The Innovation Lab for Crop Improvement soon will begin accepting applications for Centers of Innovation, National Agriculture Research System institutions that would work with the innovation lab on crop improvement research, variety development and release.
Projects through the ILCI must be led by a Principal Investigator (PI) based at a NARS institution from a Feed the Future target or aligned country in East Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe), West Africa (Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone), Asia (Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Burma, Cambodia, Georgia, Tajikistan) and Latin America and the Caribbean (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Belize, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Haiti, Mexico).
Applications must clearly define all product profiles for target crops described in the application. ILCI target crops include root and tuber vegetables, legumes (excluding peanut and soybean), sorghum and millets.
Support from NARS institution leadership (DDG level) must be documented.
Proposals should:
- Demonstrate a track record and/or vision for tools, technologies and methods integration in crop improvement leading to varietal release;
- Include linkages to U.S. institutions and/or with co-PIs from U.S. minority serving institutions. ILCI will facilitate linkages with MSIs should applicants require.
- Consider leadership by minorities, women or early career researchers
- Partner with other NARS institutions, universities and institutions, and CGIAR centers in target regions
- Include interdisciplinary groups of PIs
- Clearly indicate how becoming a Center of Innovation will increase benefits from crop improvement for women, youth, climate resilience and nutrition
You can learn more about the opportunity here. The application period opens March 1..