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Courtesy of NAA:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), announces the FY 2016 Request for Application for the NIFA Aquaculture Research Special Research Grants Program.

The purpose of the NIFA Aquaculture Research grants program is to support the development of an environmentally and economically sustainable aquaculture industry in the U.S. by generating new science-based information and technology to address industry constraints. Results of projects supported by this program are intended to help improve the profitability of the U.S. aquaculture industry, reduce the U.S. trade deficit, increase domestic food security, provide markets for U.S.-produced products, increase domestic aquaculture business investment opportunities, and provide more jobs for rural and coastal America.

Applications are to directly address major constraints to the U.S. aquaculture industry and focus on one or more of the following Program Area Priorities:

• Genetics of commercial aquaculture species;
• Critical disease issues impacting aquaculture species;
• Design of environmentally and economically sustainable aquaculture production systems;
• Economic research for increasing aquaculture profitability.

The anticipated amount available in FY 2016 is approximately $1.2 million, which is anticipated to fund four to five awards in FY 2016. The funds will be awarded through a grant award. This program will make research awards up to $300,000 (total project, not per year). The start date of a project must be before October 1, 2016. Project periods for this program are limited to a maximum duration of 2 years. Recipients may be eligible for a no-cost extension for a third year, but no carryover or extension is permitted for any project beyond 3 years (any unexpended funds must be returned to the U.S. Treasury).

Applications may only be submitted by State agricultural experiment stations, all colleges and universities, other research institutions and organizations, Federal agencies, private organizations or corporations, and individuals for the purpose of conducting research, extension, or education activities to facilitate or expand promising breakthroughs in areas of the food and agricultural sciences of importance to the United States.

The application deadline is: 5:00 PM Eastern Time, May 17, 2016. For more information and/or to apply, please click here.

Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-NIFA-SRGP-005776

Please contact Gene Kim (Gene.W.Kim@nifa.usda.gov), if you have questions.