The U.S. Agency for International Development is accepting comments on a call for a Horticulture Innovation Lab. A recent Feed the Future Horticulture Innovation Lab program was managed by the University of California-Davis, but went on hiatus last year at the end of 10-year term.
As it is currently proposed, the lab will work in two areas of inquiry:
* Resilient horticultural management practices, such as practices related to managing water, soil fertility and pests/disease, effective design and building of protective structures and post-harvest quality, storage & handling
* Horticultural enterprise development and commercialization, including a responsive approach to gender and youth.
As it is proposed, the lab would receive $20 million in base funding, with $19.5 million potential in mission buy-ins and associate awards.
Comments are due by Oct. 20. USAID expects to post the funding opportunity in December and award a cooperative agreement in June 2021.