Sponsor
Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC)
Program
Dairy Production Research Funding Program
For More Information
DFC - Dairy Production Research Funding Program 2024
Guidelines - DFC Dairy Production Research Funding Program
Letter of Intent Forms: Research Project Component or Research Program Component
Description
DFC’s Dairy Production Research Funding Program (the 'Program') aims to support scientific research in the area of dairy production and generate new knowledge and innovations for the benefit of the dairy sector. DFC has adopted a peer-review system and a funding application process similar to those of major granting agencies (e.g., NSERC).
Research Priorities:
The objective of the Program is to foster innovation, increase farm efficiency and sustainability, and enhance animal health, care and welfare practices. Research projects submitted under the Program should aim to address issues that have a national perspective. Please refer to the Appendix in the Program Guidelines for a complete list of Research Priorities.
Eligibility
- Researchers from Canadian universities and colleges and/or from federal and provincial research centres are eligible to apply to the Program. Non-Canadian researchers could be considered as co-investigators or collaborators.
- The Principal Investigator (the “Principal Investigator”) is responsible for the complete direction of the approved Project (the “Project”) and other activities associated with its efficient execution. The role of the co-investigator(s) in the Project must be clearly defined. Students and trainees are normally not eligible to act as co-investigators.
- A researcher cannot be the Principal Investigator for two projects simultaneously carried out under this Program. However, the same researcher can be a co-investigator for no more than one additional project.
- Networking is encouraged. Projects should, when possible, involve complementary teams of researchers from across Canada.
- Commercial product research and development is not eligible.
Maximum Project Value
The Dairy Production Research Funding Program has two components.
Research Project Component
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This component supports single, focused research projects that meet the characteristics below.
- Duration: 1 to 3 years.
- Maximum amount that can be requested from DFC: Up to $150,000 and up to 50% of the total Project budget.
- Matching funds must cover at least 50% of the total Project budget and should come from sources other than dairy farmer organizations (e.g., government, academia, other ag or food industry partners). In-kind contributions might be considered (i.e., scholarship for summer and/or graduate students, material and supplies, technician and/or professional time, user fees, laboratory analyses) as matching funds.
Research Program Component
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This component supports national research programs, i.e., a set of projects that form a connected package, involve several research and funding partners, and meet the characteristics below.
- Duration: 3 to 5 years.
- Maximum amount that can be requested from DFC: Up to $150,000 and up to 33.3% of the total Project budget.
- Matching funds must cover at least 66.7% of the total Project budget and should come from sources other than dairy farmer organizations (e.g., government, academia, other ag or food industry partners). In-kind contributions might be considered (i.e., scholarship for summer and/or graduate students, material and supplies, technician and/or professional time, user fees, laboratory analyses) as matching funds.
Indirect Costs
DFC will pay no indirect costs.
Deadlines
If College-level review is required, your College will communicate its earlier internal deadlines.
| Type | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Internal Deadline | Please submit your LOI, along with a signed OR-5 form to the Research Services Office (research.services@uoguelph.ca).
| |
External Deadline | Applicant to submit LOI form to DFC (dairyresearch@dfc-plc.ca) | |
Internal Deadline | If invited, please submit a copy of your Full Proposal for review/approval to the Research Services Office (research.services@uoguelph.ca). | |
External Deadline | If invited, applicant to submit Full Proposal to DFC (dairyresearch@dfc-plc.ca) |
How to Apply
Funding Application Process - please see the Program Guidelines and Program Website for complete details on the application process.
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a) Letter of Intent
- The Letter of Intent must be submitted on the Letter of Intent Form to dairyresearch@dfc-plc.ca by December 6, 2024. The Letter of Intent Form for each component can be found on the website.
- Please note: The same Principal Investigator can submit more than one Letter of Intent. However, regardless of how many Letters of Intent are approved, only one Proposal per Principal Investigator can be submitted for final review. Switching the names of the Principal Investigator and of the co-investigators is not appropriate and may exclude the Letter of Intent or the Proposal from further consideration.
- The PDF form provided for the Letter of Intent is self-contained and specifically designed to eliminate the need for additional supporting material to transmit relevant information (i.e., appendices or a cover letter). Additional pages will be removed from the Letter of Intent Form.
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b) Full Proposal
- Upon selection of a Letter of Intent, DFC will send an invitation to submit a Proposal to the Principal Investigator and will provide a Full Proposal Form to be completed and submitted to dairyresearch@dfc-plc.ca by April 14, 2025.
- Major changes from the Letter of Intent will not be permitted unless they have been suggested by the Production Expert Scientific Advisory Committee. Making such changes could lead to the Proposal not being reviewed.