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REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS


1999 SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION GRANTS FOR:

 

PROPOSALS DUE: JANUARY 6, 1999

The UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SAREP) is soliciting proposals for new and continuing research and education projects that will advance the mission and goals of this program.

  • Mission: SAREP provides leadership and support for scientific research and education to encourage farmers, farmworkers, and consumers in California to produce, distribute, process and consume food and fiber in a manner that is economically viable, sustains natural resources and biodiversity, and enhances the quality of life in the state’s diverse communities for present and future generations.

    Program Goals: SAREP works to ensure that –

    • Please consult our publications for specific methods and examples of projects that address these goals. Free publications include a five-page paper, What is Sustainable Agriculture?, our Biennial Report: 1995-1997, and the Winter/Spring 1998 edition of our newsletter, Sustainable Agriculture. All are available on SAREP’s web site (www.sarep.ucdavis.edu)or by request from SAREP at (530) 752-7556.

    Note: Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for Graduate Student Awards and for Educational Events (meetings, demonstrations, and field days) have been previously released. The due date for these proposals is November 6, 1998. We are also simultaneously releasing separate RFPs for both Biologically Integrated Farming Systems Projects and Methyl Bromide Research Projects. All RFPs may be obtained on SAREP’s web site (www.sarep.ucdavis.edu) or by contacting the SAREP office (530) 752-7556.

    CRITERIA

    All proposals will be judged according to the following criteria-

    Scientific Merit: Are the methods clearly defined and appropriate to achieve the stated objectives? Has the Principal Investigator demonstrated a thorough review of published literature and/or related projects and activities? Do the individuals and organizations submitting the proposal have adequate qualifications and relevant experience?

    Relevance: Does the project help achieve SAREP’s mission and at least one of SAREP’s program goals? Does it clearly demonstrate how the issues or problems being researched are important to sustainable agriculture in California?

    Participant Involvement: Does the proposal demonstrate that end-users were included in the development of the project or will be part of the implementation? For larger, collaborative projects, does it foster collaboration that educates and links a variety of players in the food system? (Possible participants include farmers, farmworkers, distributors, researchers, farm advisors, non-profit groups, policymakers, community organizations, and consumers.)

    Impact: Does the project produce new information, or make accessible existing information, that reaches a significant audience and has a timely and tangible impact?

    Cost-Effectiveness: Does the proposal provide evidence that the money requested will be used effectively and is realistic given the objectives of the project? Are the funds requested reasonable in relation to the expected benefits of the project? Do the project plans provide leveraging of other resources by offering matching funds or in-kind contributions?

    FUNDING PRIORITIES

    We wish to fund a mix of projects reflecting the agricultural and geographic diversity in the state, projects useful to both large and small farmers and ranchers, as well as farmworkers, distributors, and consumers. The specific possibilities mentioned in each area below are intended to give suggestions but not to limit possible proposals. Projects that creatively link researchers with other partners (e.g. on-farm research projects) are particularly welcome. Projects that focus exclusively on research will also be considered, especially when it can be demonstrated that the results will be useful to ongoing or future development of sustainable food and agricultural systems.

    Crop and Livestock Production

    Proposals should be explicitly linked to the principles of sustainable farming practices including:

    1. Management of the soil to enhance soil quality and reduce the off-site movement of soil, nutrients and pesticides;
    2. Reduced reliance on agricultural chemicals;
    3. Increased reliance on biological and cultural controls and other methods that are environmentally safe and reduce the use of nonrenewable energy;
    4. Diversification of crops and/or livestock and the surrounding habitat to enhance the biological and economic stability of the farm or ranch.

    We encourage research proposals that support existing or enable new biologically integrated farming systems extension projects. Information on existing biologically integrated farming systems extension projects is available on SAREP’s web site (www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/bifs/) or by request from SAREP at (530) 752-7556.

    Within these general principles, the following topics are of particular interest:

    Agroforestry
    We encourage projects that increase understanding of management systems involving trees and/or shrubs deliberately combined with crops and/or livestock. We invite proposals that would increase technical knowledge and awareness among practitioners and resource professionals of the agronomic, biological and economic value of agroforestry practices in California, i.e. alley cropping, silvopasture, forest farming, windbreaks and riparian buffer strips. We are especially interested in projects that will:

    [Grants for agroforestry projects will be supported from a special donor-directed fund established through
    a grant from the International Tree Crops Institute USA Inc. General information about temperate
    agroforestry practices can be obtained by contacting: National Agroforestry Center, USDA NRCS/FS,
    East Campus-UNL, Lincoln, NE 68583, Tel. (402) 437-5178, www.unl.edu/nac. Association for
    Temperate Agroforestry, 1-30 Agriculture Building, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, Tel.
    (573) 882-3647, www.missouri.edu/~afta.]

    Soil Management
    We encourage projects that address the following topics for research or education: improvement of soil fertility, nutrient cycling, improvement of soil structure and water penetration, suppression of soil-borne pathogens, improvement of erosion control, and improvement of our understanding of basic soil processes. Specific practices that are used to achieve these goals may include:

    Habitat Management for Biological and Cultural Pest Control
    Projects are encouraged that increase our understanding of the control of insect, weed, disease, or vertebrate pests through the manipulation of habitats within, on or adjacent to crops. Specific practices may include:

    Animal Production
    Proposals that address the following issues or other factors related to sustainable animal agriculture are invited:

    Economic Analysis
    Projects in this category include those that assess the costs and returns to farmers and ranchers of different management practices and systems. We are particularly interested in projects that compare practices and systems that are thought to be more environmentally and/or socially advantageous than those currently practiced. The analysis should assess costs and returns within the current economic and regulatory context.

    Community Development

    The following topics are of particular interest:

    Community Food Systems
    We are seeking to fund long-term, collaborative projects that work toward the goal of integrating sustainable food production, processing, distribution and consumption to enhance the economic and social health of a city, county, or region. Such projects should be designed to increase community participation in several of the following areas:

    Marketing, Consumer Education and Community Food Security
    Projects are encouraged that:

    Community Economic Development
    Projects are encouraged that:

    Food Policy Councils
    We invite proposals that:

    Public Policy

    Projects in this category can include those that analyze the impact of current local, state, and federal government policies on the sustainability of California agriculture. We are also interested in projects that assess the costs, benefits and political feasibility of policy alternatives. Topic areas include, but are not limited to:

    ELIGIBILITY AND FUNDING

    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 Public Advisory and Technical Advisory Committees are not eligible to participate as principal investigator, investigator, or cooperator on any project. Proposals will be rejected if they include investigators or cooperators who are on SAREP’s staff or Public Advisory Committee (PAC) or Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). Current members are: PAC – Ron Alves, Robert Bornt, Cynthia Cory, Frank Dawley, Debra Denton, Leonard Diggs, Jeff Dlott, James Liebman, Tim O’Neill, An Peischel, Jim Rider, Michael Straus, Brock Taylor, and Beth von Gunten; TAC - Edith Allen, Ernst Biberstein, Steve Blank, Caroline Bledsoe, Holly Brown-Williams, Robert Gottlieb, Blaine Hanson, Tim Hartz, Donald Klingborg, Craig Kolodge, Rachel Mabie, Janet Savage, Paul Siri, Doreen Stabinsky, Caroline Stull, Rob Thayer, Joanna Wheatley, and Joan Wright.

    Total funding available is expected to be approximately $225,000. We are interested in funding a variety of small projects, with typical awards of $5,000-20,000, but larger budgets will be considered if well justified. Larger awards are reserved for integrative and interdisciplinary projects that involve teams of researchers, or for projects that link a range of players and constituent groups within agriculture and the food system.

    Some multiple-year projects may be conditionally approved for up to three years, contingent upon availability of funds and receipt of satisfactory progress reports. In view of limited funds available, requests for multiple-year funding must be well justified. Multiple-year project proposals should indicate total length (number of years) with a work plan and budget for up to three years. Funding of previously funded projects will be dependent on provision of matching funds or in-kind contributions.

    SUBMITTAL AND REVIEW SCHEDULE

    Proposal packets must be received by 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 6, 1999. Proposals received after the deadline will not be reviewed. Proposals will not be accepted via FAX. Proposal packets must include:

    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 Public 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 early April 1999. 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.

    FORMAT REQUIREMENTS

    The body of the proposal (Sections C-H) must not exceed five single-spaced typewritten pages 10 pt. font or larger. Other required sections include cover page, budget, literature cited, signatures, and resumes.

    A. Cover Page
    Use the cover page provided, or an exact duplicate of it, for the requested information. The summary should be 200 words or less and may be continued on a separate page if necessary. The proposal should be approved and cosigned by the principal investigator and an official representative of the investigator’s organization.

    B. Budget and other Grant Support
    Prepare a budget table for each year (up to three years) 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. Funds awarded in April 1999 must be used by June 30, 2000.

     

     

    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.

     

    Title of Project

    Supporting Agency

    Total $ Amount

    Effective & Expiration Dates

    % of P.I. Time Committed
    Current:

    Pending:

    		        

     

    C. Objectives
    A clear, concise, and complete statement of each specific research or educational objective.

    D. Justification
    Describe the importance of the proposed research, and how it addresses SAREP’s mission and goals. Indicate the project’s potential for measurable progress toward long-term solution(s) of the sustainability problem(s) you are addressing. Describe how the project results contribute to the sustainable functioning of the entire food or fiber production system. Cite prior research and/or the results of other related projects or activities that provide a foundation for your project.

    E. Procedures
    For each objective clearly define and describe the research or educational methods you propose to employ. Indicate data to be gathered and analyses to be used.

    F. Education and Outreach
    Describe the educational uses of the project and the avenues planned for outreach.

    G. Evaluation
    Describe how you will evaluate the impact of the project.

    H. Time Table
    Outline your time table for the phases of research and education, including the completion date(s). Identify date(s) of all milestones and products, including field days and other outreach activities. Due to our funding cycle, the first budget year can begin as early as April 1, 1999 and must end by June 30, 2000.

    I. Literature Cited

    J. Required Signatures
    Provide a brief summary of each investigator’s and cooperator’s role in the project. All investigators should include the percentage of their time that will be committed to the project. A signature is required from each investigator and cooperator to indicate their willingness to participate in this project as described. (This requirement could be fulfilled by a letter of intent from each cooperator.)

    K. Resumes

    Attach a one-page resume (no more than one page) for each investigator.

    L. Mailing Label for Notification

    If you wish to be notified that we have received your proposal, please include a self-addressed mailing label on top of your proposal packet.

    Further Information

    If you have any questions, please call Bev Ransom, grants manager, at (530) 754-8546 or baransom@ucdavis.edu

     

    The University of California, in accordance with applicable Federal and State law and University policy, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, medical condition (cancer-related), ancestry, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation, or status as a Vietnam-era veteran or special disabled veteran.

    Inquiries regarding the University’s nondiscrimination policies may be directed to the Affirmative Action Director, University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 1111 Franklin St., 6th Floor, Oakland, CA 94607. (510) 987–0096.

     

    Cover Page- UC SAREP 1999 Research & Education Proposals

    Attach a completed copy of this page to each copy of your proposal.

    Project Title:____________________________________________________________________________________________

    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 Totals: (Total requested from SAREP)
    Year 1:___________                              Year 2: ___________                              Year 3: ___________

    Keywords: (List a maximum of 10 keywords that characterize your project.)

    __________________________________________________________________________________________

    County(ies) project would be conducted in: ____________ Crop(s) if applicable: _______________

    Summary: (200 words or less; continue on a separate page if necessary)

    Approvals:

    ___________________________      ___________________________________________
    Principal Investigator                          Office of Research/Representative of Organization

                                ___________________
    for University P.I.s:   Department Chair

                                 _________________              __________________________
     for UC Coop Ext:       County Director           &       Regional Director

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