UCR
Research and Economic Development Newsletter: January 26, 2014
Michael Pazzani
Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development
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 NEHs 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
February
19, 2014 |
Office of Digital Humanities |
|
March
4, 2014 |
Division of Education Programs |
|
March
11, 2014 |
Office of Digital Humanities |
|
April
15, 2014 |
Division of Research Programs |
|
May
1, 2014 |
Division of Research Programs |
|
May
1, 2014 |
Division of Preservation and Access |
|
May
1, 2014 |
Division of Research Programs |
|
May
1, 2014 |
Office of Challenge Grants |
|
May
1, 2014 |
Division of Preservation and Access |
|
June
11, 2014 |
Division of Public Programs |
|
June
26, 2014 |
Division of Education Programs |
|
June
26, 2014 |
Division of Education Programs |
|
July
17, 2014 |
Division of Preservation and Access |
|
August
13, 2014 |
Division of Public Programs |
|
Museums,
Libraries, and Cultural Organizations: Implementation Grants |
August
13, 2014 |
Division of Public Programs |
August
13, 2014 |
Division of Public Programs |
|
Museums,
Libraries, and Cultural Organizations: Planning Grants |
August
13, 2014 |
Division of Public Programs |
August
14, 2014 |
Division of Research Programs |
|
September
11, 2014 |
Division of Education Programs |
|
September
11, 2014 |
Office of Digital Humanities |
|
September
15, 2014 |
Division of Preservation and Access |
|
September
30, 2014 |
Division of Research Programs |
|
December
3, 2014 |
Division of Preservation and Access |
|
December
9, 2014 |
Division of Research Programs |
|
December
9, 2014 |
Division of Research Programs |
|
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 LOIs 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
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, ASPBs 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 nations 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.
19
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 amongsocietal, 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 nitrogens 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
22
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
24
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 sustainabilityproductivity, 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 agricultures 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.
30
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] _ [PDs 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 couldnt choose
just one bird, so here are several.
Red-footed
Booby
White-rumped Shama |
Japanese White-eye |
Laysan Albatross |
Red-crested Cardinal |
Chestnut Mannikin |
Red Avadavat |
Java Sparrow |
Nene (Hawaiian Goose) |
Apapane |
Anianiau |
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Michael Pazzani
Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic
Development
Professor, Computer Science & Engineering
University of California, Riverside
200 University Office Building
Riverside, CA 92521
Assistant: Johanna Bowman