The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) is currently accepting concept proposals for the 2017 grant cycle. FREP’s competitive grant program funds research that advances the agronomic and environmental performance of fertilizing materials.
The 2017 Request for Proposals (RFP) includes several initiatives put forth by the department to help effectively manage nitrogen fertilizers in agriculture.
This year’s priorities include: identifying and addressing challenges to effective nutrient management practices; quantification of nitrate movement in deep soil as it relates to management practices; research on the role of soil organic matter and organic fertilizing materials in nutrient management; development of integrated decision support tools; filling knowledge gaps in nitrogen management information for specific crops, including corn, pima cotton, processing tomatoes, baby lettuce, walnuts, citrus, and deep rooted vegetables; and training, education, and outreach opportunities to efficiently manage irrigation systems and fertilizing materials.
Applicants are invited to submit two-page concept proposals to FREP by Tuesday, January 31, 2017. Concepts submitted should be aligned with at least one of the program’s identified priority research areas. Further information on the 2017 FREP request for concept proposals, including timelines, application criteria, priority research areas, and examples of successful proposals are available on the Grant Program page.
Since 1990, FREP has funded more than 210 research projects focusing on California’s important and environmentally sensitive cropping systems. A database of completed and ongoing research is available on the FREP Research page.
See the full press release here.