Call for Letters of Intent-CFCRA Field Crop Research Cluster (2028-2033)
Sponsor
Canadian Field Crop Research Alliance (CFCRA)
Program
Field Crop Research Cluster
Description
The Canadian Field Crop Research Alliance (CFCRA) is pleased to invite Letters of Intent (LOI) for research project ideas to be considered for inclusion in a new Field Crop Research Cluster to be submitted to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) AgriScience Program under the Next Policy Framework (NPF), expected to run from 2028 to 2033.
This CFCRA Call for Letters of Intent focuses on Canada-wide corn, oat and soybean research, as well as eastern Canadian wheat and barley research. Proposed research projects should address the research priorities for AgriScience Programming identified by the CFCRA, while also responding to the priorities and focus areas for the NPF identified in The Halifax Statement [1].
Eligibility
Eligible applicants include any researchers in Canadian academic institutions, not-for-profit research institutions, federal and provincial government research organizations, and private sector organizations.
All applicants must demonstrate the capacity to conduct sound research. Applicants must also be able to explain how they will address CFCRA commercialization principles, including transparent, non-exclusive and broad-based distribution of research results and technologies, with the goal of maximizing economic benefit to Canadian farmers and the broader value chain.
Indirect Costs
15%
Project Duration
Start date is no earlier than April 1, 2028 and end date is to be no later than March 31, 2033
Special Notes
LOIs involving any AAFC collaborators are subject to an earlier internal AAFC review process. To allow sufficient time for this internal AAFC review, these LOIs must be submitted to AAFC management by AAFC researchers by Wednesday, October 21, 2026. Please refer to the 2028-2033 CFCRA Call for LOI & Guidelines for further details.
Please note that submission of an LOI does not guarantee that a project will ultimately be included in the CFCRA’s AgriScience Cluster application to AAFC. LOIs will be reviewed as part of the Cluster development process, and selected project ideas may subsequently be invited to submit a full proposal.
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 an OR-5 Form to research.services@uoguelph.ca [2]. | |
External Deadline | LOIs due to Matthew Czerwinski, Project Manager, CFCRA, at mczerwinski@gfo.ca [3]. |
How to Apply
Completed LOIs should be submitted in Microsoft Word format using the ‘CFCRA LOI Template' by email to Matthew Czerwinski, Project Manager, CFCRA at mczerwinski@gfo.ca [3]. All submitted Letters of Intent will receive an email confirming receipt within two (2) business days.
Attachment(s)
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 2028-2033 CFCRA Call for LOI & Guidelines.pdf [4] | 485.33 KB |
 2028-2033 CFCRA Cluster LOI - TEMPLATE.docx [5] | 165.09 KB |
| APPENDIX A - 2026 CFCRA Research Priorities for AgriScience Programming.pdf [6] | 470.22 KB |
| APPENDIX B - Plant Genetics Improvement Continuum.pdf [7] | 57.64 KB |