AFRI Foundational Program Webinar

AFRI Agricultural Economics and Rural Communities (AERC) Foundational Program Area webinar sponsored by NIFA.

DATE: Wednesday, January 22 from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET
*Date has changed to Thursday, January 23 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. ET.

Highlights of the AERC program area, eligibility requirements, and other aspects of the following five programs will be discussed along with questions and answers.

• Economics, Markets and Trade
• Environmental and Natural Resource Economics
• Entrepreneurship, Technology and Innovation
• Rural Communities and Regional Development
• Small and Medium Sized Farms 

Moderator and Presenter: Fen Hunt (Moderator), Robbin Shoemaker, Jill Auburn, Denis Ebodaghe
To Participate: Join the webinar at the following link a few minutes before the starting time (number of lines are limited; first come first serve)
Weblink: Use the audio connection via your computer speakers/microphone or via telephone: 888-844-9904 access code 6824450#  http://nifa-connect.nifa.usda.gov/afri-aerc/ 
Important Dates/Links:
Letters of intent are required for these programs (a new requirement of AERC in 2014), due on February 19. The application deadline for full proposals is April 28, 2014. You cannot submit a proposal if you do not first submit a letter of intent.

The 2014 AFRI Foundational Request for Applications can be found at:
http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/rfas/pdfs/14_afri_foundation_mod.pdf
For Grant-Writing Tips and Other AFRI Information see:
http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/afri/afri.html
For more information on  AERC including a link to abstracts of projects funded in the past (2011) see: http://www.nifa.usda.gov/fo/agricultureeconomicsandruralcommunitiesafri.cfm
For additional information, please contact Robin Shoemaker at 202-720-5468 or rshoemaker@nifa.usda.gov

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USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture Requesting Applications for AFRI Program

The United States of Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today released the request for applications (RFA) for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Foundational Program. In fiscal year 2014, NIFA plans to award approximately $82 million to support the AFRI Foundational Program.

The AFRI Foundational Program addresses six priority areas to continue building a foundation of knowledge in fundamental and applied food and agricultural sciences that are critical for solving current and future societal challenges. The six priority areas include: plant health and production and plant products; animal health and production and animal products; food safety, nutrition and health; renewable energy, natural resources and environment; agriculture systems and technology; and agriculture economics and rural communities.

The fiscal year 2014 RFA will feature two new programs intended to address critical and emerging issues. The Exploratory Research Program (ERP) addresses new challenges that in food security, climate change, environmental quality and natural resources, nutrition, obesity, food safety, strong families and vibrant communities, and thriving youth. The program seeks to find innovative ideas that will position U.S. agriculture at the global forefront. ERP grants will be funded up to $100,000 for one year. The Critical Agriculture Research and Extension (CARE) program seeks to address critical problems that continue to impede the efficient production and protection of plants and animals. Funded projects will quickly yield solutions or practices that can be rapidly implemented by producers. CARE will fund projects up to $150,000 for three years.

AFRI is NIFA's flagship competitive grants program and was established under the 2008 Farm Bill. NIFA anticipates the amount available for AFRI Program in fiscal year 2014 will be approximately $275 million. This amount is based on the temporary appropriations, which provide funds through January 15, 2014. Adjustments will be made to program allocations once the fiscal year 2014 appropriations are finalized. AFRI will make awards in four challenge areas: food safety, food security, childhood obesity prevention, and a new challenge area, water for agriculture. The AFRI challenge areas will continue to support societal challenge areas where research, education, and Extension can achieve significant and measurable outcomes. The NIFA Fellowships Grants program will also be offered again to provide opportunities for training and workforce development through pre and postdoctoral fellowships in the agricultural sciences.

All AFRI program information, including the RFAs, is available online. Visit www.nifa.usda.gov/afri for more information.

Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people's daily lives and the nation's future. More information is available at: www.nifa.usda.gov.

NIFA Schedules Listening Session for New AFRI Challenge Area

As part of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) strategy to successfully implement the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), NIFA intends to initiate a new challenge area within AFRI in Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 to address water issues. NIFA is particularly interested in input on how best to achieve the most impact, within budget constraints, in the early years of this new challenge area.

NIFA will hold a web-based listening session on Tuesday, July 16, 2013, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time (EST), in order to solicit stakeholder input on this new challenge area. The web-based listening session will be hosted using Adobe Connect. On July 16th, please access the following website, http://nifa-connect.nifa.usda.gov/afri-water/. In addition, audio conference call capabilities can be accessed at 1-888-858-2144, participant code 1512861#.

Persons wishing to present oral comments during the web-based listening session are requested to pre-register by contacting Ms. Terri Joya at (202) 401-1282, by fax at (202) 401-1782 or by e-mail to tjoya@nifa.usda.gov. Participants may reserve one 5-minute comment period. All other participants may provide comments during the web-based listening session if time permits, or submit written comments.

Instructions for submitting written comments by various means are in the federal register notice published Monday, July 8, 2013, vol. 78, No. 130, p. 40689, at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-07-08/html/2013-16204.htm All comments must be received by close of business on July 30, 2013, to be considered in the initial drafting of the FY 2014 AFRI Water program RFA.

NIFA-AFRI Host Ag Econ and Rural Communities Program Webinars

The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative – Agricultural Economics and Rural Communities Program is excited to host a three-part webinar series on January 22, January 30, and February 7, 2013. The series will showcase recent research supported by the Markets and Trade and Environment Program Areas. Please see the agenda for a list of topics to be covered.

The series will be run in a webinar format and will be accessible by conference call (audio) and internet (visual only). All are invited to listen in and join the discussion on these interesting NIFA-funded research projects. Please follow the links below to participate. Instructions on how to use Adobe Connect can be accessed here. No prior registration is required; however, please contact Robbin Shoemaker at rshoemaker@nifa.usda.gov at least one week prior to the session should you require closed captioning.

Session 1: January 22, 2013
Time: 12:00-2:00pm (EST)
Audio: 1-888-858-2144 (Participant Code: 7343873)
Web/Visual: http://nifa-connect.nifa.usda.gov/afrimtesession1/.

Session 2: January 30, 2013
Time: 1:00-3:00pm (EST)
Audio: 1-888-858-2144 (Participant Code: 7343873)
Web/Visual: http://nifa-connect.nifa.usda.gov/afrimtesession2/.

Session 3: February 7, 2013
Time: 2:00-4:00pm (EST)
Audio: 1-888-858-2144 (Participant Code: 7343873)
Web/Visual: http://nifa-connect.nifa.usda.gov/afrimtesession3/.

Any updates or changes will be posted at the following website:

http://www.nifa.usda.gov/nea/economics/in_focus/market_env_webinar.html

National Academies Study of AFRI

C-FARE and AAEA submitted names from the profession to the National Academies to participate on a review of the USDA Agricultural and Food Research Initiative . AFRI recently posted the committee names and information on their website. Below are  the names below of all the committee members, and you will see that two of our recommendations were accepted as part of the review committee. 

• Lechtenberg, Purdue (Chair)
• Balling, Del Monte
• Belli, U of Tennessee
• Bruns, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
• Buccola, Oregon State
• Carrington, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
• Dilworth, NSF
• Garzon, BC
• Green, U of Nebraska
• Haggett, U of North Texas
• Hugoson, Global Initiative for Food Systems Leadership
• Osborn, UC Davis
• Pardey, U of Minnesota, St. Paul
• Rockey, NIH
• Ruzante, Pew
• Zuiches, NC State

Congratulations and thanks to Steve Buccola and Phil Pardey for representing the profession! 

The academies is also seeking some public feedback as part of this project, so visit the review website to submit your comments.

NIFA Releases Requests for Applications for AFRI Foundational Program

The United States of Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) released the request for applications (RFA) for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Foundational Program. This funding opportunity supports research, education and Extension in fundamental and applied food and agricultural sciences. In Fiscal Year 2013, NIFA plans to award $136 million to support the AFRI Foundational Program.