The National Institute of Food and Agriculture is accepting applications for its 2024 Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants Program.
Donor Name: National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 02/29/2024
Size of the Grant: $500,000 to $1 million
Grant Duration: 4 Years
Details:
The purpose of the Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants Program (BRAG) program is to support the generation of new information that will assist Federal regulatory agencies in making science-based decisions about the effects of introducing into the environment genetically engineered organisms (GE), including plants, microorganisms — such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses — arthropods, fish, birds, mammals and other animals excluding humans. Investigations of effects on both managed and natural environments are relevant. The BRAG program accomplishes its purpose by providing federal regulatory agencies with scientific information relevant to regulatory issues.
The statutory program goals and objectives are to authorize and support environmental assessment research to help identify and analyze environmental effects of biotechnology and to authorize research to help regulators develop long-term policies concerning the introduction of such technology.
The BRAG program supports applied and/or fundamental research relevant to environmental risk assessment, including biological risk, and the Federal regulatory process. When evaluating GE organisms, Federal regulators must answer the following four general questions:
- Is there a hazard? (Potential hazard identification.)
- How likely is the hazard to occur? (Quantifying the probability of occurrence; identifying likely exposure scenarios.)
- What is the severity and extent of the hazard if it occurs? (Quantifying the effects) and
- Is there an effect beyond what might occur with an unmodified organism or an organism that has similar traits, but was developed using other technologies?
The BRAG program will also support risk management research, which is defined as either:
- Research aimed primarily at reducing negative effects of specific biotechnology derived agents; or
- A policy and decision-making process that uses risk assessment data in deciding how to avoid or mitigate the negative consequences identified in a risk assessment.
Program Priorities
The BRAG program is aligned with the following USDA Science and Research Strategy, 2023– 2026 priorities:
- Priority 1: Accelerating Innovative Technologies & Practices
- Priority 4: Cultivating Resilient Ecosystems
- Priority 5: Translating Research Into Action
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $5,500,000
- Maximum Award Amount:
- Standard Research – $650,000
- Conference – $50,000
- Minimum Award Amount: $10,000
- Maximum Award Amount:
Grant Period
24-48 Months.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants for the BRAG program are limited to public or private research or educational institutions or organizations and must meet all the requirements discussed in this RFA.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
