C-FARE Info

Research on the Joint Contributions of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

The Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program of the USDA Economic Research Service announces the availability of funds and a request for applications to conduct research on operational issues of USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly called the Food Stamp Program, or FSP) and its support for the working poor. In particular, ERS seeks research that addresses: (a) operational issues regarding SNAP participation decisions and the dynamics of program participation among low-income households with workers, and (b) the interactions between receipt of SNAP benefits and State Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits, especially during the current recession. ERS believes the issues can best be addressed by careful analysis of linked program administrative data from the SNAP and UI programs. The deadline for proposal submission is February 17, 2010.

NIFA Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative

The OREI seeks to solve critical organic agriculture issues, priorities, or problems through the integration of research and extension activities. The purpose of this program is to fund projects that will enhance the ability of producers and processors who have already adopted organic standards to grow and market high quality organic agricultural products. Priority concerns include biological, physical, and social sciences, including economics. The OREI is particularly interested in projects that emphasize research and outreach that assist farmers and ranchers with whole farm planning and ecosystem integration. Projects should plan to deliver applied production information to producers. Fieldwork must be done on certified organic land or on land in transition to organic certification, as appropriate to project goals and objectives. Refer to the USDA National Organic Program (http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop) for organic production standards. For details view the grant announcement. Application deadline is February 9, 2010.

Research on Integrity in Collaborative Research

The grant announcement encourages research grant applications from institutions/organizations that propose to study research integrity as it relates to collaborative interactions and/or activities. The R21 exploratory/developmental mechanism will be used to foster research where there are few published data and where problem areas that would benefit from further investigation could be identified. The proposed project must challenge existing paradigms, be developed around an innovative hypothesis or address critical barriers to progress in understanding the multiple factors that underlie deviation from integrity in collaborative research. Proposals must have clear relevance to biomedical, behavioral health sciences, or health services research. Applicants are encouraged to take into consideration problems or issues that have relevance to the specific interests of ORI or NIH Institutes and Centers.

NIH Funding on Diet Composition and Energy Balance

This funding opportunity from NIH is for research on diet composition and energy balance. It encourages applications investigating the role of diet composition in energy balance, including studies in both animals and humans. Both short and longer-term studies are encouraged, ranging from basic studies investigating the impact of micro-or macronutrient composition on appetite, metabolism, and energy expenditure through clinical studies evaluating the efficacy of diets differing in micro- or macronutrient composition, absorption, dietary variety, or energy density for weight loss or weight maintenance. The current closing date for applications is May 7, 2010 but multiple receipt dates listed.

NIFA National Integrated Food Safety Initiative

The purpose of the NIFA National Integrated Food Safety Initiative is to support food safety projects that demonstrate an integrated approach to solving problems in applied food safety research, education, or extension. Various models for integration of applied research, education, and extension will be considered for funding. Applications describing multi-state, multi-institutional, multidisciplinary, and multifunctional activities are encouraged. Application deadline is January 19, 2010.

NIFA Specialty Crop Research Initiative

The Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) was established to solve critical industry issues through research and extension activities. SCRI will give priority to projects that are multistate, multi-institutional, or trans-disciplinary; and include explicit mechanisms to communicate results to producers and the public. Application deadline is January 14, 2010.

NIFA and NSF Joint Solicitation on Disaster Resilience in Rural Communities

USDA and the National Science Foundation announce funds to support research needed to develop technologies, processes and systems to enhance disaster resilience and sustainability in rural communities. Application deadline is January 20, 2010.

NIFA State and Regional AgrAbility Program

AgrAbility increases the likelihood that individuals with disabilities and their families engaged in production agriculture become more successful. The primary outcome is enhanced quality of life for people with disabilities in agriculture. The program supports cooperative projects in which State Cooperative Extension Services based at either 1862 or 1890 Land-Grant Universities subcontract to private, non-profit disability organizations. Application deadline is December 18, 2009.

Getty Conservation Institute Offers Conservation Guest Scholar Program

The Conservation Guest Scholar Program at the Getty Conservation Institute supports new ideas and perspectives in the field of conservation, providing an opportunity for professionals to pursue scholarly research in an interdisciplinary manner across traditional boundaries. Application deadline is November 1, 2009.

Nominations Sought for 2010 Julius Shiskin Award

Nominations are invited for the annual Julius Shiskin Memorial Award for Economic Statistics. The Award is given in recognition of unusually original and important contributions in the development of economic statistics or in the use of statistics in interpreting the economy. Contributions are recognized for statistical research, development of statistical tools, application of information technology techniques, use of economic statistical programs, management of statistical programs, or developing public understanding of measurement issues.Information is available on the ASA Website.