Call for letters of intent: Western Grains - Integrated Crop Agronomy Cluster 2018-2023

Sponsor

Western Grains Research Foundation

Program

Integrated Crop Agronomy Cluster 2018-2023

For More Information

Request for Letter of Intent and Template Form

Description

Currently, AAFC and the agriculture industry are preparing for the follow-up to the Growing Forward 2 research funding model through the next Agriculture Policy Framework. The industry has very good experience with commodity-specific research in previous Growing Forward initiatives. The next Agriculture Policy Framework provides an opportunity to fill a gap in the area of cross-commodity agronomic research through an Integrated Crop Agronomy Cluster.

Funding organizations from across Canada are participating in the development of an Integrated Crop Agronomy Cluster for submission to the next federal Agriculture Policy Framework (APF), the successor to the current Growing Forward 2 programming. The next APF is expected to be accepting coordinated funding applications by the summer of 2017 and to be fully launched by April 1, 2018.

In preparation for this new cluster, we are requesting letters of intent (LOI) from researchers to identify unique and strategic multi-crop agronomy projects that would provide significant benefits to the whole farm using a systems approach.

What could be included in an Integrated Crop Agronomy Cluster? Generally, commodity-specific research has very good support by levy and value-chain groups, whereas cross-cutting agronomic research is currently orphaned. Three themes that have emerged are

  • Resiliency;
  • Mitigation and
  • Efficiency.

Examples include soil health topics, input use efficiency, pest surveillance and management, and multi-disciplinary approaches to crop production systems including rotation studies. Where possible, carefully planned long-term rotation studies from which multiple layers can be extracted to address many questions would be encouraged to tackle several of the research needs.

Eligibility

Eligible researchers include those in universities, not-for-profit research institutions, and federal and provincial research organizations.

Indirect Costs

15%

Project Duration

Research funding may be secured for up to five years from April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2023.

Deadlines

If College-level review is required, your College will communicate its earlier internal deadlines.

TypeDateNotes
External Deadline

Please note letters of intent must be submitted to the sponsor no later than February 8, 2017. 

LOIs are not required to be submitted to the Office of Research. Applicants invited to submit a full proposal must contact the Office of Research, as a full proposal along with a signed OR-5 will be required before the full application can be submitted to the sponsor.

How to Apply

The process will be carried out in three stages: i) the LOI; ii) full proposal stage; and iii) consideration by AAFC through the Agriculture Policy Framework

  1. Letter of Interest (LOI)
    • Submission deadline: February 8, 2017.
    • Successful applicants will be notified of the decision by early March and asked to provide a full proposal for further consideration .
    • LOI submission details: Please submit your LOI in Word format and use the "Integrated Crop Agronomy Cluster Letter of Intent Form.”
    • Send completed LOI by email to: IntegratedCluster@WesternGrains.com.

       2.  Full proposal
           Those invited to submit a full proposal must submit their full proposal to the Office of Research two weeks in advance of the sponsor's deadline, along with a signed OR-5.​

Information For Co-applicants

If you are part of an application or team that has been invited to submit a full proposal but are not the lead, please contact the Office of Research as soon as possible.

For Questions, please contact

Western Grains Research Foundation
Pat Flaten
Program Manger, WGRF
​Phone: 1-306-975-0207​
PatFlaten@WesternGrains.com 

- OR -

Matthew Czerwinski​
​Project Manager, CFCRA
​Phone: 1-519-767-0212​
mczerwinski@gfo.ca

Office of Research

Angela Vuk, Senior Grants and Contracts Specialist
Research Services Office
519-824-4120 x55026
avuk@uoguelph.ca

Meghan Grimes, Awards and Agreements Officer
Research Services Office
519-824-4120 x54807
mgrimes@uoguelph.ca

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