The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) is now accepting nominations for the 2021 New Innovator in Food & Agriculture Research Award. FFAR intends to grant up to 10 awards to early-career scientists pursuing research that supports FFAR’s Challenge Areas and promotes global, sustainable food production.
Each applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000 per year for a maximum of three years totaling $450,000 from FFAR. FFAR is not requiring awardees to secure matching funds.
Often early-career scientists struggle to secure grant funding at the onset of their careers. The New Innovator in Food & Agriculture Research Award gives them the opportunity to focus exclusively on research without the pressure to secure additional funding for these ideas. This award provides early-career scientists the investment needed to bolster their successful careers in food and agriculture. FFAR grants this unique award to highly creative, promising scientists whose research has the potential to address major challenges facing food and agriculture.
“The New Innovator in Food & Agriculture Research Award epitomizes FFAR’s mission to foster bold science that addresses food and agriculture challenges,” said FFAR Executive Director Sally Rockey. “We are excited to invest in today’s rising stars of food and agriculture research. This award ensures that they will have the support to bring their full focus to their work.”
Applications from eligible nominees will be evaluated on their research program proposals as well as a demonstrated commitment to mentoring future generations of agricultural and food scientists. The deadline for submitting nominations is March 3, 2021 at 5 p.m. ET. Complete submission guidelines and program deadlines are available on the FFAR website.
Institutions of higher education, nonprofit research institutions and the US Department of Agriculture are encouraged to nominate one applicant who holds a tenure-track or equivalent position and meets the eligibility criteria specified in the Call for Nominations. FFAR highly encourages applications from Hispanic-serving institutions, 1890s Land Grant Institutions and other Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions.
The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) builds public-private partnerships to fund bold research addressing big food and agriculture challenges. FFAR was established in the 2014 Farm Bill to increase public agriculture research investments, fill knowledge gaps and complement USDA’s research agenda.
FFAR’s model matches federal funding from Congress with private funding, delivering a powerful return on taxpayer investment. Through collaboration and partnerships, FFAR advances actionable science benefiting farmers, consumers and the environment.
