Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA CBPR 003745
Apply for USDA NIFA CBPR 003745
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Common Bean Productivity Research for Global Food Security Competitive Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.327 Common Bean Productivity Research for Global Food Security Competitive Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 16, 2012 and posted on Apr 13, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 27, 2012 LETTER OF INTENT DEADLINE May 8, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $4,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Applications may be submitted by eligible U.S. public or private research or educational institutions or organizations. Award recipients may subcontract to U.S. organizations or organizations in Feed the Future countries not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Common Bean Productivity Research for Global Food Security Competitive Grants Program (FY 2012) was a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Its central goal was to fund research that creates practical approaches, tools, and methods to overcome key constraints limiting common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) production for smallholder farmers in food-insecure regions. The program was positioned within a broader global food security context and explicitly aligned with priorities in many Feed the Future focus countries, with particular emphasis on East and Southern Africa where common beans are both a major staple food and an important source of income for smallholder households.
The opportunity sought projects that could measurably improve bean productivity under real-world smallholder conditions, where farmers often face yield losses and instability due to factors like pests and diseases, poor soil fertility, drought or irregular rainfall, limited access to improved seed, and weak extension and market systems. While the announcement summary does not list specific research topic areas in the excerpt provided, the stated purpose makes clear that proposed work needed to address production challenges in ways that are relevant to on-the-ground constraints in low-resource settings. In practice, that could include developing improved production practices, breeding or evaluating varieties better adapted to stress conditions, strengthening integrated pest and disease management approaches, or generating scalable methods that partners in Feed the Future countries could implement to raise yields and resilience.
Funding for the program was substantial for a focused crop research call. NIFA listed an estimated total of $4,500,000 available for awards, with a maximum award size (ceiling) of $2,000,000 and no stated minimum award amount (floor of $0). The funding instrument was a grant, and the activity category was agriculture. Importantly for applicants, the program did not require cost sharing or matching funds, which can lower barriers to participation for institutions that may not have flexible resources to commit as match.
Eligibility was limited to U.S.-based public or private research and educational institutions or organizations that meet NIFA eligibility requirements. However, the program was structured to support meaningful international collaboration: award recipients were allowed to subcontract to U.S. organizations and to organizations located in Feed the Future countries, even if those international organizations were not eligible to apply directly, as long as they were necessary to carry out the project. This feature signaled that NIFA expected funded projects to involve partners in target countries and to conduct work that is operationally connected to the regions where food insecurity and bean production constraints are most acute.
The timeline for the FY 2012 competition was clearly defined. The opportunity was posted on April 13, 2012, with an original and final application deadline of June 27, 2012. A letter of intent was also required, with a deadline of May 8, 2012. The opportunity archive date was July 27, 2012, indicating the end of the active posting period after the competition closed.
For support, NIFA provided a help desk contact for applicants who had trouble accessing the full announcement electronically, including a phone number (202-401-5048) and business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays). The listing also notes that applicants could request assistance for questions related to preparing application content, reinforcing that the program expected formal proposal submissions consistent with federal grant requirements.
Overall, this grant program was designed to drive applied, collaborative research that directly improves common bean productivity and resilience for smallholder farmers in food-insecure countries, leveraging U.S. institutional capacity while enabling strong implementation partnerships in Feed the Future regions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Common Bean Productivity Research for Global Food Security Competitive Grants Program (FY 2012)?
It was a discretionary competitive grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The program aimed to fund research that generates practical approaches, tools, and methods to overcome key constraints limiting common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) production for smallholder farmers in food-insecure regions.
What was the main goal of this grant program?
The central goal was to support applied research that can measurably improve common bean productivity and resilience under real-world smallholder conditions, especially in regions facing food insecurity.
How does this opportunity relate to global food security efforts?
The program was positioned within a broader global food security context and explicitly aligned with priorities in many Feed the Future focus countries.
Which regions were emphasized in the program description?
The opportunity placed particular emphasis on East and Southern Africa, where common beans are a major staple food and an important income source for smallholder households.
What types of challenges or constraints was the research expected to address?
Proposed projects needed to address on-the-ground production constraints common for smallholder farmers, including yield losses and instability linked to pests and diseases, poor soil fertility, drought or irregular rainfall, limited access to improved seed, and weak extension and market systems.
Were specific research topic areas listed in the excerpt?
No. The excerpt does not list specific topic areas, but it makes clear that projects needed to address production challenges in ways that are relevant to low-resource, real-world smallholder settings.
What kinds of research activities were implied as a fit for this program?
Based on the stated purpose, fitting work could include developing improved production practices, breeding or evaluating varieties better adapted to stress conditions, strengthening integrated pest and disease management approaches, or generating scalable methods that partners in Feed the Future countries could implement to raise yields and resilience.
How much total funding was available?
NIFA listed an estimated total of $4,500,000 available for awards.
What was the maximum award amount?
The maximum award size (ceiling) was $2,000,000.
Was there a minimum award amount?
No minimum award amount was stated (the floor was listed as $0).
What type of funding instrument was used?
The funding instrument was a grant.
What activity or subject area did this opportunity fall under?
The activity category was agriculture.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The program did not require cost sharing or matching funds.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to U.S.-based public or private research and educational institutions or organizations that meet NIFA eligibility requirements.
Could organizations outside the United States apply directly?
The excerpt states that eligibility was limited to U.S.-based institutions and organizations meeting NIFA requirements. International organizations in Feed the Future countries were not described as eligible to apply directly.
Could funded projects include international partners?
Yes. Award recipients were allowed to subcontract to organizations located in Feed the Future countries (and also to U.S. organizations) when those partners were necessary to carry out the project.
Why did the program allow subcontracting to Feed the Future country organizations?
This feature signaled that NIFA expected funded projects to involve partners in target countries and to conduct work operationally connected to regions where food insecurity and bean production constraints are most acute.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on April 13, 2012.
Was a letter of intent required?
Yes. A letter of intent was required.
What was the letter of intent deadline?
The letter of intent deadline was May 8, 2012.
What was the application deadline?
The original and final application deadline was June 27, 2012.
When was the opportunity archived?
The opportunity archive date was July 27, 2012, indicating the end of the active posting period after the competition closed.
What support was available if an applicant had trouble accessing the full announcement?
NIFA provided a help desk contact for applicants who had trouble accessing the full announcement electronically.
What is the help desk phone number listed for support?
The phone number provided was 202-401-5048.
What were the help desk business hours?
Business hours were Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.
Could applicants request help with application content questions?
Yes. The listing notes that applicants could request assistance for questions related to preparing application content.
What was the intended outcome of funded projects?
Funded projects were intended to drive applied, collaborative research that directly improves common bean productivity and resilience for smallholder farmers in food-insecure countries, leveraging U.S. institutional capacity while enabling strong implementation partnerships in Feed the Future regions.
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