Leopold Center seeks new research proposals for 2007

Iowa

Iowans with research and demonstration ideas for the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture are invited to submit their pre-proposals by mid-August. A Request for Pre-proposals (RFP) with information on the application process is now available from the Leopold Center office or on the Center's website at www.leopold.iastate.edu/research/rfp/2006.htm.

Investigators representing any Iowa nonprofit organization/agency and/or educational institution (such as soil and water conservation districts, schools and colleges, and regional development groups) may submit pre-proposals; there are no restrictions on project partners or collaborators.

Pre-proposals are due Aug. 14, with most project funding to begin in early 2007. The two-page concept papers will be reviewed by Center staff and Advisory Board members to assess the technical merit and relevance to the Center's mission.

This RFP describes the research and educational efforts the Center hopes to focus on in the next two years. Leopold Center director Jerry DeWitt says, "We are especially interested in pre-proposals across our three initiative areas that will help enhance Iowa's water quality and protect the state's water resources. The Center places a high value on research that will help us move toward these goals."

Ecology Initiative leader Jeri Neal says she is most interested in projects that will help integrate grass-based and forage systems with the feedstock needs of the rapidly growing biofuels industry in a way that maintains producer profitability, water quality and environmental stewardship.

Marketing and Food Systems Initiative leader Rich Pirog is seeking pre-proposals that will research and test new marketing strategies and business structures that allow Iowa's farmers to retain more value. "Our goal in this initiative is to equip farmers and farmer networks with the information and tools they need to make a profit while supplying a wide range and scale of market opportunities" says Pirog.

The Center also wants to specifically address the challenges and opportunities for beginning or transitioning to dairy enterprises that embody grass-based and/or organic production practices. Distinguished Fellow Fred Kirschenmann comments that this helps address the disappearing "ag of the middle" farm segment and also provides a unique way to integrate the Center's marketing, policy and ecology research areas.

Date: 7/27/06

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