FFAR Seeks Research Proposals to Improve Climate Resilience in Crops

Washington, D.C.

  • Production Systems

WASHINGTON (September 16, 2020) – Scientists predict that climate change will lead to higher temperatures, as well as greater temperature variability. These changes will dramatically affect agriculture systems, decreasing crop productivity, harming farmers’ livelihoods and threatening global food security. To address these challenges, the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) is seeking research proposals providing transformative approaches and solutions to increase a crop’s tolerance for higher temperatures. The resulting research will improve crop’s climate resilience. This request for proposals is part of FFAR’s Next Generation Crops Challenge Areas, which is accepting applications starting today.

Portrait of Sally Rockey.
We have a pretty good idea what increased temperatures will do to global farming and it’s not good. FFAR is looking for the next generation of climate-resilient crops that can actually produce more food with fewer inputs in more variable temperatures. Sally Rockey, Ph.D.
Executive Director Emeritus

Specifically, FFAR is seeking applications that increase the basal or acquired thermotolerance of crop plants, allowing them to better survive when exposed to high temperatures. This funding opportunity is focusing on solutions that can be applied to one or more of the following crops: maize, rice, sorghum, millet, wheat, sweet potato, cassava, banana, yam, common bean, cowpea, chickpea and groundnut. Matching funds will be provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and are not required from researchers.

Information about this funding opportunity, including application criteria, deadlines and eligibility requirements, are available on the Climate Resilience RFA webpage.

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Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research

The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) builds public-private partnerships to fund bold research addressing big food and agriculture challenges. FFAR was established in the 2014 Farm Bill to increase public agriculture research investments, fill knowledge gaps and complement the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s research agenda. FFAR’s model matches federal funding from Congress with private funding, delivering a powerful return on taxpayer investment. Through collaboration and partnerships, FFAR advances actionable science benefiting farmers, consumers and the environment.

Connect: @FoundationFAR | @RockTalking