- Author: Kathleen P Nolan
Dear Colleagues,
NIFA has announced $182 million in funding for Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Foundational and Applied Science Program.
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) is America's flagship competitive grants program that provides funding for fundamental and applied research, education, and extension projects in the food and agricultural sciences. The purpose of AFRI is to support research, education, and extension work by awarding grants to solve key problems of local, regional, national, and global importance in sustaining conventional, organic, and urban agricultural systems. These include farm efficiency, profitability and sustainability, ranching, bioenergy, forestry, aquaculture, rural communities and entrepreneurship, human nutrition, mitigating impacts of biotic and abiotic constraints on food production, food safety, mitigating food waste and food loss, physical and social sciences, home economics and rural human ecology, biotechnology, and classical breeding.
The goal of this program is to invest in agricultural production research, education, and extension projects for more sustainable, productive and economically viable plant and animal production systems. Through this support, AFRI advances knowledge in both fundamental and applied sciences important to agriculture. It also allows AFRI to support education and extension activities that deliver science-based knowledge to end users, allowing them to make informed, practical decisions.
AFRI program descriptions are as follows:
- Plant health and production and plant products
- Animal health and production and animal products
- Food safety, nutrition, and health
- Bioenergy, natural resources, and environment
- Agriculture systems and technology
- Agriculture economics and rural communities
- Crosscutting programs
- Critical agricultural research and extension; and
- Exploratory research
For FY 18, there is a new Plant Health and Production and Plant Products program area priority: Agricultural Microbiomes in Plant Systems and Natural Resources (Code: A1402). This program area priority is focused on understanding the multipartite interactions among the host, environment, and the microbiome; thereby providing information critical for improving and sustaining agricultural productivity and quality in plant systems and associated natural resources. Plant productivity includes biotic factors affecting plant health such as pests, diseases or vectors as well as abiotic factors (water, soil health), etc. Research supported by this program area priority will help fill major knowledge gaps in characterizing agricultural microbiomes and microbiome functions across agricultural production systems and natural resources through cross-cutting projects.
Microbiomes have profound impacts on agricultural production systems as well as human, animal, plant, and environmental health. Microbiome research is critical for improving agricultural productivity, sustainability of agricultural ecosystems, safety of the food supply and meeting the challenge of feeding a rapidly growing world population. Better understanding of microbiomes will help reduce the use of chemicals (pesticides, antibiotics, and biocides) in food production, lead to the development of safer alternatives for the management of agriculturally-important pests and diseases, optimize nutrient utilization efficiency, and reduce environmental footprints. Understanding the multipartite interactions among the host, environment, and the microbiome is critical for improving and sustaining agricultural productivity and quality in plant systems and associated natural resources. Plant productivity includes biotic factors affecting plant health such as either pests, diseases or vectors as well as abiotic factors (water, soil health), etc. Research supported by this program area priority will help fill major knowledge gaps in characterizing agricultural microbiomes and microbiome functions across agricultural production systems, and natural resources through cross-cutting projects. This research will capitalize on the convergence of low-cost sequencing and “omics” technologies, manipulation of microbiome composition and of phage and microbial genes (transposons, integrons), genome editing tools, and other novel tools for studying microbiota's structure and function.
The program requires a Letter of Intent, due July 18, 2018, after which applications are due September 26, 2018. The program is soliciting Standard Grants, Strengthening Standard Grants, and New Investigator Grants of up to $750,000 total per project for project periods of up to four years.
Learn more about the Agricultural Microbiomes in Plant Systems and Natural Resources at a webinar scheduled for Friday, June 22, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm PST.
Webinar Link: https://nifa-usda.webex.com/nifa-usda/j.php?MTID=m18746fd3f1995fb9027ce8807925e4ec (link is external)
Meeting number: 964853991
Join by phone
Call-in toll-free number (ATT Audio Conference): 1-888-844-9904 (US)
Access Code: 4629822
If you have questions regarding Program Area Priority Code A1402, contact either Rachel Melnick, National Program Leader, Institute of Bioenergy, Climate, and Environment at rmelnick@nifa.usda.gov, OR Ann Lichens-Park, National Program Leader, Division of Plant Systems-Protection at apark@nifa.usda.gov.
Thank you.
Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)
- Author: Kathleen P Nolan
Dear Colleagues,
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is requesting research concepts to address current research priorities described within the Triennial Research Plan for Fiscal Years 2018-2021. The goal of the Triennial Strategic Research Plan is to guide CARB's research funding to produce timely and credible science to inform key decisions needed to meet air quality, climate goals, environmental justice, and public health goals. Rather than identifying individual research projects, the Plan will identify broad research initiatives that will be the focus of funding for the next three years, resulting in several key advantages:
- Improved communication of CARB's long-term vision to better identify co-funding and leveraging opportunities with other research funding organizations, state and federal agencies, and internationally.
- Greater transparency and stakeholder involvement in the planning process.
- More responsive research proposals from universities and other groups.
- Increased flexibility to adjust to budget changes and opportunities.
Submission Requirements: Concept submissions consist of a title and a brief (300 words or less) description of your research concept. The concept description should articulate significance and relevance to CARB's policies and/or programs. It should include a clearly stated research objective, brief description of methods that could or would be employed, and what the final product or deliverable of the research would be. Information on time and funding needed to conduct the research is helpful but not required. Only concepts that clearly demonstrate policy relevance to CARB will be considered.
Research concepts should address one or more of the following research initiatives:
· Health and Environmental Justice (EJ) Research Initiatives
o Sustainable Communities and Health
o Exposure assessment
o Indoor Exposure
o Exposure Mitigation
o EJ - Short-term health exposure
o EJ - Cumulative impacts
o EJ - Identifying Sources
o EJ - Satellite data, toxics, odors
- Air Quality Research Initiatives
o State Implementation Plans - Long range ozone transport
o State Implementation Plans - Sources of PM2.5 in the San Joaquin Valley
o Light Duty Vehicles - Fleet deterioration and high-emitter tracking
o Light Duty Vehicles - Real-world & lab emission discrepancies
o Heavy Duty, off-road, and freight - Emission reductions from off-road and freight
o Heavy Duty, off-road, and freight - Inspection/maintenance feasibility
o Heavy Duty, off-road, and freight - Real-world & lab emission discrepancies
- Climate Initiatives
o Greenhouse Gas Inventories and Mitigation - Track progress & refine emission estimates
o Greenhouse Gas Inventories and Mitigation - Mitigation options
o Sustainable Communities - Track progress & quantify co-benefits
o Sustainable Communities - Evaluate greenhouse gas emissions reductions
- Cross-cutting Research Initiatives
o Natural and Working Lands - Optimal use of organic waste
o Transportation - Potential of advanced technology
o Economics - Market transformation
Submitted concepts will be reviewed to inform which projects may be funded in the 2019-2020 fiscal year. The nature and scope of proposed research ideas that are funded by CARB vary, as does the size and duration of the projects. While there is no minimum or maximum funding amount that may be suggested for the conduct of the proposed research, suggested budgets are expected to be consistent with our historical levels. The Board's research budget is approximately $5 million dollars per year and typically supports 10-25 projects, with two to three year duration. There is no specified minimum or maximum project budget, but typical budgets range from $50,000-$650,000.
If you are interested in applying, please submit your concept by August 24, 2018 at 5:00 PM PST.
If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Pittiglio at (916) 324-0627.
Thank you.
Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)
/h3>- Author: Kathleen P Nolan
Dear Colleagues,
The California Natural Resources Agency, California Environmental Protection Agency, California Air Resources Board, the California Department of Food and Agriculture, and California Strategic Growth Council will be hosting regional public meetings on the development of California's Natural and Working Lands Climate Change Implementation Plan. Meetings will be held across the state beginning June 8 to June 28.
The 2017 Climate Change Scoping Plan Update commits the State to finalizing a goal for carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions on natural and working lands by September 2018. The 2030 Natural and Working Lands Climate Change Implementation Plan (NWL Plan) will further describe this GHG goal and provide a blueprint to achieve it through state-funded conservation, restoration, and management activities.
The NWL Plan will detail regional targets for a variety of state-funded conservation, restoration, and management practices that sequester carbon, such as wetland and meadow restoration, fuel reduction and improved management in forests, soil conservation on rangelands, and avoiding land use conversion from development. These acreage targets will be run through California-developed carbon models to project cumulative GHG benefits of these activities by 2030, by region and statewide.
Regional meetings are intended to help state agencies gain feedback on opportunities and priorities and refine draft acreage targets for conservation, management, and restoration practices to be modeled and included in the final NWL Plan. These workshops seek engagement with landowners and stakeholders from Resource Conservation Districts, land trusts, nonprofits, academic institutions, NGOs, and local, regional, federal, and tribal governments, with the goals of:
1. Ensuring that draft regional acreage targets for resource management are inclusive of significant local plans, goals, and programs, particularly regional multi-partner or landscape-scale plans; and
2. Better understanding local priorities and stakeholder needs for successful regional implementation of the NWL Plan through 2030.
Participants are invited to share information on existing plans for conservation, restoration, and management priorities and targets as described above to inform the meeting's discussion.
Those interested in participating are requested to RSVP for in-person or remote attendance using the links below.
Sierra Nevada & Eastside June 8, 2018; 10am-12pm San Francisco Bay Area Tentative: June 18, 2018; 1pm-3pm * North Coast June 20, 2018; 10am-12pm South Coast & Mountains June 21, 2018; 10am-12pm |
Klamath Cascade June 22, 2018; 10am-12pm Sacramento Valley & Delta Tentative; June 26, 2018; 1-3pm * Central Coast Tentative: June 27, 2018; 10am-12pm * San Joaquin Valley June 28, 2018; 2-4pm |
*Final meeting dates and times for tentative workshops will be posted as soon as they become available.
If you have questions or comments regarding this email or workshops, please contact Emma Johnston at the Natural Resources Agency at emma.johnston@resources.ca.gov or 916-651-7591.
Thank you.
Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)
/table>- Author: Kathleen P Nolan
Dear Colleagues,
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and UC National Laboratories (UCNL) are jointly hosting a Data Science Workshop on August 7-8, 2018. The event will be held at the Shrine Event Center, 170 Lindbergh Ave., Livermore, California.
The workshop will feature a wide range of talks, discussions, and networking opportunities with experts, researchers and up-and-coming scientists in the field of data science. Applications from University of California researchers to present a talk or poster at the workshop are welcomed. Research topics of interest include climate and energy security, predictive biology, space situational awareness, complex computer simulations with theoretical underpinnings, non-proliferation, advanced manufacturing and materials science and more.
If you are interested in presenting, please submit a 500 word abstract including a title and list of all authors and institutional affiliations. Abstracts are due by Friday, June 1.
Workshop attendance is limited, so please register early. Those not presenting a talk or poster must also register to attend. Register here: https://www.cvent.com/events/data-science-workshop/registration-36002cc3462e4350b86ea0c6d8fd91fe.aspx
Please direct questions regarding this event to:
June Yu, PhD
Executive Director, National Laboratories Programs
UC National Laboratories
University of California Office of the President
(510) 987-9846
http://www.ucop.edu/laboratory-management/
Thank you.
Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)
- Author: Kathleen P Nolan
Dear Colleagues,
The University of California is pleased to announce a research funding opportunity for UC multicampus collaborations. Multicampus Research Programs and Initiatives (MRPIs) are multicampus or systemwide research collaborations that go beyond individual Principal Investigator (PI)-driven projects to benefit the UC research enterprise; strengthen UC's position as a leading public research university; launch pioneering research in thematic, multidisciplinary, or interdisciplinary areas; enhance education and training; and benefit California and its people. The competition is open to all fields of research and scholarship. Applicants will have an opportunity to indicate which disciplines or interdisciplinary or thematic areas best describe the proposed collaboration. The MRPI opportunity is intended to fund unique collaborations not otherwise supported at the systemwide level. The total funding portfolio of active MRPI grants is approximately $35 million, providing a significant investment in UC systemwide research.
MRPI awards should be directed to research that fulfills the following three principles:
1) Research that enhances UC's systemwide research capacity, influence, and advantage by providing access to the facilities, resources and opportunities available across the UC system.
2) Research that enhances multicampus collaborations, and fosters multicampus engagement, in order to achieve outcomes not available through (or duplicative of) a single campus and discipline.
3) Research that mutually benefits UC and California, its people, environment, and economy.
To fulfill these principles, MRPI funding is intended to support:
∙ Areas in which seed-funding could lead to future extramural funding, especially in areas where UC campuses are underfunded relative to other comparable research institutions;
∙ Areas that are underfunded by the government in relation to their perceived importance to the state or the nation; and
∙ Emerging fields of study, innovative or multidisciplinary research that could increase UC's research competitiveness.
The MRPI program is accepting application for two award types:
1) “Planning/Pilot Awards” open only to new multicampus or systemwide collaborations for planning, capacity-building and/or establishing the research infrastructure and pilot data to launch novel, cutting-edge inter-disciplinary, or multidisciplinary research. These awards are intended to create or strengthen collaborative research capacity in novel or cutting edge fields, for new inter-disciplinary or multidisciplinary collaborations, or multicampus collaborations that have not previously received MRPI, Organized Research Unit (ORU) or Multicampus Research Unit (MRU) support. This award type provides funding to launch new collaborations across the UC enterprise to address gaps in critical research areas that would strengthen UC and benefit California. Awards will enhance the ability of new multicampus collaborations to launch initiatives and successfully compete for extramural awards. Applicants may request one or two years of funding; $150,000/year maximum.
2) “Program Awards” open to both new and established multicampus collaborations (without concurrent systemwide support). These awards are intended to stimulate novel and compelling multicampus or systemwide research. Program awards may support new collaborations, or established multicampus endeavors that demonstrate both compelling benefit to UC and compelling justification for ongoing systemwide support. Awards will advance UC's research mission and impact through support of novel faculty research, genuine multicampus engagement and collaboration, public engagement, comprehensive opportunities for graduate student support and training, and benefit to UC and California. Awards will enhance the ability of new multicampus collaborations to launch initiatives and successfully compete for extramural awards. Applicants may request two years of funding; there is no specified total budget request limit.
Both award types require the collaboration of at least three UC campuses. UC ANR may participate as an eligible collaborating site where academics may serve as collaborating Co-Principal Investigators. UC ANR is not eligible to lead a MRPI proposal.
For additional information, please review the full solicitation available on the program's website:https://www.ucop.edu/research-initiatives/programs/mrpi/index.html
Required Letters of Intent are due on Thursday, May 24, 2018 at 12:00 noon Pacific Time. Project teams will be notified with a LOI outcome decision by Tuesday, June 12, 2018.
Please contact the Office of Contracts and Grants should you have questions regarding this funding opportunity.
Thank you.
Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)