The Scientific Cooperation Research Program (SCRP) supports joint international activities making practical use of science to help solve critical problems affecting food systems, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and the environment in both the United States and collaborating countries. Scientific cooperation activities leverage resources and expertise, and enhance research and technical efforts of scientists domestically and worldwide, while developing new approaches and technologies to enhance global food security, encourage sustainable agricultural resource management, and improve marketing and the use of science to facilitate trade.

Since 1982, this collaborative research and scientific exchange program has promoted economically and environmentally sustainable crop and livestock production, and food processing for nutritious and safe food, as well as the development of value-added alternative products, including renewable energy sources to enhance livelihoods. The Scientific Cooperation Research Program has addressed plant and animal health problems to help prevent and manage diseases and pests, and has assisted access to emerging technologies and new genetic materials crucial to improving and creating new products, practices and markets. Activities under the Foreign Agricultural Service’s SCRP also contribute to USDA’s implementation of the U.S. Action Plan for Food Security and the World Food Summit targets of halving domestic and global food insecurity and enhancing agricultural productivity.

Who May Apply

U.S. scientists affiliated with a college or university, a federal or state agency, or private, nonprofit organization may apply. Scientists may collaborate with research institutions in developed or developing countries having U.S. diplomatic relations, including the International Agricultural Research Centers linked with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). Proposals are especially encouraged from young scientists, women scientists, or scientists representing or involving minority-serving U.S. institutions, including those in American Samoa, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

For 2003, the Scientific Cooperation Research Program will target innovative, mutually beneficial proposals aimed at:

• Meeting the food and nutritional needs of the most vulnerable populations in rural and urban areas of both the United States and collaborating countries, particularly the most food-insecure countries in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean
• Understanding and enhancing relationships among nutrition, agriculture, food security, and health, including diseases such as HIV/AIDS and diabetes
• Promoting food safety
• Enhancing water quality and availability
• Expanding livelihoods of small and limited resource farmers, ranchers, and communities

The 2003 cycle of the annual competitive Scientific Cooperation Research Program welcomes proposals for joint international activities of mutual benefit that would contribute to USDA’s implementation of the U.S. Action Plan for Food Security and the World Food Summit targets of halving domestic and global food insecurity, and USDA’s additional goal to expand domestic and export opportunities for U.S. agricultural, fish, and forest products. The target subjects cover topics in food security, sustainable agriculture and natural resources management, and science and trade, with linkages among all three areas.

• Promoting Food Security through Food Productivity, Food Systems, Nutrition, Quality, and Safety

Food Security proposals include developing and using appropriate technologies and practices to measure food security, improving the production, nutritive value, processing, distribution, and profitability of crop and livestock products; reducing postharvest food losses; and researching the relationships among food security, nutrition, diet, and associated health problems, such as HIV/AIDS and diabetes; and improving food and water safety.

Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resources Management proposals include linkages between environmental quality, water management, and food security. Projects promote conservation and protection of vulnerable ecosystems, including watersheds and coastal zones, soil and water, and air quality; identify environmentally beneficial agricultural, aquacultural, watershed, and fisheries practices; refine Integrated Resource Management and Integrated Pest Management systems; develop techniques for minimizing use of agricultural chemicals; and improve ecosystem management for sustained productivity. Biodiversity and germplasm preservation projects enhance plant and animal genetic diversity and biological performance, and develop and improve plants and livestock to support low-input agricultural, range, and forestry systems.

Science and Trade proposals facilitate development of new products, processes and commodities for domestic and export market opportunities; help detect, identify, report, prevent, and treat new and emerging plant, animal, and human diseases and pests, particularly from foreign sources; improve the science base for sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards; improve risk management tools for production and marketing; reduce technical barriers to market access for agricultural and forestry commodities and products; assess the economic impact of trade related policy and regulation, and acquire information for international trade. Of special emphasis are programs to assist development and harmonization of seed and seed certification systems, biosafety and biotechnology assessment systems, and systems enhancing trade in animal genetic resources.

The 2003 Scientific Cooperation Research Program provides U.S. scientists up to $15,000 each year for international research collaboration projects ranging from one to three years. A maximum of $45,000 is available for any one project. SCRP funds may be used on direct research-related costs for international travel, including maintenance, per diem, and health insurance for foreign scientists in the U.S., supplies, equipment, and support for research associates.

The U.S. investigator's institution is expected to administer the project, including transfer of any funds shared with the foreign institution. The program does not provide funds solely for sabbaticals or for attending international conferences, indirect costs, overhead, publication costs, general communication or clerical costs.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the program manager to discuss proposals for research collaboration worldwide:  Calvina Dupre, Agricultural Research Advisor, (202) 720-0618, Calvina.Dupre@fas.usda.gov

U.S. - China Scientific and Technical Exchanges

The Scientific Cooperation Research Program (SCRP) provides funding in support of USDA’s Scientific and Technological Exchange Agreement with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) for visits of teams in which the receiving country covers all expenses for in-country travel and per diem for visiting teams. Under this agreement, teams with a maximum of 5 scientists are exchanged for up to 14 days per team.

Please be aware, however, that U.S. participants are responsible for their international airfare between the U.S. and China, as are Chinese teams coming to the United States.

• Exchanges to China: U.S. participants are responsible for their international airfare to and from China. No funds will be given to U.S. participants by the SCRP or the PRC. The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture will provide meals, lodging, and domestic transportation for U.S. teams within the People's Republic of China. 
• Exchanges to the U.S.: USDA’s SCRP reciprocates by receiving and paying travel and per diem expenses within the United States of visiting Chinese teams. Teams from the PRC are responsible for their international airfare and are coordinated by the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture.

To discuss short term scientific exchanges with China under the S&T Agreement, please contact:  Alma Bowman, China Program Coordinator, (202) 690-1866, Alma.Bowman@fas.usda.gov

Application Information and SCRP guidelines:

Please access our homepage at: http://www.fas.usda.gov/icd/grants/scrp.htm or contact: Catherine Jackson, Research and Exchanges Coordinator, (202) 720-5762, Catherine.Jackson@fas.usda.gov

Guidelines for Proposals

The proposal may not exceed 15 single-spaced pages for Research Collaboration Projects and 10 single-spaced pages for China Scientific and Technical Exchanges. Page numbering starts with the cover page, and includes the proposal text, biodata, and references. No additional information will be considered. Proposals must be prepared on standard size, 8-1/2 x 11 inch white paper. The text using 12 point font must be printed on one side of the page only, with a one-inch margin on all sides. 

The short proposal title should clearly describe the issue or research problem to be addressed.

In a paragraph for the general public, describe the issue or research problem. Highlight the research project’s benefits to both the U.S. and cooperating country. Discuss how the results of the activity will contribute toward solving the problem. Include the contributions of scientists in both countries.

Introduction. Describe the scientific or technical issue. Indicate the status of any current activities on this topic with the proposed participating country, including the contacts and institutions. Indicate whether the Research and Scientific Exchanges Division has previously funded a related activity of yours, and provide the title and date of the activity.

Objectives of this Activity. List the objectives. The research must address a 2003 Target Subject Area. The program does not provide funds solely for sabbatical study leaves or for attending conferences.

Benefits to U.S. Agriculture or Forestry. Proposals must indicate a strong benefit to U.S. consumers, agriculture, or forestry. Include plans for disseminating or using the research results. Identify and, if possible, quantify benefits expected from the research activities and products.

Benefits to the Cooperating Foreign Country. Describe the interests of the cooperating foreign country institution or International Agricultural Research Center (IARC) in collaborating on the proposed activity.

Cooperative Arrangements. Describe the responsibilities of each research institution and the resources available for research in the cooperating foreign country or IARC.

This section explains how you plan to accomplish your objectives and should include:

• Proposed dates of visits, including seasonal, geographic, and other considerations
• Description of how objectives will be met
• Schedule of activities
• Each participant's specific role

• Literature citations relevant to the project
• Résumé of each U.S. participant (maximum one page each)
• Indication of commitment of cooperating foreign scientist/institution, if available (If your proposal is approved, this will be required.)

Provide a three-part budget for each year, indicating the contributions by the SCRP, the U.S. cooperating institution, and the foreign cooperating institution. Indicate what portion of the total costs the U.S. scientist’s organization will cover. U.S. institutions are expected to contribute salary costs for senior scientists, provide facilities, and pay for any indirect charges. Include line items for the following as appropriate:

I.  SCRP Contribution: Budget line items for direct costs only may include international travel, supplies, equipment, and research associates. The SCRP does not pay indirect costs for research project agreements, publication costs, general communication, or clerical costs.

II.  U.S. Cooperating Institution(s): Estimate funding and in-kind contributions such as salaries of the principal investigators for their time devoted to the project, facilities provided, equipment, publication costs, and indirect costs incurred. 

III.  Foreign Cooperating Institution(s): Estimate in-kind contributions by the collaborator(s) on the project. General estimates for program information only.

Since SCRP funds are not provided directly to the U.S. exchange teams visiting China, no budget is required. Please be aware, however, that U.S. participants are responsible for their international airfare between the U.S. and China, as are Chinese teams coming to the United States.

Selection Criteria: Proposals will be peer reviewed by U.S. scientists in each Target Subject Area. Projects will be selected according to how well they meet the following criteria:

• Scientific or Technical Merit - Quality of proposal, well defined problem, clear objectives, evidence of creativity and innovation, suitability of investigators and institutions, likelihood objectives can be achieved
• Relevance - Addresses important U.S. agricultural or forestry problems; potential usefulness of research results, potential for knowledge and technology transfer
• Potential for Furthering International Cooperation - Expected contributions and mutual benefits from collaboration.

Federal U.S. Government Agencies

Proposals prepared by federal employees should comply with their agency’s requirements and clearances. If the agency desires, the proposals may be prioritized in terms of importance to the agency when transmitted by the January 24, 2003 deadline. U.S. government agencies only should present proposal budgets on the federal fiscal year basis, such as the following:

Year 1: May 1, 2003 (or start date) -- September 30, 2003
Year 2: October 1, 2003 -- September 30, 2004, etc.

Colleges, Universities, and Private, Nonprofit Organizations

Colleges, universities, and private, nonprofit organizations should use a calendar year basis for annual budgets such as the following:

Year 1: May 1, 2003 (or start date) -- April  30, 2004
Year 2: May 1, 2004 -- April 30, 2005, etc.

 

Proposals must conform to the guidelines and include the required cover page. Submit requests for only one activity in a single proposal.

Applicants are encouraged to consult the website or program contacts before submitting final proposals to ensure the latest proposal guidelines are used.

Notification of Awards: Award and decline letters are expected to be sent to the U.S. Principal Investigators in late March  2003.

Reporting: Approved research collaboration projects will require annual and final technical research reports. Short-term exchanges with China will require trip reports.

Cover Page: Please download a proposal cover page  (.html,  .pdf  or .wpd version) and attach a completed copy to the front of each proposal.

SCRP Cover Page
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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance: This Scientific Cooperation Research Program is listed under 10.961 on the government-wide website at: http://www.cfda.gov/