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NATIONAL RESEARCH INITIATIVE
COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROGRAM (NRICGP)
Grants for Research and Development for Sustainable
Production Systems, New Uses and Added Value for Agricultural Products,
and Revitalized Rural Economies
The National Research
Initiative (NRI) Competitive Grants Program supports
high priority fundamental and mission-linked research
of importance in the biological, environmental, physical,
and social sciences relevant to agriculture, food, and
the environment.
Although no specific
examples of recent grants to farmers' markets or farmers
market groups are available, if a group is interested
in doing research in the areas of rural development,
nutrition, or health relating to farmers' markets, this
program could provide useful funds to conduct such research.
There are seven program
research division areas under the NRICGP. The research
division areas that relate directly to farmers' markets
are:
- Markets, Trade and Rural Development
- Nutrition, Food Safety and Health
Markets, Trade and Rural Development
The purpose of this Division is two-fold. One
is to support research to enhance the global marketability
and competitiveness of U.S. agricultural, forest, and
fish products. Research includes development and/or application
of methodologies to assess product preference, demand,
and utilization by consumers and factors affecting competitiveness
including resource availability, costs, new technologies,
market structure, and risk. Public research is supported
that evaluates market development and competitiveness
impacts as well as alternative fiscal and monetary policies,
trade promotion, sustainable agriculture and communities,
human resources, effects of research programs, and impacts
of other programs and regulations. The second purpose
of the Division is to develop and/or apply research methodologies
to problems affecting economic welfare and quality of
living in rural communities and people by examining the
effects of international, national, state, and local
policies. Research involves comparative analysis of the
impacts of policy options and alternatives on natural
resources use, population distribution, and the structure
of rural society. The goal is to develop new economic
development opportunities to sustain rural communities
and people in the United States. Grants are awarded in
two programs: Markets and Trade; and Rural Development.
Nutrition, Food Safety and Health
The health of the U.S. citizen depends on the quality and quantity
of the country's food supply and the nutrients consumed by individuals.
Research is supported which will contribute to the improvement of
human nutritional status by increasing our understanding of requirements
of nutrients and factors affecting optimal human nutrition. Research
is also supported in the area of food safety, particularly emphasizing
the detection, prevention and control of food-borne disease-causing
microorganisms and naturally occurring toxicants. Grants are awarded
under three programs: Improving Human Nutrition for Optimal Health;
Ensuring Food Safety; and Epidemiological Approaches for Food Safety.
Funding
The anticipated amount available for support of this program in FY 2003 is
approximately $112.5 million.
Next Round of Funding
The deadlines for FY 2003 funding has passed. The deadlines for FY 2004 funding
range from October 1, 2003 through January 15, 2004 depending on the research
area. For a complete list of deadlines go to the website below.
To find out more about this program, including information on
applying for a grant go to: www.reeusda.gov/nri/
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