Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA SRGP 004288
Apply for USDA NIFA SRGP 004288
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Special Research Grants Program Potato Breeding Research" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.200 Grants for Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 21, 2013 and posted on May 21, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 25, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,238,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,238,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
- Applications may be submitted by State agricultural experiment stations, land grant colleges and universities, research foundations established by land grant colleges and universities, colleges and universities receiving funds under the Act of October 10, 1962, as amended (16 USC 582a et seq.), and accredited schools or colleges of veterinary medicine.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Special Research Grants Program Potato Breeding Research opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA SRGP 004288) is a discretionary grant competition run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA 10.200, Grants for Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants. Its main goal is to fund research programs focused on improving cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) varieties that are suitable for commercial production. In practical terms, the program is aimed at supporting the creation, improvement, and validation of potato varieties that can perform well in real-world production systems and meet the needs of growers, processors, and markets.
The program is specifically centered on "varietal development and testing," meaning projects should be built around breeding new or improved potato varieties and generating evidence that those varieties are better in ways that matter commercially. The solicitation makes clear that breeding may use classical approaches (such as crossing, selection, and field-based evaluation) and/or biotechnological approaches, as long as the work remains tied to developing improved varieties. A key requirement is that any evaluation, screening, or testing included in the project must directly support the variety development pipeline. That emphasis matters because it distinguishes eligible work (testing that informs selection decisions and accelerates development of better cultivars) from more general agronomic or basic research that does not feed into varietal improvement.
The funding instrument is a grant, with an estimated total funding amount of $1,238,000. The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $1,238,000 and an award floor of $0, which indicates the maximum possible award size could be up to the full amount available, while the minimum is not fixed in the announcement details provided. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which generally reduces barriers for applicants and allows projects to be proposed based on scientific and programmatic fit rather than the ability to bring cash match.
Eligibility is oriented toward U.S. higher education and associated agricultural research institutions. Applications may be submitted by State agricultural experiment stations; land-grant colleges and universities; research foundations established by land-grant colleges and universities; colleges and universities receiving funds under the Act of October 10, 1962, as amended (16 USC 582a et seq., commonly associated with certain capacity funding programs); and accredited schools or colleges of veterinary medicine. The listing also indicates eligible applicant categories include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and "others" as clarified in the eligibility language above. Overall, the intended applicant pool is the network of universities and experiment stations with established breeding and applied agricultural research capacity.
Key dates in the original announcement show it was posted on May 21, 2013, with an original and current closing date of June 25, 2013, and an archive date of July 25, 2013. While those dates indicate this particular notice is historical, the structure and priorities described reflect how NIFA targeted funding to support applied breeding programs with clear commercialization relevance, where screening and testing activities are tightly integrated with the selection and advancement of candidate potato lines.
For support, NIFA provided a help desk contact for applicants who had trouble accessing the full announcement electronically (NIFA Help Desk, 202-401-5048, business hours Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, excluding federal holidays). The announcement also notes there is assistance available for questions related to preparing application content, implying applicants could seek guidance on compliance and submission requirements in addition to technical access issues.
FAQs: Special Research Grants Program Potato Breeding Research (USDA NIFA SRGP 004288)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is the Special Research Grants Program Potato Breeding Research, offered through a discretionary grant competition administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NIFA SRGP 004288.
Which CFDA program is this associated with?
This opportunity is under CFDA 10.200, Grants for Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants.
What is the main purpose of this program?
The program is intended to fund research programs that improve cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) varieties suitable for commercial production. The focus is on supporting the creation, improvement, and validation of potato varieties that perform well in real production systems and meet the needs of growers, processors, and markets.
What kinds of projects are emphasized?
The solicitation is specifically centered on varietal development and testing. Projects should be built around breeding new or improved potato varieties and producing evidence that those varieties are improved in commercially meaningful ways.
Does this program allow both classical breeding and biotechnology approaches?
Yes. The program allows classical breeding approaches (such as crossing, selection, and field-based evaluation) and/or biotechnological approaches, as long as the work remains tied to developing improved potato varieties.
What does "varietal development and testing" mean in this context?
It means the project should focus on moving potato lines through a variety development pipeline and using testing, screening, and evaluation to support selection decisions and advance candidate varieties toward commercial relevance.
Are evaluation, screening, or testing activities allowed?
Yes, but they must directly support the variety development pipeline. The announcement emphasizes that evaluation and testing should inform selection and advancement of improved cultivars rather than being general research that does not feed into varietal improvement.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a grant.
How much funding is available in total?
The estimated total program funding amount is $1,238,000.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed is $1,238,000, indicating an individual award could be up to the full amount available based on the information provided.
Is there a minimum award amount (award floor)?
The award floor is listed as $0, which indicates a minimum is not fixed in the announcement details provided.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is oriented toward U.S. higher education and associated agricultural research institutions. Eligible applicants include State agricultural experiment stations; land-grant colleges and universities; research foundations established by land-grant colleges and universities; colleges and universities receiving funds under the Act of October 10, 1962, as amended (16 USC 582a et seq.); and accredited schools or colleges of veterinary medicine.
Are both public and private universities eligible?
Yes. The eligible applicant categories include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, along with other eligible entities as described in the eligibility language.
What is the intended applicant pool?
The intended applicant pool is the network of universities and experiment stations with established breeding and applied agricultural research capacity.
When was this opportunity posted?
The announcement was posted on May 21, 2013.
What was the application closing date?
The original and current closing date listed is June 25, 2013.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date listed is July 25, 2013.
Is this a current or historical funding notice?
Based on the posted, closing, and archive dates provided (all in 2013), this specific notice is historical.
What type of support is available if an applicant cannot access the full announcement electronically?
NIFA provided a help desk contact for applicants who had trouble accessing the full announcement electronically: NIFA Help Desk, 202-401-5048, available Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, excluding federal holidays.
Is there assistance available for application preparation questions?
Yes. The announcement notes that assistance is available for questions related to preparing application content, indicating applicants could seek guidance on compliance and submission requirements in addition to technical access issues.
What kinds of outcomes is the program trying to support?
The program aims to support outcomes tied to commercial production suitability, including improved potato varieties and supporting evidence from integrated testing and validation that demonstrates improvements important to growers, processors, and markets.
What is the key compliance-like emphasis described in the summary?
The key emphasis is that screening, testing, and evaluation components must be tightly integrated into breeding and varietal advancement, distinguishing eligible variety-development-supporting work from more general agronomic or basic research that does not feed into cultivar improvement.
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