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UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Agriculture & Natural Resources Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program |
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
2003 SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION GRANTS
The UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SAREP) is soliciting proposals for targeted research and education proposals on sustainable food systems. Targeted topic areas are:
- Direct or regional marketing/distribution systems
- Social and economic analyses of conventional or alternative food systems
PROPOSALS DUE: May 1, 2003
WHO MAY APPLY
Eligible applicants include researchers affiliated with California
non-profit, tax-exempt organizations and California public and private institutions
of higher education. "California non-profit, tax-exempt organization"
is defined as any organization which is operating in California and legally
exempt from taxes imposed by the California Franchise Tax Board's revenue and
taxation codes. Former SAREP grant recipients are eligible for funding unless
the required report from their previous grant is delinquent. SAREP staff and
members of SAREP's Program Advisory and Technical Advisory Committees are not
eligible to participate as an investigator or cooperator on any project.
Proposals will be rejected if they include investigators or cooperators who
are on SAREP's staff or Program Advisory Committee (PAC) or Technical Advisory
Committee (TAC). Current Advisory Committee members are: PAC - Dante
Benedetti, Stacie Clary, William Lacy, David Lighthall, Art Naldoza, and Karen
Ross; TAC - Ted Bradshaw, Holly Brown-Williams, Kent Daane, Maria de la Fuente,
Melanie DuPuis, Lucrecia Farfan-Ramirez, William Horwath, Rachel Mabie, Jim
Oltjen, and John Phillips.
FUNDING AVAILABILITY
Total funding available is expected to be approximately $80,000. We are interested
in funding a variety of projects, with typical awards of $10,000-20,000,
but larger budgets will be considered if well justified. Due to the limited
funds available, only one-year projects will be considered.
PRIORITIES
We are soliciting project proposals in the following targeted topic areas:
- Direct or regional marketing/distribution systems (demonstration
or pilot projects)
- Social and economic analyses of conventional or alternative food systems
SAREP has supported sustainable agriculture research and educational projects that address all three elements of what most consider essential for long-term viability of agriculture: that food and agricultural systems be economically viable, environmentally sound, and socially responsible. This year SAREP is targeting its funds to support research into key social and economic issues such as marketing; linkages between food, agriculture and public health; concerns about energy use in agriculture; economic concentration in the food system; and the quality of life in California's communities. One of SAREP's goals is to make links between sustainable agricultural production and the communities and people that benefit from it. As the state continues its rapid urbanization, fewer and fewer people are connected to agriculture or understand its significance. Through its competitive grants, SAREP helps to create and strengthen links between urban consumers and the agricultural community by supporting demonstration projects that supply farm fresh foods to the public in all income categories, educate community residents about where their food comes from, and afford economic development opportunities to communities and economic stability for growers.
Projects are also needed that assess the current impact and future potential of these new food marketing/distribution approaches. Other research might analyze how agricultural practices, economic and social structures or local, state or federal policies impact the long-term sustainability of California's food and agricultural system, and in turn, how new polices might be developed that would contribute to greater viability of agriculture in California.
Examples of potential projects in these topic areas include but are not limited to:
Direct or regional marketing/distribution systems
- Projects that assess the feasibility or develop pilot projects of regional
ag marketing programs, eco- or place-based labeling programs or local processing
efforts
- Projects to educate consumers about their role in sustainable food systems
- Projects that link regional growers with public or private institutional
buyers such as restaurants, farm-to-school programs, elderly care facilities
or hospitals
- Projects that link low-income residents in rural or urban communities with
local agriculture
Social and economic analyses of conventional or alternative
food systems and policy implications
- Projects that conduct food system assessments and use them in developing
local, regional or statewide food policies
- Projects that evaluate the effectiveness or impact of regional marketing
projects and identify policy implications for state or local governments
- Projects that analyze the role of globalization and/or technological change
on the long-term sustainability of California's food system and suggest policy
alternatives that promote sustainability in this context
- Projects that develop and validate socioeconomic and environmental sustainability indicators for California's food system
CRITERIA/ REQUIREMENTS
All proposals will be judged according to the following criteria-
A. Relevance to Mission
- Describe how your project helps achieve SAREP's mission and at least one
program goal.
- Describe how information from your project will be widely applicable or adaptable within the state.
B. Relevance to Target Audience (Justification)
- Define the target audience/community for the project.
- Describe the importance of the proposed research or project to this audience,
relative to their capacities and needs.
- Describe how the target audience/community will be recruited, involved in
the development and implementation of the project.
- Describe how the results/outcomes of the project will contribute to the
sustainability of the targeted food and/or farming system.
- Cite results of other related projects or activities-either your own or that of other investigators, especially those funded by SAREP-and describe how your proposed project will build upon and extend this prior work.
C. Goals and Objectives
- Based on the needs of your target audience described in the justification
section, state realistic goals for the project.
- Under each goal, state the measurable and outcome-oriented objectives.
D. Methods/Activities/Timetable
- Provide a detailed plan that states how the project goals and objectives will
be achieved.
- Include a detailed timetable linked to the various activities and phases of
the project.
- For research projects, provide a description of your methodology, including
the proposed research design, survey method, and plan for statistical analysis.
- For education and community outreach projects, justify the education/outreach methods.
E. Evaluation
- Describe how you plan to evaluate and measure progress toward meeting stated objectives.
F. Education/Outreach
- Describe how information and services from this project will be extended to the target audience/community.
G. Capabilities of Investigators and Cooperators
- Describe the specific roles and capabilities of each project participant including
past experience with similar projects/activities.
- Provide an abbreviated CV/resumé (one-page limit) for each investigator.
- Provide a letter of support from each cooperating individual, organization, agency, or business. Letters should indicate the amount of time, matching funds, and in-kind services that the cooperator expects to contribute to the project.
H. Budget and Other Grant Support
- Provide a complete budget in the indicated format; show how line items are
calculated. Funds requested must be realistic given the objectives of the project.
- For projects with a larger budget, it is particularly desirable (though not
required) to show leveraging of other resources by providing matching funds
or in-kind contributions.
- Prepare a budget table in the following format. Show amounts and sources of matching funds from the host institution and/or other sources. Matching funds are not required, but projects which show substantial matching funds (including in-kind contributions) are desirable. Projects may begin on July 1, 2003; funds must be used by June 30, 2004.
| Requested Funds | Matching Funds (4) | Source of Matching Funds | |
| Personnel: Name and/or payroll title and % time |
|||
| Employee Benefits | |||
| Supplies and Expenses (1) | |||
| Permanent Equipment (2) | |||
| Travel (3) | |||
| TOTALS |
(1) List by major category, with costs, and justification for
categories over $500. Reimbursement of growers for potential crop loss is not
allowed.
(2) List specific items, their cost, and justification for each item. Equipment
requests are scrutinized carefully, and are generally not approved unless the
equipment is crucial to the project and access is not available by means other
than purchase.
(3) Indicate destination(s), estimate number of trips and cost of each.
(4) Include in-kind contributions.
- Use the following format to identify support for all current and pending projects of the principal investigator(s), not just those pertaining to this proposal. Where listed grant support overlaps or complements the proposal, the tie between existing and/or pending support and the proposal must be explained. How will the total support package tie together? All current research to which principal investigator(s) have committed a portion of their time must be listed, whether or not salary is included in the budgets of the various projects. Provide analogous information for all proposed research which is being considered by, or which will be submitted in the near future, to other possible sponsors.
| Name of Investigator | Title of Project | Supporting Agency | Total $ Amount | Effective & Expiration Dates | % of PI Time Committed |
|
|
Current:
Pending: |
FORMAT REQUIREMENTS
Proposal must be typewritten using font size of 10 pt. or larger. Please observe
the word and page limits stated below. Refer to CRITERIA/REQUIREMENTS section
for description of what should be in each part of section II and III.
Section I. Introduction
A. Cover Page - Use the cover page provided below, or an exact duplicate
of it, for the requested information. The proposal must be approved and cosigned
by the principal investigator and an official representative of the investigator's
organization.
Click below to receive the cover page template as:
- Microsoft Word Document
- PDF File
[If you have problems downloading these files, email llfugitt@ucdavis.edu]
B. Summary - (500 words or less)
The summary and goals/objectives sections together should stand alone as a definitive
description of your project in lay language. The summary should include a statement
of the critical problem(s) to be addressed, a summary of the research or education
approach, and a statement of the potential benefits/impacts expected in addressing
the goals of sustainable agriculture. (If your project is funded, the summary
and objectives sections will be the basis of your project's entry in SAREP's
Projects Database on the Web.)
C. Budget and Other Grant Support - (see above: "H")
Section II. Body of Proposal - must not exceed seven single-spaced typewritten pages (10 pt. font or larger)
A. Relevance to SAREP's Mission
B. Relevance to Target Audience (Justification)
C. Goals and Objectives
D. Methods/Activities/Timetable
E. Evaluation
F. Education/Outreach
G. Capabilities of Investigators and Cooperators
Section III. Required Appendices
A. Literature Cited
B. Resumés/CVs
C. Letters of support
SUBMITTAL AND REVIEW SCHEDULE
Proposal packets must be received by 5:00 p.m., Thursday, May 1, 2003.
Proposals received after the deadline will not be reviewed. Proposals will not
be accepted via FAX or email. Proposal packets must include:
- Signed original and 16 copies (double-sided preferred)
of the full proposal.
- 16 copies of Section I of the proposal.
- Copy of full proposal on computer diskette, labeled with P.I. name and word processing program used (we prefer MS Word for Windows or rich text format) OR send a copy of the file via email attachment to baransom@ucdavis.edu. Please contact SAREP if this requirement presents an undue hardship.
Proposal packets should be sent to:
UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SAREP)
University of California
One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA 95616-8716
Physical location for delivery services (UPS, Federal Express, etc.): DANR Building, Hopkins Road (off Hutchison Road west of Highway 113).
All proposals will be reviewed by members of SAREP's Program and Technical Advisory Committees. These include individuals from farming and ranching, government, public organizations, and institutions of higher education, all of whom are knowledgeable regarding the issues and practices of sustainable agriculture. Where necessary, additional peer review for scientific merit will be sought. Successful applicants will be notified of awards in June 2003. Applicants from outside of the University of California should be aware that additional time is required to initiate a contract in order to award grant funds.
FURTHER INFORMATION
SAREP's Mission Statement:
SAREP provides leadership and support for scientific research and education in agricultural and food systems that are sustainable; that is, are economically viable, conserve natural resources and biodiversity, and enhance the quality of life in the state's communities. SAREP serves farmers, farmworkers, ranchers, researchers, educators, regulators, policy makers, industry professionals, consumers, and community organizations across the state. SAREP is a Statewide Special Program within the UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Based on our overall mission and the founding legislation, SAREP has two goals:
- To assist California farmers and ranchers in developing and implementing
sustainable production and marketing systems; and
- To support California's rural and urban communities in understanding the concept and value of sustainable agriculture and participating in sustainable food and agricultural systems.
If you have any questions, please call Gail Feenstra, food systems analyst, at (530) 752-8408 or gwfeenstra@ucdavis.edu; or Bev Ransom, grants manager at (530) 754-8546 or baransom@ucdavis.edu.
Please consult SAREP's Project Database on the Web (www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/grants/database/) for examples of previously funded projects. More information about SAREP is available in the Biennial Report: 1999-2001, available on SAREP's Web site (www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/pubs/progress/99-01/) or by request at (530) 752-7556.
The University of California prohibits discrimination against or harassment of any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or status as a covered veteran (special disabled veteran, Vietnam-era veteran or any other veteran who served on active duty during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized). University Policy is intended to be consistent with the provisions of applicable State and Federal laws. Inquiries regarding the University's nondiscrimination policies may be directed to the Affirmative Action/Staff Personnel Services Director, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 300 Lakeside Dr., 6th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612-3550 (510) 987-0096.
Cover Page- UC SAREP 2003 Research & Education Proposals
(This should be the top page of each copy of your proposal.)
Project Title:_________________________________________________________________
Project Topic Area:
___ a. Direct/ regional marketing demonstrations
___ b. Social and economic analyses of food system
Principal Investigator (main contact):
Name: ______________________________
College/University or non-profit org.: ________________________
Mailing Address:_________________________________________________________
Telephone __________________ Email _________________________ FAX _____________
Other Investigators:
Name & Affiliation---------------Mailing Address---------------Telephone-------------------Email
Cooperators:
Name & Affiliation---------------Mailing Address---------------Telephone-------------------Email
Budget Total: (Total requested from SAREP) _____________
County(ies) project would be conducted in: ______________
Approval Signatures:
Principal Investigator ___________________________
Office of Research/Representative of Organization ___________________________
for University P.I.s: Department Chair _____________________
or County Director ___________________ and Regional Director _____________________
Click Below to receive cover page template as:
- Microsoft Word Document
- PDF File
[If you have problems downloading these files, email llfugitt@ucdavis.edu]