FOA-Enabling
Agricultural Innovations for Sustainable Food Security: Biotechnology and Seeds
Systems in Asia and Africa
(USDA-FAS-10960-0700-10-20-0025); August
17, 2020
Agency
US
Department of Agriculture – Foreign Agricultural Service
(FAS)
Description
The
USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS) seeks to partner with a U.S.
land-grant university to carry out trainings and provide technical assistance
for select Asian and African decision-makers, technical experts, and
stakeholders focusing on informed strategies for enabling the science-based
adoption of agricultural biotechnologies, including incorporating biotechnology
into national and regional initiatives to modernize and strengthen seed systems
for innovation. The Program objectives are:
a)
Deliver
tailored trainings for select Asian and African officials, technical experts,
and stakeholders on key considerations for enabling the science- and risk-based
adoption of agricultural biotechnologies, to include applications in plants and
animals.
b)
Provide
technical assistance to policymakers and regional stakeholders on successfully
incorporating biotechnology and innovative breeding techniques into seed sector
improvement initiatives, such as ensuring availability of high-quality seeds for
small-scale producers. The land grant university will work with select
developing country governments, regional organizations, and biotechnology
stakeholder groups to support the successful deployment of agricultural
biotechnology products. Work in this area may include consulting and technical
assistance to incorporate biotechnology into seed system improvement
initiatives; support for commercial or public sector research and development of
genetically engineered or genome edited plants and/or animals; targeted outreach
to key stakeholders in host governments; or other activities that enable
adoption of agricultural biotechnology in Asia and Africa, in consultation with
USDA/FAS.
c)
Ensure
information sharing and increased awareness among participants of different
patterns of adoption of agricultural biotechnologies among countries/regions,
and of differences with approaches to seed sectors, and their impacts.
d)
Based
on the input of the Asian and African participants, develop action plans for
country/regional efforts moving forward on technical assistance activities,
identifying key issues and gaps in needs and capacity building,
e)
Develop
science-based, risk proportionate regulatory approaches that further regional
regulatory alignment and cooperation that facilitates deployment of agricultural
innovation.
Announcement
Number
USDA-FAS-10960-0700-10-20-0025
Closing
Date
August
17, 2020
Link
to Full Announcement
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=327851
Contact
Information
Clemen
G. Gehlhar
202-720-1891