WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced support for the development of environmentally and economically sustainable aquaculture programs. Funding is provided through the Aquaculture Research Program, authorized by the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grants Act.
The Aquaculture Research Competitive Grants Program supports the development of an environmentally and economically sustainable aquaculture industry in the U.S. by generating new science-based information and technology to address industry constraints. Results of projects supported by this program are intended to help improve the profitability of the U.S. aquaculture industry, reduce the U.S. trade deficit, increase domestic food security, expand markets for U.S.-produced products, and provide more jobs for rural and coastal America.
This year, NIFA is soliciting applied aquaculture research applications that directly address major constraints to the U.S. aquaculture industry and focus on one or more program area priorities:
- Genetics of commercial aquaculture species;
- Critical disease issues impacting commercial aquaculture species;
- Design of environmentally and economically sustainable aquaculture production systems; or
- Economic research for increasing aquaculture profitability.
Eligible applicants include state agricultural experiment stations, all colleges and universities, other research institutions and organizations, Federal agencies, private organizations or corporations, and individuals for the purpose of conducting research, extension, or education activities to facilitate or expand promising breakthroughs in areas of the food and agricultural sciences of importance to the U.S.
NIFA reviews all proposals accepted in NIFA’s competitive grant programs through an external peer review process in which a panel of experts from within the respective field in question takes part. Specific details on panel meetings, review formats, and evaluation criteria may vary among programs.
The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. Eastern time, May 17, 2018.
Approximately $1.2 million is available to support this year’s Aquaculture Research Competitive Grants Program. Please see the funding opportunity for details.
NIFA’s mission is to invest in and advance agricultural research, education, and extension to solve societal challenges. NIFA’s investments in transformative science directly support the long-term prosperity and global preeminence of U.S. agriculture. To learn more about NIFA’s impact on agricultural sciences, visit www.nifa.usda.gov/Impacts, sign up for email updates, or follow us on Twitter @USDA_NIFA(link is external), #NIFAImpacts.
Source: National Institute of Food and Agriculture