Deb Hamernik, PhD

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Cooperative State, Research, Education and
Extension Service
FY2009 AFRI Integrated Programs
Deb Hamernik, PhD National Program Leader, Animal
Physiology USDA-CSREES dhamernik_at_csrees.usda.gov
UNL January 6, 2009
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Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm
Bill)
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative
(AFRI) AFRI NRI IFAFS Authorized funding
700 million/year FY2009 appropriation?? (200
million in Senate) FY2008 NRI 190 million
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AFRI Budget
Not less than 30 for integrated research FY2008
NRI up to 26 for integrated Not less than 60
fundamental research -not less than 30 by
multidisciplinary teams Not less than 40 applied
research Not less than 10 for Food
Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) awards
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FY2009 AFRI Program Announcement
www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/afri/pdfs/program_anno
ncement.pdf Edited on December 22,
2008 Contains Program descriptions and
priorities Anticipated application deadline
dates Eligibility information Does not
contain Instructions for completing and
submitting applications on Adobe (PDF)
application forms to grants.gov
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FY2009 AFRI Request for Applications (RFA)
Available in early 2009 www.csrees.usda.gov/fundi
ng/afri/afri.html Will Contain Program
descriptions and priorities Application deadline
dates Eligibility information Instructions for
completing and submitting applications on Adobe
(PDF) application forms to grants.gov
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AFRI Competitive Grants
Fundamental research Applied research Extension
(only) Education (only) Integrated research,
education, and/or extension New to AFRI
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FY2009 AFRI Competitive Grants
Single function Extension grants Plant
Biosecurity Human Nutrition and Obesity
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FY2009 AFRI Competitive Grants
Single function Education grants Microbial
Genomics Biobased Products and Bioenergy Soil
Processes Bioactive Food Components for Optimal
Health
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Integration in AFRI
Integrated Programs Opportunities for single
function projects in research, education, or
extension. Different eligibility
requirements. Integrated Projects Opportunities
for multi-functional projects that incorporate at
least two of the three elements of the
agricultural knowledge system (e.g., research,
education, and extension).
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FY2009 AFRI Program Areas

• Plant Health, Production and Products
• Animal Health, Production and Products
• Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health
• Renewable Energy, Natural Resources, and
  environment
• Agriculture Systems and Technology
• Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities
• FY2009 33 specific programs (190 million)

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FY2009 AFRI Integrated Programs
Agricultural Prosperity for Small and
Medium-Sized Farms Air Quality Applied Plant
Genomics CAP Biology of Weedy and Invasive
Species in Agroecosystems Food Safety Epi
Epidemiological Approaches for Food
Safety Integrated Solutions for Animal
Agriculture Human Nutrition and Obesity Managed
Ecosystems Plant Breeding and Education Plant
Biosecurity Protection and Managed Bees CAP Rapid
Response Food and Agricultural Science for
Emergency Issues Rural Development
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New FY2009 AFRI Programs
1) Rapid Response Food and Agricultural Science
for Emergency Issues -integrated or research
projects -1 million available total -250,000
maximum total award -submit Letter of Intent
before July 30, 2009 -no specific program
priorities -applications must be related to
critically important emerging issues that will be
identified at www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/rapidrespons
eafri.cfm
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New FY2009 AFRI Programs (continued)
2) Integrated Solutions for Animal
Agriculture -integrated projects -4 million
available total -1 million maximum total award
-submit Letter of Intent by March 16,
2009 Program priorities 1) improving fertility
in agriculture animals 2) preventing
controlling on farm disease 3) minimizing
nitrogen and/or phosphorous output in animal waste
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AFRI Project Types
Research Grants (fundamental or applied) Research
Coordinated Agricultural Projects (CAP) Education
Grants Extension Grants Conference
Grants Integrated Project Grants Integrated
Coordinated Agricultural Projects (CAP) Food and
Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE)
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AFRI Education Grants
Education Activities 1) Formal classroom
instruction, laboratory instruction, practicum
experience 2) Faculty research internship for
curricula development 3) Student training,
recruitment, and services 4) Cutting-edge
agricultural science and technology curriculum
development 5) Innovative teaching
methodologies 6) Development of modules for
on-the-job training and/or providing knowledge
and skills for professionals creating policy or
transferring to the agricultural workforce
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AFRI Education Projects

• Must address one of the following key strategic
  actions
• Train students for Associate, Baccalaureate,
  Masters or Doctoral degrees
• Prepare K-12 teachers and higher education
  faculty to understand and present food ag
  sciences
• Support informal education to increase
  understanding and use of food and ag literacy of
  adults as well as students through museums,
  science centers, aquaria, on-the-job training
• Promote science-based ag literacy by increasing
  understanding and use of food and ag science
  data, information, and programs
• Build science-based capability in people to
  engage audiences and enable informed decision
  making

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AFRI Extension Grants
Extension conducting programs and activities
that deliver science-based knowledge and informal
educational programs to people, enabling them to
make practical decisions.
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AFRI Conference Grants
Support scientific meetings that bring together
scientists to identify research, education, or
extension needs, update information, or advance
an area of science. 10,000 maximum
award Indirect costs are not allowed Submit to
relevant AFRI program deadline
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AFRI Integrated Project Grants
Must include at least 2 of the 3 components of
the agricultural knowledge system (i.e.,
research, education, and extension) No more than
2/3 of budget to one function Address needs
identified by stakeholders Identify anticipated
outcomes and have a plan for evaluating and
documenting success of project Include elements
of a logic model and a project management plan
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AFRI Integrated Project Grants
Research address knowledge gaps that are
critical to development of practices and programs
to address the stated problem. Applied or
short-term basic research to fill knowledge gaps
to enhance outreach is encouraged. Long-term,
fundamental research is not appropriate.
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AFRI Integrated Project Grants
Extension lead to measurable, documented changes
in learning, actions, or conditions in an
identified audience or stakeholder group.
Extension related activities designed to build
institutional capacity are also allowable.
(Publication of papers or scientific
presentations are not considered as
extension.) Development of content for delivery
through eXtension is encouraged. Projects
suitable for 4-H audiences are encouraged.
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AFRI Integrated Project Grants
Education strengthen institutional capacities
and result in curricula and related products that
will be sustained beyond the life of the
project. Examples 1) Development of
curriculum, instructional materials, education
delivery systems, or faculty 2) Student
recruitment and retention efforts 3) Career
planning materials and counseling 4)
Pedagogy 5) Student learning styles and
student-centered instruction 6) Student study
abroad and international research
opportunities 7) Faculty and student exchanges.
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AFRI Integrated Project Grants
Integrated Coordinated Agricultural Projects
(CAP) support large-scale, multi-million dollar
projects to promote collaboration, open
communication, and exchange of information
reduce duplication of effort coordinate
activities. Address problems through research,
education, and extension (i.e., all 3 components
of the agricultural knowledge system).
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Evaluation Criteria--AFRI Integrated Projects

• Merit of the Application for Science Research,
  Education, and/or Extension
• Objectives outcomes are clearly described,
  adequate, and appropriate
• Approach, procedures, methods are innovative,
  original, clearly described, suitable, and
  feasible
• Expected results or outcomes are clearly stated,
  measurable, and achievable within the allotted
  time frame
• Research fills knowledge gaps that are critical
  to development of practices programs to address
  stated problem/issue
• Extension leads to measurable, documented changes
  in learning, actions, or conditions in identified
  audience or stakeholder group
• Education has impact upon and advances the
  quality of food ag sciences by strengthening
  institutional capacities curricula to meet
  clearly delineated needs and train the next
  generation of scientists and educators

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Evaluation Criteria--AFRI Integrated Projects

• 2) Qualifications of Project Personnel, Adequacy
  of Facilities, and Project Management
• Roles of key personnel are clearly defined
• Key personnel have sufficient expertise to
  complete the proposed project, and where
  appropriate, partnerships with other disciplines
  (e.g., social science or economics) and
  institutions are established
• Evidence of institutional capacity and competence
  in the proposed area of work is provided
• Support personnel, facilities, and
  instrumentation are sufficient
• A clear plan is articulated for project
  management, including time allocated for
  attainment of objectives and delivery of
  products, maintenance of partnerships and
  collaborations, and a strategy to enhance
  communication, data sharing, and reporting among
  members of the project team
• Budget clearly allocates sufficient resources to
  carry out a set of research, education
  (teaching), and/or extension activities that will
  lead to desired outcomes, with no more than 2/3
  of the budget focused on a single project
  component.

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Evaluation Criteria--AFRI Integrated Projects

• Project Relevance
• Project addresses a stated program priority
• Project components (research, education, and/or
  extension)at least two are requiredare fully
  integrated and necessary to address the problem
  or issue
• Proposed work addresses identified stakeholder
  needs
• Stakeholder involvement in project development,
  implementation, and evaluation is demonstrated,
  where appropriate
• Plan and methods for evaluating success of
  project activities and documenting potential
  impact against measurable short and mid-term
  outcomes are suitable and feasible
• For extension and education (teaching)
  activities, curricula and related products will
  sustain education or extension functions beyond
  the life of the project
• For extension or education (teaching) activities,
  the resulting curricula or products share
  information and recommendations based on
  knowledge and conclusions from a broad range of
  research initiatives

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AFRI Project Types (continued)
Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement
(FASE) Research and Integrated Projects
-Postdoctoral Fellowships -New Investigator
Grants -Strengthening Grants -Sabbatical
Grants -Equipment Grants -Seed
Grants -Strengthening Standard Grants UNL
faculty are not eligible
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Eligibility for FASE Strengthening Grants
Small and mid-sized schools with limited
success lt17,500 total enrollment Table
1 EPSCoR states and entities (Alabama, Alaska,
Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Hawaii, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Nevada, New
Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South
Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia,
Wyoming) (American Samoa, District of Columbia,
Guam, Micronesia, Northern Mariana Islands,
Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands of the United
States) Minority-serving institutions gt50
enrollment of minorities
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Eligibility for FASE Postdoctoral Fellowships
Individuals Received the doctoral degree after
January 1, 2006 and no later than 9 months after
the application due date for the AFRI program of
interest Must be a citizen or national of the
United States Must be the sole Project Director
on the application 125,000 for two years
(indirect costs are not allowed) Submit
application to relevant AFRI program deadline
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Eligibility for FASE New Investigator Grants
An individual beginning his/her career Does not
have an extensive scientific publication
record lt5 years postgraduate, career-track
experience May not have received competitively
awarded Federal research funds (except pre- or
postdoctoral research grants or AFRI Seed
Grants) Submit application to relevant AFRI
program deadline
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FY2009 AFRI
New 5-digit program codes Only new
applications submitted in FY2009 Include a
Progress Report if the application is based on a
previously funded application Some programs
require a Letter of Intent (page 5)must be
invited to submit full application
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Tips for Reading the AFRI PA RFA

• Read the Program Description(s) of interest
• Program Priorities
• Other Key Information specific to each program
• Limits on budget requests
• Letter of Intent deadline instructions
• Anticipated application deadline
• Read the Project Narrative Instructions (page
  limits)
• Read the Evaluation Criteria for integrated
  projectsmissing from 12/22/08 version of AFRI
  PA!
• Contact (email) the NPL with specific questions

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General Tips for Success

• Dont wait until the last minutestart planning
  NOW!
• Ask one or more colleagues to review your
  application before submitting
• Review the Abstracts of Funded Projects online
• www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/nri/nri_abstracts_top
  ic.html
• Dont waste time submitting applications that do
  not fit the program priorities
• Follow the application instructions in the RFA
• Review the evaluation criteria listed in the RFA
• Address current gaps in knowledge/data
• Provide preliminary data
• Include letters of support or collaboration (if
  relevant)
• Contact the NPL with specific questions

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Questions?
dhamernik_at_csrees.usda.gov Questions and
Stakeholder Input afri_at_csrees.usda.gov