- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
Dear Colleagues,
I am pleased to announce that 21 projects will be funded by ANR’s competitive grants program, for a total of $4.46 million over five years.
The purpose of this grants program, as outlined in the request for proposals (RFP), is to support projects under initiatives that focus on high priority issues that encourage collaboration, continue to strengthen the research-extension continuum, yield policy relevant outcomes, and achieve significant statewide impacts in California. The four initiatives are: Endemic and Invasive Pests and Diseases, Healthy Families and Communities, Sustainable Food Systems, and Sustainable Natural Ecosystems.
The four strategic initiative panels reviewed 109 letters of intent to identify strong substantive connections to the initiative priorities, and invited 67 to submit full proposals. Of those, 58 submitted proposals and 21 projects have been approved for funding. A full list of the funded projects, collaborators, funding amounts and funding source is posted at http://ucanr.org/sites/anrstaff/Divisionwide_Programs/Competitive_Grants.
Grant review process
Proposals were reviewed for scientific merit, feasibility and policy relevance, in addition to assessing how the projects meet the objectives of the RFP. These attributes are critical for the Division to demonstrate its focus on relevant key issues that can potentially attract new funding support.
After each proposal received at least two peer reviews, the four strategic initiatives leaders recommended a slate of highly ranked proposals to Program Council. Program Council discussed each of the recommended proposals in detail, and provided a full set of recommended proposals to the Executive Working Group for consideration.
New call for proposals
Early next year, a new call for competitive grants will be released. Consistent with the intent of individual endowments, we will direct those funds to priority program areas of the strategic initiatives that present the best opportunities for the Division. All proposals submitted this year will receive feedback to encourage re-submissions, in addition to inviting new proposals to address additional priorities that will be identified in the next RFP.
The guiding concept articulated in ANR’s Strategic Vision is to focus resources where there is an opportunity to demonstrate impact, guide public policymaking, and attract new resources to support ANR. I appreciate all of your efforts and feel confident that your valuable contributions will continue to make an impact in the Division and for the people of California.
Barbara Allen-Diaz
Vice President, Agriculture and Natural Resources
View or leave comments for the Executive Working Group
This announcement is also posted and archived on the ANR Update pages.