Call for research project proposals

Transcription

1 Call for research project proposals Efficient and sustainable production systems within aquaculture and agri- and horticulture Funding agencies Funding announced Formas, Mistra and Lantmännen Research Foundation SEK 17 million per year during for four years, SEK 68 million in total Special conditions Maximum funding for a specific project: SEK 4 million per year for four years Reciprocal funding of at least 15 % of the applied funding is required. The reciprocal funding can be cash or in kind and can come from the applicants higher education institution or from other stakeholders in the project. Project applications to reach Formas by Appendices 31 October 2013, at midnight 1. Background Paper on Aquaculture Research (Mistra) 2. Research and innovation strategy for a biobased economy (Formas) 3. FACCE- JPI Strategic Research Agenda Contact persons Mattias Norrby, Senior Research Officer, Formas , Mattias.Norrby@formas.se Thomas Nilsson, Programmes Director, Mistra , Thomas.Nilsson@mistra.org Helena Fredriksson, Research Manager, Lantmännen , Helena.Fredriksson@lantmannen.com 1

2 Efficient and sustainable production systems within aquaculture and agri- and horticulture The overall objective of this call is to contribute to a more efficient but at the same time environmentally sustainable cultivation and raising of plants and animals. There is a need for strategies, new technology and policy instruments that can give higher yields and reduce environmental impact simultaneously. The call includes aquaculture as well as agri- and horticulture. Focus Key issues in the call are how to close the loops, reduce environmental impact, improve animal welfare and raise process efficiency throughout the production chain. Focus lies on developing aquaculture and agri- and horticulture in our part of the world, but with a global and societal outlook. The research projects should be transdiciplinary and conducted in cooperation with concerned stakeholders and sectors. Interdisciplinary projects with a social sciences component are welcome. Projects with a system-/whole chain approach including loops and relationships between different types of farming, not least between aquaculture and agriculture, are welcome. Formas, Mistra and Lantmännen Research Foundation all have long-term commitments within the thematic area that this call covers. Mistra is open to a continued commitment in the traditional Mistra program form within the whole or parts of the thematic area at a later stage, depending on how successful the research becomes and what further need of knowledge that is subsequently identified. A cohesive thematic program The funded projects will be included in a cohesive thematic program (Efficient and sustainable production systems within aquaculture and agri- and horticulture). Formas, Mistra and Lantmännen Research Foundation will jointly appoint a coordinator for this program. The task of the coordinator will be to promote coordination and collaboration between the projects, for example by leading an integration project, and by organizing joint activities aimed at stakeholders. The coordinator will also be responsible for communication that concerns the program as a whole and to provide communicative support to individual projects. Project applicants can, in their application, express their interest to be coordinator of the thematic program. Aquaculture Aquaculture is the fastest growing food-producing sector in the world with a current annual production of approximately 80 million tonnes, which is close to half of the total amount of fish, shellfish and aquatic plants used for human consumption. Emissions of greenhouse gases are lower in aquaculture compared with livestock farming. However, there are other environmental problems associated with aquaculture. The feed used in fish farming is largely based on fish meal and fish oil. With overfishing and threatened fish stocks around the world, it is desirable to find alternatives. Today, more and more feed based on other raw materials is used. Leakage of nutrients is another 2

3 problem, especially if the farming takes place in eutrophic waters, for example along the Baltic Sea coastline. Aquaculture in Sweden is a relatively undeveloped part of the food sector. Here lies a unique potential for creating new jobs that can compensate the coastal communities for the reduced commercial fishing. There are technical and rearing problems that must be overcome in order to enable commercially viable aquaculture on a larger scale. Research-driven and knowledge-based development, for example for production of marine larvae (fish and shellfish), feed issues and farming systems, are crucial for the progress towards commercial viability. Research on aquaculture should be conducted in collaboration with stakeholders and should be based in the strategy for aquaculture that Swedish authorities, industry and other parties have established 1 and in EU s strategic guidelines for aquaculture 2. Background document Background Paper on Aquaculture Research, Mistra 2013 (appendix 1) Agri- and horticulture The main part of the food stuffs that humans consume comes from farmland. Arable land is a limited resource and the competition for it increases with a growing global population, increasingly areademanding consumption patterns and future needs for products other than foodstuffs such as bio fuels, fibers for textiles and other bio based products. The agri- and horticulture of the future, both in Sweden and globally, faces great challenges when the production is to meet an increased consumption and at the same time lessen the proportion of fossil energy and the negative impact on the environment and human health and welfare. The views on yield and what is a useful product must be extended and the production adapted to a changing climate. New knowledge is required to increase the production of products of high quality, while minimizing negative environmental impact. Examples of areas are soil fertility, water use, closed-loop solutions, new crops, varieties and breeds, including methods for developing these, improved protection against disease and pests, as well as the farmers adaptation to variable and changing circumstances. More specifically, knowledge is for example needed concerning feed efficiency, sustainability, and housing systems. Other specific examples are precision agriculture, resistance and quality development, biological pest control methods, ecosystem services, use of urban environments, and development of biological markers and analytical methods. Background documents Research and innovation strategy for a bio-based economy, Formas 2012 (appendix 2) 1 Svenskt vattenbruk en grön näring på blå åkrar, strategi Jordbruksverket, (not available in English) 2 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, Strategic Guidelines for the sustainable development of EU aquaculture, European Commission, COM (2013) 229 final. 3

4 FACCE- JPI Strategic Research Agenda, the Joint Programming Initiative on Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change 2012 (appendix 3) The funding agencies The call is made jointly by Formas, Mistra and Lantmännen Research Foundation. Formas and Mistra contribute with a maximum of SEK 32 million each for the four-year period Lantmännen Research Foundation contributes with a maximum of SEK 4 million. Mistra s share is earmarked for research connected to aquaculture. Applicants Grants can be given to researchers with a PhD degree at Swedish universities, university colleges, research institutes and authorities with research undertakings. Researchers and organizations active abroad are welcome to participate as partners in the projects, but the main applicant and the signatory must be at a Swedish institution. Special conditions Maximum funding for an individual project is 4 SEK million per year for four years. Reciprocal funding of at least 15 % of the applied funding is required. The reciprocal funding can be in cash or in kind and can come from the applicants higher education institutes or from other stakeholders in the project. Application process and review The application must be formulated in accordance with the instructions for applications for grants for research and development projects that you can find in Formas Handbook Formas Handbook 2013 contains a detailed description of Formas policies, rules, forms of project grants and the application process, as well as how the applications are reviewed. Applications are submitted using Formas web based system Formas Direct and must include: Appendix A (project description, a maximum of 25,000 characters) Appendix B1 (budget, template can be downloaded in Formas Direct) Appendix B2 (comments on the budget) Appendix C (CV, a maximum of 8000 characters/applicant) Appendix D (list of publications, a maximum of 8000 characters/applicant) All of the above appendices are required in the application. It is highly recommended that the application is written in English as it will be assessed by a designated international and multidisciplinary expert panel. The panel consists of active, qualified researchers and persons with the competence to assess the relevance and societal value of the research. 4

5 The applications will be reviewed using the criteria of scientific quality and societal value described in Formas Handbook Funds can be applied for up to four years during the time period Formas rules for indirect costs apply. The call closes and applications must be registered in Formas Direct at the latest at midnight on Thursday 31 October A signed registration form (Appendix S) must be received by Formas at the latest on 7 November Application is submitted via a web based system. Technical support is available until 4:30 pm on the call closing day. Make sure to submit the application well in time to ensure the possibility to get help if problems arise. Time plan 2 September 2013 Call opens 31 October 2013 Last day for application November 2013 February 2014 March/April 2014 Review of applications Decision by the financing agencies Contact Mattias Norrby, Senior Research Officer, Formas , Mattias.Norrby@formas.se Thomas Nilsson, Programmes Director, Mistra , Thomas.Nilsson@mistra.org Helena Fredriksson, Research Manager, Lantmännen , Helena.Fredriksson@lantmannen.com 5