USDA AFRI: 2012 Climate and Bioenergy RFAs Team discussions: Oct. 10,

Outline Background information on projects funded under the Climate Variability and Change & Sustainable Bioenergy RFAs: Larkin Powell Resources available from the Office of Proposal Development: Carrie Wiese Advice from faculty colleagues INDIVIDUAL DISCUSSIONS: team formation, idea generation

USDA AFRI 2012 RFAs Released (as of 10 Oct 2011): Challenge: Climate Variability and Change Challenge: Sustainable Bioenergy Challenge: Food Security (IANR discussion: Oct. 19) NIFA Fellowships Grant RFAs not yet released: Foundational Programs Challenge: Childhood Obesity Prevention Challenge: Food Safety

NIFA Fellowships Targets doctoral candidates and postdoctoral trainees Goal: increase the number of gifted agricultural scientists in the United States (food, forestry and agricultural sciences) Research areas: One of the five AFRI Challenge Areas: Agricultural Science for Climate Variability and Change; Childhood Obesity Prevention; Food Safety; Food Security; Sustainable Bioenergy. One of the six AFRI Foundational areas: Plant health and production and plant products; Animal health and production and animal products; Food safety, nutrition, and health; Renewable energy, natural resources, and environment; Agriculture systems and technology; Agriculture economics and rural communities LOI deadline: Nov. 8, 2011; Application Deadline: Jan. 19, 2012

Climate variability and change Long term goals: Develop new varieties of plants and animals, and identify new strategies for agriculture and forest production systems for adaptation to climate variability and change Advance sustainable use of natural resources and support sustainable rural economies under variable and changing climates Reduce the use of energy, nitrogen fertilizer, and water by ten percent (based on 2010 usage) Increase carbon sequestration by fifteen percent through resilient agriculture and forest production systems by 2030

Climate variability and change Two programs Integrated Approaches to Climate Adaptation and Mitigation in Agroecosystems LOI deadline: 20 Oct. 2011; Application deadline: 16 Dec Regional Approaches for Adaptation to and Mitigation of Climate Variability and Change Nebraska led team has received an AFRI planning grant to prepare a proposal for this call (contact: Galen Erickson)

Climate variability and change Program area: Integrated Approaches to Climate Adaptation and Mitigation in Agroecosystems Standard Grants: $750,000, 4 years; also Conference & Food and Agriculture Science Enhancement Grants Type: Integrated Projects requested Must include two functions of research, Extension, or education Must address mitigation and/or adaptation for research, education, and/or extension for a broad range of U.S. agricultural systems including forest and range systems

Climate variability and change Program area: Integrated Approaches to Climate Adaptation and Mitigation in Agroecosystems Projects must include two of the following program activities: Management options that will mitigate the impacts of agroecosystems on climate variability and change Management strategies, models and technologies that facilitate adaptation to climate variability and change Knowledge of how human behavior, decision, and choices affect carbon, nitrogen, water, and energy use Educational activities that develop human capital relevant to the mitigation and adaption goals Extension and outreach programs to deliver science-based knowledge and informal educational programs to various communities relevant to the mitigation and adaptation goals

Sustainable bioenergy Five programs: Development and Sustainable Production of Regionally- appropriate Biomass Feedstocks Recommend careful coordination: A north central regional CAP was funded last year based in IA (with several UNL faculty engaged); chance for second from this region? Policy Options for and Impacts on Regional Biofuels Production Systems Impacts of Regional Bioenergy Feedstock Production Systems on Wildlife and Pollinators Socioeconomic Impacts of Biofuels on Rural Communities Environmental Implications of Direct and Indirect Land Use Change All programs LOI deadline: 25 Oct. 2011; Application deadline: 15 Dec. 2011

Sustainable bioenergy Program Area: Policy Options for and Impacts on Regional Biofuels Production Systems Standard Grants: $350,000, 2-4 years; Conference & FASE Grants Type: Research Project (integrated not required) Projects should evaluate and develop policy options for achieving sustainable regional biofuels/bioenergy production and commercialization. Proposals should address a diverse range of agricultural, biofuels, or environmental policy options and opportunities (e.g., standards, mandates, subsidies, tax credits, trade, and agricultural assistance programs) that may impact economic, environmental, social, and other prospects.

Sustainable bioenergy Program Area: Impacts of Regional Bioenergy Feedstock Production Systems on Wildlife and Pollinators Standard Grants: $500,000, 2-4 years; Conference & FASE Grants Type: Research Project (integrated not required) Projects should focus on issues such as fragmentation of habitat, edge-effects, migratory and breeding patterns, predator-prey interactions, and other wildlife issues impacted by biomass development. Research should focus on the development of best-management practices to minimize adverse effects of landscape change (for biofuels) on wildlife and pollinators.

Sustainable bioenergy Program Area: Socioeconomic Impacts of Biofuels on Rural Communities Standard Grants: $350,000, 2-4 years; Conference & FASE Grants Type: Research Project (integrated not required) Projects should enhance scientific knowledge of socioeconomic behaviors, potential direct and indirect impacts, and implications of sustainable regional production of biofuels and biobased products. Proposals should address the nexus of social, economic, legal, or institutional factors; production or markets constraints and vulnerabilities at different scales; or temporal dynamics leading to long-term sustainable biofuels production and commercialization. Technology adoption; social acceptability; income and welfare effects; implications for small-scale and minority producers; rural economic diversification and development; public health, employment and human capital issues; the role of agricultural cooperatives; risks and uncertainties management; the linkage among food, feed, fiber, and biofuels production; or the U.S. role in global food and feed markets.

Sustainable bioenergy Program Area: Environmental Implications of Direct and Indirect Land Use Change Standard Grants: $500,000, 2-4 years; Conference & FASE Grants Type: Research Project (integrated not required) Projects should enhance understanding of the environmental implications of direct or indirect land use change as a result of biofuels feedstock production. Assess ways to minimize potential negative environmental consequences of biofuels-induced land use change. Risks to ecosystem services; issues of water availability; issues of soil, water and air quality; and indirect land use change with potential cascading environmental effects.

Final comments Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants NIFA Fellowships & New Investigator Grants Apply to specific program areas Follow specific program area rules Strengthening Grants UNL not eligible UNL can collaborate as co-investigators or receive sub-contracts on projects with colleagues at other institutions. EPSCoR States: Alabama Montana South Carolina Alaska Nevada South Dakota Connecticut New Hampshire Vermont Idaho New Mexico West Virginia Kentucky North Dakota Wyoming Maine Oklahoma Mississippi Rhode Island

Grant Proposal Development at UNL Resources for AFRI Investigators Carrie Wiese Office of Proposal Development October 10, 2011

About the Office of Proposal Development  Four staff members within the Office of Research focused on improving the quality and competitiveness of external grant proposals  Not the same as the Office of Sponsored Programs, but the two offices work together  Offer customized services depending on the needs of the individual investigator or the group

How OPD Can Help  Meet with the PI/project team and outline a plan to develop the proposal; generate a proposal outline and a proposal development timeline  Provide advice on proposal strategy and work to ensure the application package meets sponsor requirements  Manage the proposal draft; make and track all changes to the draft by members of the writing team  Generate non-scientific sections of the proposal (e.g., data management plans, facilities/equipment descriptions, project timelines, etc.)

How OPD Can Help (cont’d)  Proofread and edit the proposal and associated documents and offer formatting suggestions to improve the proposal’s organization and visual appeal  Offer constructive, creative ideas about how to improve the proposal as well as the services of our graphic designer to assist with presentation of charts, tables, graphs, and other graphical elements  Identify areas where the proposal might not address key requirements or review criteria

AFRI Proposal Routing and Submission  Business center grant specialists  Research and Extension project proposals – Submitted through IANR Finance & Personnel  Education project proposals – Submitted through Sponsored Programs  Integrated project proposals – Submission determined by the project’s primary focus

Other Relevant Resources  NURAMP – Comprehensive research administration education program for UNL faculty, staff, post-docs, and grad students – More info/register at  ORED’s Expert Review of Grant Proposals – Provides peer review of proposals prior to submission – Request form available online at

How to Find OPD  – “Staff Directory”  Main office is on City Campus – 103 Alexander West – NE Corner of 14 th and Q Streets  Satellite office on East Campus – 310E Ag Hall, phone: – Office hours: 7:30 am – 4:00 pm – Staffed three days a week (currently W, Th, F)

Questions? Carrie Wiese  

Additional comments

ARD Resources Grant Team Facilitation: Larkin Powell

Small group discussions Please connect to one of the following conference calls: CLIMATE: and access code: # BIOENERGY: and access code: #