Scientific Cooperation Research Program

The United States Department of Agriculture�s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) announces the availability of funding through cost reimbursable agreements for the Scientific Cooperation Research Program (SCRP) for fiscal year (FY) 2011. The objective of SCRP is to reduce global poverty and hunger by supporting applied scientific research, extension, or education projects that aim to address challenges faced by smallholder farmers in emerging economies. All proposals should focus on addressing agricultural challenges to smallholders. The definition of smallholders differs between countries and agro-ecological zones. For the purposes of this announcement smallholders, as defined by the World Bank, are farmers that own or lease less than 124 acres of land (less than 50 hectares). This land must be used to support subsistence or cash crop farming. All proposals should address one of the three focus areas: improving agricultural productivity, creating sustainable agricultural systems, or building regional or global trade capacities. All proposals should also utilize the scientific communities� accumulated knowledge and technologies to help aid in developing �practical� solutions to these challenges. All proposals must include foreign collaborations and may not exceed two years. Funding may be allocated to foreign collaborators through sub-awards. All proposals must match at least 25% of the requested funds; third party cost sharing is allowed. Priority consideration will be given to: � Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) � Countries defined by the World Bank as low or lower middle income, hereinafter referred to as emerging economies: http://data.worldbank.org/about/country-classifications/country- and-lending-groups � Proposals that address challenges to women