CDFA ACCEPTING CONCEPT PROPOSALS FOR 2014 FERTILIZER RESEARCH AND EDUCATION GRANTS
SACRAMENTO, December 17, 2013 – The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) is currently accepting concept proposals for the 2014 grant cycle. FREP’s competitive grant program funds research that advances the environmentally safe and agronomically sound use of fertilizing materials.
The 2014 Request for Proposals (RFP) is consistent with several new initiatives put forth by the department to help effectively manage nitrogen fertilizers in agriculture. New this year is a call for research projects to fill gaps in nitrogen management information for specific crops grown in the San Joaquin Valley, including corn, pima cotton, processing tomatoes, walnuts, and citrus. In addition, FREP is encouraging the development and submission of concepts that demonstrate experimental research trial data (e.g., prior FREP research findings) at the field scale in organic and conventional fertilizers. Other priority research areas are to evaluate strategies and potential technologies to increase crop nitrogen fertilizer uptake; reduce nitrogen movement off irrigated agricultural lands, including nitrate movement below the root zone; and minimize nitrous oxide emissions from nitrogen fertilizers. Additionally, as in previous years, FREP seeks concepts on developing Best Management Practices (BMPs) along with proposals to provide education and outreach opportunities on effectively and efficiently managing fertilizing materials.
Applicants are invited to submit two-page concept proposals to FREP by Wednesday, January 15, 2014. Concepts submitted should be in line with at least one of the program’s identified priority research areas. Further information on the 2014 FREP request for concept proposals including timelines, application criteria, priority research areas, and examples of successful proposals are available at: http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/ffldrs/frep/CompetitiveGrantProgram.html
All concept proposals will be reviewed by FREP’s Technical Advisory Subcommittee. Promising concept proposals that support at least one of the listed priority research areas will be invited for development into full project proposals.
Applicants may also send e-mail inquiries to FREP@cdfa.ca.gov
Since 1990, the Fertilizer Research and Education Program has funded more than 160 research projects focusing on California’s important and environmentally sensitive cropping systems. A database of completed and ongoing research is publically available at: http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/ffldrs/frep/index.html