RESEARCH STIMULUS FUND 2007 Call Briefings

1. RESEARCH STIMULUS FUND2007 Call Briefings Richard Howell Research, Food & Codex Coord. Div

2. PRESENTATION FORMAT • RSFP – BACKGROUND, AIMS & FEATURES • SCOPE OF CALL • APPLICATION FORM • EVALUATION PROCESS • QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

3. RSFP – PREVIOUSLY FUNDED • €4m in 2001 / 2002 Open Calls (full duration cost) • 28 Small scale projects • €4.5m in 2005 Targeted Call (full duration cost) • Agri-Env – 5 projects @ €2.6m • Non-Food Crops – 4 projects @ €1.3m • Agri-Food Economics – 3 projects @ €0.6m • €18 m in 2006 Open Call (full duration cost) • Animal Bioscience – 15 projects @ €8.4m • Plant Bioscience – 5 projects @ €1.9m • Non-Food Land Uses – 2 projects @ €0.6m • Agri-Environment - 8 projects @ €6.1m • Agri Economy & Policy – 5 projects @ €0.9m

4. SSTI – Public Sector Reserach • Aim to build knowledge economy in agri-food • Agr – multifunctional role; sustainable on renew. res • Optimise links between institutes & with industry • Agr. Research focus – new systems & technologies to support efficient farming & diversify land use • DAF to link with Environment, Energy (& Health) sectors & foster North-South collaboartion • DAF-DEHLG-DCMNR discussions at end 2006 – bid to IDC - €13.67m allocated to DAF from Competitive Fund for Linked Public Sector Research

5. 2007 CALL FUNDING

6. NATURE OF RSFP • “RESEARCH” -NEW KNOWLEDGE / USES • Basic / Fundamental /Applied / Pre-Commercial • BENEFIT PRODUCTION AGR. - in/direct • “PUBLIC GOOD” – disseminate subject to IPR • GAPS - NOT CORE TEAGASC PROG. • NOT FOOD / FISHERIES • COMPLEMENT OTHER PROGRAMS / FUNDERS • FIRM, EPA, SEI, D/CRAGA, etc.

7. PURPOSE OF RSFP • SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE & COMPETITIVE AGR. PRODUCTION PRACTICES & POLICIES • Compete - CAP, WTO, celtic tiger, etc. • Comply with regs. - environment, welfare, etc • Renew - energy sources, farm by-products, etc • BUILD RESEARCH CAPACITY • Enable Irl. to compete for EU FP in future

8. PARTNERSHIP • COLLABORATION - Teag./Uni/IT/DAF/NI • IF NOT - JUSTIFY WHY GOING ALONE • OTHER PARTNERS WELCOME - Self-Finance • Irish Industry - but no exclusive rights to results • Other Irish Bodies - relevance • Overseas Research Institutes – if beneficial to Irl • Paid Contract Foreign Expertise – for specific task/job & only if skill not available in Ireland

9. THEME AREAS • “TARGETED” CALL – excl. animal bioscience • SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE AGR PRODUCTION - in its broad sense + • FOCUS ON DEVELOP / APPLY BIOSCIENCES • Underpin advice for regl. compliance & farm mgt • Improve productivity / quality, etc - breeding • New agri products & land uses

10. 1. Agri Energy – use farm-based materials Energy Crop Production Studies • Genetics to select most suitable varieties • Develop efficient production, mgt & harvest systems • Response – diff nuts / sources / soils • GHG emissions – N2O, soil carbon, transport/process. Energy from Agr. Products/by-products • On-farm AD for biogas from intensive livestock • Feasibility of AD using crop prods / by-prods. in Irl. • Manure processing • Feasibility of Tech. Prog. for 2nd generation biofuels

11. 2. AGRI-ENVIRON – Soils & Water Farming • Nut loss – sources, paths, mgt., soil attenuation • Impact of pig manure on agrochemical efficacy • Use of urease & nitrification inhibitors • Pesticides – predictive & risk ass / mgt tools. Forestry • Critical loads & acid sensitivity • Biogeochemical cycles • Design ripriarian woodlands • Sediment & suspended solids management

12. 2. AGRI-ENVIRON – Gas Emissions Methane mitigation strategies for dairy • Dietary manipulation incl milk quality impact • Strategies for grazing animals • Integration with GHG inventories & models • Methane & N2O emissions from stored manure • Emissions from different chemical N sources Eco-Tillage • Impact on soil carbon, fuel usage, yield & crop mgt., nutrient use & loss • Relavance of animal manures

13. 2. AGRI-ENVIRON – Biodiversity & GM Farming Aspects of Biodiversity • Monitor bio-div loss for arable & uplands • Impact of different grazing systems • Measures to optimise agri-env. instruments • Criteria to select / maintain HNV landscapes • Land managers attitudes, motive & behaviour Co-existence of conventional, organic & GM crops • Review situation + lab. work but not field trials • Production methods & management practices • Economic aspects – of major interest

14. 3. PLANT BIOSCIENCE • Production – efficiency & quality incl organic • Breeding – use of ‘omics’ to develop uses • Plant Health & Disease Control • Novel Plant Applications & Technologies • Other Agr/Hort Novel Systems & Technologies for high added value Non-Food Land Uses

15. 4. ECONOMY & POLICY • Changes in agr. policy/ trade/ support/ regl. • Produvtivity & Competitiveness • Impact of socio-economic adjustments • Public goods – tourism, forestry, etc. • Options post decoupling – KBBE, etc. • ICT uptake on farm – obstacles & triggers

16. HOW TO GET FUNDED

17. HOW TO GET FUNDED • ‘TENDERS’ DAF WEB (www.agriculture.gov.ie) • READ THE GUIDELINES • PICK RESEARCH TEAM – can incl. N.Irl partners • PROVIDE ALL INFO. BUT CONCISELY • USE TABLES, CHARTS, DIAGRAMS • PROVIDE BACK-UP: CV, PUBS., ETC • SUBMIT ON TIME – signed original + 5 copies copies + CD + email by Thursday 26th July

18. Section 1 • Theme areas – tick one or more as appropriate. If more than 1, indicate main. • Principal Investigator – the person who is responsible for the research activities in your area • Project Co-ordinator – (a) Permanant OR (b) Contract Researcher with PhD & a contract beyond lifetime of project. Has overall responsibility for project and sole point of contact with DAF. • Dates, contact details, whether submitted to others now or in past & point on research continuum

19. SECTION 2 • 2.1 Abstract: 200 words - used in ESR / to Cttee. • 2.2 Context: 400 words – why needed & why RSFP ? • Describe current knowledge & demo area well understood • Reference all related research at home & abroad • Justify need and rationale for approach taken. • 2.3 Introduction: 400 words – what’s involved + use • Objectives, Methods & why chosen approach v another • Use/Benefits – policy/farming/commerce/innovation.

20. SECTIONS 3 & 6 • 6.1 SUB-PROJECTS ? Only if necessary • e.g. big size, different locations/elements/sectors • NOT smokescreen for artificial collaboration • 6.2 SP link with other SP’s & Overall. Intro as per 2.3 • 3 / 6.3 TASKS: Building blocks of all projects • Number varies. Sizeable self-contained elements • Objective / Institutions / Lead / Duration (in months) • Milestones - interim outputs on way to main goal • Deliverables - tangible outputs / judge success. NB • Disseminationtask - pubs., workshops, demos, etc.

21. Section 4 • 4.1 Co-ordination of both work & team • 4.2 Scientific / Mgt. Expertise of Principals • 4.3 Staff – type, location & responsibility • 4.4 Existing facilities – demo capability • 4.5 Describe existing IPR – demo track record of mgt. IPR & show proposed work not in conflict • 4.6 Path to commerce –unlikely but if applies demo mkt relevance, IPR awareness & commerce support • 4.7 Risk Proofing – demo Plan B exists • 4.8 Dissemination – elaborate on dissemination task

22. Section 7: Relevant Publications Required as back-up’ for: • Section 2.1 (Project Context) & 2.2 (Intro. To the Reserach) • Resume of principal researchers • Relevant recent pubs. only – NOT bibliography • ‘Other’ - cited publications, media articles, etc. mentioned throughout form

23. SECTION 8: BUDGETS • COST: Typically €100k - €700k for 2/3/4 years • Higher/Longer if required – Must Justify • RSFP funds 100% ELIGIBLE COSTS • USUAL CATEGORIES • Flexible except Total, Equipment & Overheads • Penalties will be applied if rules broken • ENSURE ALL FIGURES RECONCILE • TABLES 3 & 4 – Other Financial & non-financial contributions

24. BUDGETS: Table 2 • STAFF: fund non-permanent only • all types but especially Masters/Ph.D. students • CONS: lifeblood but must be used on project • T&S: If appropriate - careful with foreign • EQUIP: Depreciate as per formula. Usage ? • O/H: max. 30% (25) direct costs excl. equip. • OTHER: Describe in detail • SECTION 8.2: Justify costs. Experts scrutinise

25. DECISION MAKING PROCESS

26. Stage 1 Preliminary Assesssment by DAF • Time & Completeness check • Verification of proposal eligibility • Assignment to expert evaluation panel

27. Stage 2 • 3 Person Expert Panel per Theme • 1 Foreign – usually academic • Remote reading by Experts • Expert Panel meets in Dublin • Facilitated by DAF Moderator • Agree a consensus mark • Recommend / suggest changes • Rank Proposals

28. Stage 2: Evaluation Criteria • Relevance – to RSFP & needs of Production Agr. • Familiarity with R & D • Demo know current state – biblio / refs. • Scientific & Technical Quality • Demo progress > state-of-the-art. Feasibility. • Management & Partnership – critical mass • Potential Exploitability & Economic Impact • Demo Nature of and path to exploitation • Cost & Value for Money – function of size/length Equal Weight Criteria: Marks 0–5 each

29. Stage 3 RSFP Committee –X-section main stakeholders • Proposals achieving B+ (60%) and above will be considered by RSFP Committee • Committee determine indicative levels of funding • Recommend funding of successful proposals • Award negotiation – DAF/Co-ordinator

30. Success v’s Failure • Not within the scope • Insufficient Description of Tasks – Say what you will do, and also HOW you plan to do it • Over Ambitious • Lacking Innovation, No new Science • Rehashing old research • Team lacking some expertise • Research within Scope of Programme • Builds-on / Adds to existing research • Includes New Ideas & Avoids Duplication • Application Form Complete, Information on Tasks, Milestones, Deliverables, Responsibility

31. FURTHER INFORMATION General Mary Cullinan Crops Policy & State Bodies Div Agriculture House, 3W Kildare St. Dublin 2 Tel:01 - 607 2037 Mary.cullinan@agriculture.gov.ie Technical Richard Howell, Agr. Inspector Tel: 01 – 607 2572 Richard.howell@agriculture.gov.ie

32. DONT BE LATEClosing Date for Applications Signed Original + 5 Hard Copies + CD by Thursday 26 July 2007 at the latest. Identical Email version.