscale science, engineering and technology, nanotechnology involves imaging, measuring, modeling and manipulating matter at this length scale” (http://nano.gov/). This program area priority encourages new platforms of nanotechnology in the area of higher order assembled systems, and more complex systems that include the exploitation of bio-nano interfaces, hybrid bio-inorganic systems, systems biology, and synthetic biology.

NOTE: Applications specifically dealing with engineered nanoparticles to attach onto and/or internalize into fresh and fresh-cut produce, including nuts, should be submitted to the Improving Food Safety priority (A1331) of the Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health Program Area in this RFA.

Other Program Area Key Information applicable to ALL Agricultural Systems and Technology priorities 1-2:

• While this Program Area encourages conference grant applications on any topic related to the program area priorities above, this program area is particularly interested in conference/workshop applications that bring together stakeholders, researchers, extension specialists, and technology providers to develop a roadmap for developing and delivering the next generation of agricultural technologies, including but not limited to precision agriculture, information management, and nanotechnology. These technologies

25

 

should be smarter, more user friendly, and readily adapt to a wide variety of crops and producers (including smaller-scale and limited-resource) and their unique applications (with little modification) in support of sustainable production practices and systems.

• This program area is particularly interested in conference/workshop applications that bring together stakeholders, researchers, extension specialists, educators, and technology providers to advance understanding and application of transformative systems approaches to enhance agricultural and food system sustainability. By “transformative systems” we mean those that offer major and synergistic advances toward the multiple goals of sustainability—productivity, profitability, environmental and social dimensions. A conference/workshop should bring together state-of-the-art knowledge on how to identify and assess transformative systems agriculture, advance the science involved, and produce a summary of its conclusions for publication and other distribution. This program area encourages applicants to draw from knowledge of systems science and transformational change in fields outside of agriculture, but with a focus on their application to agricultural and food systems.

• All applications must adhere to the requirements beginning in Part IV.

• Applications from, and collaborations with, small to mid-sized institutions, minority-serving institutions, and/or EPSCoR states are strongly encouraged.

• Applicant must describe the potential of the proposed work to support or achieve substantial gains in efficiencies of production; the probability that the application of technology will resolve constraints or result in positive impacts; and potential outcomes in terms of expected social and environmental benefits of research (see Part I, B). Both transformative and incremental solutions are encouraged.

• Where applicable, indicate plans to show adequate statistical rigor, including sample size justification.

• Provide a plan to disseminate or publicize results to the public in a timely manner.

• Applicants are also encouraged to consider the National Robotics Initiative interagency program. Additional information can be found under Part I, B.

 

6. Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities (AERC)

Background

The agricultural and forestry sectors increasingly face major economic, environmental and social challenges while sustaining agricultural production for a growing worldwide population. To address the challenges of increasing agricultural production and a sustainable production system while enhancing the quality of life in rural areas, continued research and the development of innovative ideas, strategies and new technologies are needed.

The agricultural economy and rural communities face a complex set of challenges due to significant demographic changes, sparse settlement patterns, geographic isolation, and often a subordinate relationship to urban centers. Understanding the dynamics of the critical social, economic, and environmental systems that underlie rural communities is fundamental to addressing their growth, sustainability, and resilience. The challenges are multi-faceted and complex and to adequately assess and understand them we need to consider social, behavioral, economic, physical, environmental, institutional, and other factors contributing to or arising from these challenges. Given the opportunities and challenges, the primary goal of this priority area is to promote economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable agriculture and resilient rural communities

This AERC Program Area supports projects involving rigorous research and analysis that improves the sustainability of agricultural and related activities in rural areas, protects the environment, enhances quality of life, and alleviates poverty. Topical issues include, but are not limited to, the interactions between agriculture, environment and communities in rural areas; demographic changes and impacts; consumer preferences or behavior; decision-making under uncertainty; market structure and performance; policy design and impact; or agriculture’s impact on the environment. The AERC Program Area primarily supports social and behavioral science disciplines such as economics, sociology, political science, history, geography and others. Interdisciplinary efforts involving social and nonsocial science disciplines are also invited. Domestic and international partnerships that leverage 26

resources and are mutually beneficial to the applicant, other U.S. states, or other countries are encouraged.

The AERC Program Area will support two types of project applications in the support of social science research: a) research projects that broadly address aspects of (1) Economics, Markets and Trade, or (2) Environmental and Natural Resource Economics and Policy; and b) integrated projects, (project components must include at least two of the following: research, education or extension), which address issues related (1) Small and Medium-sized Farms, (2) Entrepreneurship, Technology and Innovation Policy, or (3) Rural Families, Communities and Regional Development.

The AERC Program Area addresses the following priorities within the 2008 Farm Bill: D. Renewable Energy, Natural Resources, and Environment – Natural resources and environment (subpriorities ii. biological and physical bases of sustainable production system; and v. forestry); and F. Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities – Markets, trade and policy (subpriorities i. strategies for entering into and being competitive in domestic and overseas markets; ii. farm efficiency and profitability, including the viability and competitiveness of small and medium-sized dairy, livestock, crop and other commodity operations; iii. new decision tools for farm and market systems; iv. choices and application of technology; v. technology assessment; and vi. new approaches to rural development, including rural entrepreneurship).

The AFRI AREC program area directly aligns with the Research, Education, and Economics Action Plan (www.ree.usda.gov/ree/news/USDA_REE_Action_Plan_02-

2012_2.pdf) and specifically addresses: Goal 1. Local and Global Food Supply and Security by developing and transferring knowledge and skills that promote sustainable agricultural systems locally, regionally, and globally for all types of agriculture production systems, thereby enhancing domestic and international food security and strengthening American agriculture; and Goal 7. Rural-Urban Interdependence and Prosperity by providing effective research, education, and extension that inform public and private decision making in support of rural and community development.

In FY 2014, AFRI invites Integrated and Research Project applications for Standard, Conference, and FASE Grant types relevant to the five priority areas of the Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities Program Area described below.

Letter of Intent Deadline – February 19, 2014 (5:00 p.m. ET); see Part IV, A for instructions

Program Area e-mail for Submission of Letter of Intent – EMT@nifa.usda.gov for Economics, Markets and Trade, A1641; ENRE@nifa.usda.gov for Environmental and Natural Resource Economics, A1651; SMF@nifa.usda.gov for Small and Medium-Sized Farms, A1601; ETI@nifa.usda.gov for Entrepreneurship, Technology and Innovation, A1621; and RCRD@nifa.usda.gov for Rural Communities and Regional Development, A1631.

Application Deadline – April 28, 2014 (5:00 p.m. ET)

Total Program Funds – Approximately $10 million Proposed Budget Requests –

• Standard Grants must not exceed $500,000 total (including indirect costs) for project periods of up to 5 years.

• Conference, and Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants must adhere to the guidelines outlined beginning in Part II, D. 3.

• Requests exceeding the budgetary guidelines will not be reviewed

 

Program Area Priorities for Research Projects – Applicants must address one of the following two Program Area Priorities:

(NOTE: Refer to Part II, C and Part III, A for Research Project Type definitions and eligibility information).

1. Economics, Markets and Trade

Program Area Priority Code – A1641 27

Program Area Priority Contact – Dr. Robbin Shoemaker (202) 720-5468 or rshoemaker@nifa.usda.gov and Dr. Fen Hunt (202) 720-4114 or fhunt@nifa.usda.gov

This priority research area encourages the development of theories, methods and applications of economic and other social science disciplines. This Priority Area encourages applications in the following broad areas: agricultural market structure and performance in the supply chain; international trade; production and resource use; consumer behavior and behavioral economics; farm labor markets and immigration and policy; agricultural policy design and impacts; technology development and adoption; and science and innovation policy. The Program Area Priority scope includes, but is not limited to:

• Examine the economic impacts of local markets on food supply, demand and quality.

• Strategies and models of coexistence of multiple crop technologies throughout the supply chain.

• The role of behavioral economics or mechanism design in nutrition and food safety and other public policy issues.

• The design, evaluation, and impact of various policies, e.g., food, agricultural, environmental, rural, science.

• Understanding the economics of food waste and loss within the supply chain, i.e., processing, transportation, marketing, and consumption and the design of incentive mechanism to minimize losses.

• Social, behavioral and economic sources and barriers to productivity growth, including incentives for collaboration between the public and private sectors for advancing food, agricultural and environmental sciences.

• Novel approaches to measuring scientific effort, impacts and outcomes for effective quantitative and qualitative research evaluation.

 

2. Environmental and Natural Resource Economics

Program Area Priority Code – A1651

Program Area Priority Contact – Dr. Robbin Shoemaker (202) 720-5468 or rshoemaker@nifa.usda.gov and Dr. Fen Hunt (202) 720-4114 or fhunt@nifa.usda.gov

This priority area examines the interrelationship of natural resources, the environment with agricultural and rural communities. Research projects funded through this priority will advance theories, methods and applications that contribute to understanding an ecological approach to agriculture that embraces production and sustainable resource management simultaneously. This priority area also provides coordination with the Renewable Energy, Natural Resources, and Environment (RENRE) Program Area in this solicitation. Research topics include but are not limited to:

• Impacts or implications of agriculture, resource conservation and management.

• Conservation and environmental policies affecting agriculture and rural communities.

• Urbanization and land use change.

• The economics of water resource management.

• Methodological advances in non-market valuation and valuation of ecosystem services.

• Incentive mechanisms and policies designed to promote resource conservation.

 

Program Area Priorities for Integrated Projects – Applicants must address one of the following three Program Area Priorities:

(NOTE: Refer to Part II, C and Part III, A for Integrated Project Type definitions and eligibility information).

3. Small and Medium-Sized Farms

Program Area Priority Code – A1601 29

Program Area Priority Contact – Dr. Denis Ebodaghe (202) 720-4385 or debodaghe@nifa.usda.gov; and Dr. Jill Auburn (202)-720-2635 or jauburn@nifa.usda.gov

This Program Area Priority focuses on work to develop and/or adopt new disciplinary or multidisciplinary models to assist agricultural (farm, forest, or ranch) landowner decision making with respect to appropriate scale management strategies and technologies to enhance economic efficiency and sustainability, including the viability and competitiveness of small and medium sized dairy, poultry, livestock, crop, forestry, and other commodity operations. The Program Area Priority scope includes, but is not limited to:

• Evaluate and implement strategies to enhance access to markets by small and mid-sized farms.

• Research and develop effective strategies to aid in the development of efficient local and regional food systems.

• Assess the impacts of changes in input costs and markets, including farm labor (and immigration policies), credit, microfinance, and insurance markets (including healthcare), on farm entry, transition, and economic viability and in turn, implement programs to assist beginning, small and medium-sized farms.

• Examine and undertake outreach activities regarding private and public options or strategies that can inform relevant public policy to enhance small and mid-sized farm well-being.

 

4. Entrepreneurship, Technology and Innovation

Program Area Priority Code – A1621

Program Area Priority Contact – Dr. Jill Auburn (202)-720-2635 or jauburn@nifa.usda.gov; and Dr. Denis Ebodaghe (202) 720-4385 or debodaghe@nifa.usda.gov

This Program Area Priority is designed to promote research, education and or extension activities to enhance economic opportunity and well-being of entrepreneurs in rural communities, beyond the farm-gate. Projects will enhance the development of rural entrepreneurship; enhance the technology transfer from colleges, universities and other research laboratories to rural manufacturers. The emphasis areas of this Program Area Priority include, but are not limited to:

• Developing new and creative economic or social opportunities for rural community vitality, including technology adoption, microfinancing, innovative business opportunities and strategies (e.g., to promote agro-tourism, arts, and e-commerce).

• Identifying or evaluating the implications and impact of small business development strategies to promote sustainability of small and medium-sized farms and rural communities.

• Developing enhanced means for transferring new knowledge and innovations from the lab to the entrepreneur.

 

5. Rural Communities and Regional Development

Program Area Priority Code – A1631

Program Area Priority Contact – – Dr. Jill Auburn (202)-720-2635 or jauburn@nifa.usda.gov; and Dr. Denis Ebodaghe (202) 720-4385 or debodaghe@nifa.usda.gov

This Program Area Priority aims to evaluate the institutional, sociological, or economic factors affecting decision making and application of technology and in turn, promote the adoption of private strategies and public policy options to enhance investments in agricultural and rural communities. It also seeks to enhance adoption of optimal regional land use and architectural decisions, including regional clusters, that protect the rural environment and promote economic development, health and well-being while alleviating poverty and enhancing rural quality of life. The Program Area Priority scope includes, but is not limited to:

• Develop research and education strategies to examine and advance factors contributing to a “wealth-based” approach to rural economic development and implement education and/or extension strategies to enhance wealth creation.

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• Develop and model networks of regional assets or factors, (e.g., firms, organizations, and communities and infrastructure), and the links between them that aid creation and nurture rural economic development.

• Explore strategies to promote community and regional innovation, workforce development, address human capital challenges, poverty, income and inequality, through promotion of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics/ Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture and Mathematics (STEM/STEAM), in rural areas.

• Examine transportation decisions and their implications for agricultural and rural communities.

• Develop innovative economic development policies and practices. Examine comprehensive strategies and promote the development of a relevant mix of factors (e.g., colleges, airports, amenities, telecommunications, etc.) that contribute to effective growth strategies.

 

Other Program Area Key Information applicable to ALL Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities priority areas 1-5:

• All applications must adhere to the requirements beginning in Part IV.

• Applications from, and collaborations with, small to mid-sized institutions, minority-serving institutions, and/or EPSCoR states are strongly encouraged.

• Applications must include a section providing a justification for the system studied relevant to improving economic, social, and environmental sustainability of agriculture.

• This program area will not fund the research and development of physical technologies and tools; however decision-support aids or tools are welcomed.

• This program area does not support new business start-up or technology development.

 

7. Critical Agricultural Research and Extension (CARE)

 

Background

Despite prior investments in basic and applied research, critical problems continue to impede the efficient production and protection of agriculturally-important plants and animals. These problems may be local, regional, or national, and may call for work focused on one or more scientific disciplines. However, all need immediate attention to meet producer needs. Finding and implementing solutions to these critical problems require partnership and close coordination among researchers, extension experts, and producers. Funded projects will quickly yield solutions or practices that can be rapidly implemented by producers.

The CARE program area addresses the following priorities of the 2008 Farm Bill: A. Plant Health and Production and Plant Products; B. Animal Health and Production and Animal Products; C. Food Safety, Nutrition and Health; D. Renewable Energy, Natural Resources, and Environment; E. Agriculture, Systems and Technology; and F. Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities

The AFRI CARE program area directly aligns with the Research, Education, and Economics Action Plan (www.ree.usda.gov/ree/news/USDA_REE_Action_Plan_02-2012_2.pd and specifically addresses: Goal 1 – Local and Global Food Supply and Security; Goal 2 - Responding to Climate and Energy Needs; Goal 3 – Sustainable Use of Natural Resources; Goal 5 – Food Safety; Goal 6 – Education and Science Literacy; and Goal 7 – Rural-Urban Interdependence and Prosperity.

In FY 2014, AFRI invites Integrated research and extension applications for Standard and FASE Grant types relevant to the priority of the CARE Program Area described below.

Letter of Intent Deadline – June 4, 2014 (5:00 p.m. ET); see Part IV, A for instructions

Program Area e-mail for Submission of Letter of Intent– CriticalAg@nifa.usda.gov

Application Deadline – August 7, 2014 (5:00 p.m. ET)

Total Program Funds – Approximately $5 million

Proposed Budget Requests -

• Standard Grants must not exceed $150,000 total (including indirect costs) for project periods of up to 3 years and are not renewable.

• Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants must adhere to the guidelines outlined beginning in Part II, D. 3.

• Requests exceeding the budgetary guidelines will not be reviewed.

 

Program Area Priorities – Each application must address the following Program Area Priority:

1. CARE

Program Area Priority Code – A1701

Program Area Priority Contact – Dr. Martin Draper (202) 401-1990 or mdraper@nifa.usda.gov

• Develop and implement solutions to critical producer problems associated with animal and crop production, protection, or product quality. Emphasis will be placed on achieving results that can be applied by the producer as quickly as possible following project completion. Applications should include justification of why the issue is critical and how project outcomes will rapidly impact the stakeholder community. The project must include stakeholders.

 

Other Program Area Requirements:

• Producers and/or producer group engagement is required during development of the application to ensure that funded projects are designed to provide solutions to stakeholder needs. Further, these stakeholders should also be involved in the implementation of the project.

• Strict focus on a short to medium-term application of results is an important component of this program area. Projects must demonstrate outcomes within the project period.

• Projects will focus on critical problems faced by producers, including those implementing innovative production methods.

• Projects must have a high degree of coordination between research and extension components. Both functions should be engaged from inception through implementation of the project.

• Project applicants must identify if their project is extension-led or research-led.

• All applications must include a logic model detailing the activities, outputs, and outcomes of the proposed project. See Part IV C.3g for details on how to create a logic model and how to attach this information to your application.

• Project budgets should reflect how the research and extension activities will be achieved, including how they are integrated.

• Priority will be given to applications that demonstrate collaboration with recognized stakeholder groups and submitted by investigator(s) with experience in using local, regional, or national resources and in conducting time-critical research and extension.

• All applications must adhere to the requirements beginning in Part IV.

• Applications from, and collaborations with, small to mid-sized institutions, minority-serving institutions, and/or EPSCoR states are strongly encouraged.

 

SPECIAL NOTE: Applications to this program should uniquely fit into this program and should not be eligible for submission to other existing AFRI program areas or priority areas.

8. Exploratory

 

Background

This new program area encourages continuous development of innovative ideas that will position US Agriculture at the global forefront. These developments will lead to quantum leaps in the agricultural fields. They will address the challenges that have never been addressed before in the areas of food security, climate change, environmental quality and natural resources, nutrition, obesity, food safety, strong families and vibrant communities, and thriving youth. 32

The Exploratory Program Area addresses the following priorities of the 2008 Farm Bill: A. Plant Health and Production and Plant Products; B. Animal Health and Production and Animal Products; C. Food Safety, Nutrition and Health; D. Renewable Energy, Natural Resources, and Environment; E. Agriculture, Systems and Technology; and F. Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities

The AFRI Exploratory Research Program Area directly aligns with the Research, Education, and Economics Action Plan (www.ree.usda.gov/ree/news/USDA_REE_Action_Plan_02-2012_2.pd and specifically addresses: Goal 1 – Local and Global Food Supply and Security; Goal 2 - Responding to Climate and Energy Needs; Goal 3 – Sustainable Use of Natural Resources; Goal 4 – Nutrition and Childhood Obesity; Goal 5 – Food Safety; Goal 6 – Education and Science Literacy; and Goal 7 – Rural Prosperity/ Rural-Urban Interdependence.

In FY 2014, AFRI invites Research Project applications for Standard Grant type relevant to the priority of the Exploratory Program Area described below.

Letter of Intent Deadline – accepted anytime through September 30, 2014. See Part IV, A for instructions

Program Area e-mail for Submission of Letter of Intent – exploratory@nifa.usda.gov

Application Deadline – accepted year-round depending on acceptance of the Letter of Intent and availability of funds

Total Program Funds – Approximately $2 million

Proposed Budget Requests -

• Standard Grants must not exceed $100,000 total (including indirect costs) for project periods of up to one year and are not renewable.

• Requests exceeding the budgetary guidelines will not be reviewed.

 

Program Area Priority – Each application must address the following Program Area Priority:

1. Exploratory Research

 

Program Area Priority Code – Provided upon invitation to submit the proposal after acceptance of the Letter of Intent.

Program Area Priority Contact – Dr. Michel Bowers (202) 401-4510 or mbowers@nifa.usda.gov

This program area priority (program) provides support for research projects that develop proof of concept for untested novel ideas. This includes “high risk - high impact” work that will lead to a significant change in US agriculture.

This program area priority focuses on:

• New and emerging innovative ideas;

• Application of new knowledge or approaches;

• Tools required to have a paradigm shift in the field; and/or

• Rapid response to natural disasters and similar unanticipated events.

 

This program area priority addresses the overall priorities of AFRI.

Other Program Area Priority Requirements:

• Investigators must contact the program area priority contact listed above to seek input on whether the proposed project is appropriate for this program before submitting a letter of intent.

• Proposals will be accepted at any time of the FY 2014.

• The project narrative is restricted to a maximum of five pages, and must have a clearly articulated and compelling justification for the topical area, and a description of methods to be used, anticipated results, next steps and plans for seeking additional funding.

• The proposal must include a clear description as to why it is appropriate for Exploratory Research Program Area Priority, and not appropriate for the existing program area priorities under AFRI.

33

 

• A budget justification and curriculum vitae of the primary and collaborating investigators are required.

• The proposal preparation instruction deviates from the standard proposal preparation instructions contained in this RFA; other than that, the proposal must follow the instructions in this RFA and in the NIFA Gran.gov Application Guide.

 

SPECIAL NOTE: The Exploratory Research mechanism should not be used for projects that are appropriate for submission as competitive grants proposals to the various Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program area priorities. It is not the purpose of Exploratory Research program area priority funds to supplement formula funded or special grant projects.

Review Criteria

o The scientific merit of the proposed activity;

o Appropriateness of the proposed research for developing proof of concept of new and untested ideas including high risk research that leads to a significant change in the field;

o The applicant's previous experience and background along with the proposed activities; and

o Relevance of the project to sustainable U.S. agriculture, the environment, human health and well-being, and rural communities.

. . .

PART IV – APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. Letter of Intent Instructions

All Program Areas within the AFRI Foundational Program Area require a Letter of Intent and is a prerequisite for submission of an application. Refer to the Program Area Descriptions beginning in Part I, C for Letter of Intent deadlines for a specific Program Area.

NOTE: You must contact the Program Area contact before submitting a Letter of Intent to the Exploratory Research Program Area Priority.

1. The Letter of Intent must adhere to the following guidelines:

 

a. Font size must be at least 12 point

b. Margins must be at least one inch in all directions

c. Line spacing must not exceed six lines of text per vertical inch

d. The Letter of Intent is limited to two pages for all project and grant types

e. On Page 1, provide only the following information: i. the name, professional title, department, institution and e-mail address of the lead project director (PD) and name, professional title, department, and institution of all collaborating investigators

ii. the Program Area and the Priority area within that Program Area most closely addressed in the application

 

f. On Page 2, include: i. a descriptive title

ii. rationale

iii. overall hypothesis or goal

iv. specific objectives

v. approach

vi. potential impact and expected outcomes

 

2. NIFA will only accept Letters of Intent in the portable document format (PDF). Attach the PDF Letter of Intent to an email addressed to the appropriate Program Area email address for Submission of Letter of Intent. In the email subject line, write: Letter of Intent [Program Area Priority Code] _ [PD’s Last Name].

3. A letter is required for all grant types except Conference Grant applications. See Part II, D for a detailed description of grant types.

4. Submission of more than one Letter of Intent to a program (i.e., program area priority) is discouraged.

5. An acknowledgment receipt will be sent by replying to the sender within five business days.

6. Letters of Intent will be reviewed by scientific program staff in order to plan for appropriate expertise for the peer review panel and ensure that the proposed project fits appropriately within the Program Area Priorities.

7. Within three weeks after the Letter of Intent deadline, the PD will receive a response from the Program Area Priority Contact.

8. Applications submitted without a prior Letter of Intent submission will not be reviewed.

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

Kauai Birds

 

I went to Kauai in early January. I couldn’t choose just one bird, so here are several.

 

 

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Red-footed Booby

 

 

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White-rumped Shama

Japanese White-eye

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Laysan Albatross

Red-crested Cardinal

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Chestnut Mannikin

Red Avadavat

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Java Sparrow

Nene (Hawaiian Goose)

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Apapane

Anianiau

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael Pazzani

Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development 

Professor,  Computer Science & Engineering

University of California, Riverside

200 University Office Building

Riverside, CA 92521

pazzani@ucr.edu

 

Assistant:  Johanna Bowman

johanna.bowman@ucr.edu

951-827-4800