The NSERC-SSHRC Sustainable agriculture research initiative recognizes the need to bring together the social and behavioural sciences and humanities with the natural sciences and engineering fields to support research to initiate or accelerate the development of solutions that will be required for a sustainable, resilient and profitable agriculture sector in a net-zero economy

Amount: 2-5M over 4 years ($500,000 to 2M per year)

Deadlines:

Important Dates	Required Steps
Monday, April 24, 2023	Submission of preparatory funding – LOI to Institutional Research program for internal review.
Monday, May 1, 2023	Deadline for ROLA and final LOI to Western Research.
Monday, May 8, 2023	Submission of preparatory funding – LOI to NSERC at 8 p.m.
Wednesday, November 8, 2023	Submission of full project funding applications to NSERC at 8 p.m.

Description: This initiative will support research to initiate or accelerate the development of transformative innovations, practices, technologies, products, land uses and inputs that will lead to a sustainable, profitable and resilient agriculture and agri-food sector in the uncertain climate and net-zero economy of the future. It will fund multidisciplinary, collaborative networks of researchers to address specific research objectives by initiating or accelerating the development of truly transformative solutions, and by mobilizing expertise, technologies and research in social sciences, natural sciences and engineering and in areas that broaden the traditional network of agriculture research partners. Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with knowledge users (e.g., agronomists, smart farms, etc.) to support knowledge mobilization. Submitted proposals should clearly define a plan for knowledge translation and transfer to the sector.

Eligibility: Canadian university researchers must apply as part of a team with two or more eligible co-applicants. To be an applicant or co-applicant, you must be working in a research area supported by NSERC or SSHRC and meet NSERC’s eligibility requirements at the time of application. To maximize research impact, benefits and knowledge mobilization, at least one partner organization is required and an additional partner organization collaboration is encouraged.

More information and how to apply…
Each applicant and co-applicant must create an account in NSERC’s online system if they do not already have one. All applicants and co-applicants must complete and submit a form 100A, following the relevant instructions to be included in the application. Social sciences and humanities researchers may use research subject code 8000 when indicating their expertise.

Webinars: information webinars about the research initiative. Questions from attendees will be answered.
English sessions (Webex):
1) Tuesday, April 11, 2023, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm Eastern Time (ET)
Click here to join the meeting
Meeting number: 2774 406 3944
Password: ALLRP2023!
Join by phone:
1-613-714-9906 Canada Toll (Ottawa)
1-844-426-4405 Canada Toll Free
Access code: 277 440 63944

2) Tuesday, May 02, 2023, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm (ET)
Click here to join the meeting
Meeting number: 2774 003 3620
Password: ALLRP2023!
Join by phone:
1-613-714-9906 Canada Toll (Ottawa)
1-844-426-4405 Canada Toll Free
Access code: 277 400 33620

NSERC will be hosting additional webinars about the NSERC-SSHRC Sustainable agriculture research initiative on Tuesday September 19^th  (in French) and Wednesday September 20^th  (in English). Please note that the content will be similar to the webinars presented earlier in April and May, but with some new information focusing on procedures and administrative details with regards to applying for the full funding. The slides will be available online on the resources page NSERC – NSERC-SSHRC Sustainable agriculture research initiative – Resources (nserc-crsng.gc.ca) after the presentations. Prospective applicants are welcome to attend.

English session (Webex)

https://nsercvideo.webex.com/nsercvideo/j.php?MTID=mb91f40e68f36c0caa697488218eb5164
Wednesday, September 20, 2023, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM EST
Meeting number: 2770 145 0815
Password: Alliance2023!
Join by phone
+1-613-714-9906 Canada Toll (Ottawa)
1-844-426-4405 Canada Toll Free
Access code: 277 014 50815

Western Research Contact: If you have questions, please contact Suramya Mihindukulasuriya

Please contact Karen Kueneman and Western Research if you plan to apply.