NIFA Application Kit

OMB Number: 0524-0039

Expiration Date: XX/XX/202X

Notes and Instructions for Executive Summary

Do NOT include this instruction page with your application!

Notes on Co-Project Directors and Co- Investigators

As stated in the definitions at the end of the Request for Applications, the Project Director (PD) is that person who is legally responsible for ensuring that project funds are used to accomplish the project objectives. A Co-Project Director (Co-PD) is someone who could assume those responsibilities in the event that the PD has to step out of that role prior to completion of the term of the project. Bear in mind when listing Co-PDs that NIFA makes awards to institutions, not individuals. In most cases, the institution receiving an award will not want to transfer the award to another institution, so the most realistic persons to list as Co-PDs are those who are at the same institution as the PD. Please list no more than 3 Co-PDs. Scientists who will have the main responsibility for achieving specific objectives should be listed as Co - Investigators (CI) These scientists have the same status as a Co-PD in terms of recognition of value to the project. These individuals are not, however, in a position to assume the responsibilities of the PD.

You were asked to list up to 6 scientists on your Stakeholder Relevance Statement. There is no limit on the number to list in your full application. Please note that an important use of this information, in addition to allowing reviewers to quickly see who is on the project team, is to check for conflicts of interest as part of the peer review panel planning process. It is important to list the full name of all essential personnel and the person’s institution, along with the city and state. Be sure that this information is clearly stated. The Executive Summary is NOT the place to include paragraphs of information about what each team member will bring to the project. That information goes in the narrative.

Percentages of legislated priorities addressed by your project.

Please include information about what percentage of your project addresses each of the 5 priorities contained in the SCRI authorizing legislation. This is for reporting purposes only and will not affect the review of your application. If you wish to include explanatory notes, please include in your narrative and not in the executive summary.

1. “PB and G”: Research in plant breeding, genetics, genomics, and other methods to improve crop characteristics, such as:

a. product, taste, quality, and appearance;

b. environmental responses and tolerances;

c. nutrient management, including plant nutrient uptake efficiency;

d. pest and disease management, including resistance to pests and diseases resulting in reduced application management strategies; and

e. enhanced phytonutrient content.

2. “PM”: Efforts to identify and address threats from pests and diseases, including threats to specialty crop pollinators;

3. “PP & PE”: Efforts to improve production efficiency, handling and processing, productivity, and profitability over the long term (including specialty crop policy and marketing);

4. “Tech”: New innovations and technology, including improved mechanization and technologies that delay or inhibit ripening; and

5. “FS”: Methods to prevent, detect, monitor, control, and respond to potential food safety hazards in the production and processing of specialty crops, including fresh produce.

Executive Summary

1. Project Title:

2. Project type: (Planning, SREP, or CAP)

3. Requesting consideration for Center of Excellence? (Yes or No)

4. Legislatively-mandated focus areas to be addressed:

Focus area	Percentage addressed in this proposal
Plant Breeding and Genetics
Pest Management
Plant Production and Production Efficiency
Technology
Food Safety

5. Program Staff: (expand this table as necessary to list PD, Co-PDs, Co-Is, Collaborators)

Role	Name	Title	Institution	City, State	Email
PD
Co-PD
Co-Investigator (CI)
Collaborator

6. Outreach plan summary:

7. Project Transdisciplinarity: Describe how the project fulfills the requirements for a transdisciplinary approach to systems science.

8. Logic Model (see RFA for link to NIFA web page with suggestions and formats)

Public reporting for collection of information is estimated to average XX minutes, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information, unless it displays a current valid OMB control number. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to NIFA, OGFM, 2312 East Bannister Road, Mail Stop 10,000, Kansas City, MO 64131, Attention Policy Section. Do not return the completed form to this address. National Institute of Food and Agriculture US Department of Agriculture OMB No. 0524-0039 Form Approved For Use Through XX/XX/XXXX