CALL FOR LETTERS OF INTENT

This notice replaces the notice from last week, and includes a direct link to the LOI template document.

To be considered for funding, all project ideas must be submitted at the LOI stage. If new issues or opportunities arise after LOIs are due and warrant a rapid research response, please contact us and we will consider these on a case by case basis.

June 17, 2019

Investment in research is a long-term strategic initiative of the Grain Farmers of Ontario. Our goal is to target our research and innovation investments toward opportunities that will enhance our farmer members’ returns. The updated 2020 Grain Farmers of Ontario Research Priorities are available online at http://gfo.ca/research/research-priorities/. The Research Project Database outlining current and past Grain Farmers of Ontario research investments can be found at http://gfo.ca/research/research-project-database/.

The purpose of this call for Letters of Intent (LOI) is to allow researchers to convey a project concept with an estimated budget so that Grain Farmers of Ontario has the chance to screen project ideas and provide feedback prior to requesting the full proposals for successful LOIs.

Each year a portion of the $1.8 million research budget is available to fund new projects. For our 2020 Call for Letters of Intent we will be accepting barley, corn, oat, soybean, and wheat project ideas targeting one or more specific priorities within our four broad priority areas as described in our Research Priorities document: Agronomy & Production; Weed, Disease & Insect Pests; Breeding & Genetics; and Crop Utilization & Crop Quality.
 
Grain Farmers of Ontario strongly encourages partnerships amongst research institutions and with other funding agencies, where relevant. If you would like to discuss linkages with other funding programs, please give us a call.

For your submission, please complete the Letter of Intent template through the button below. Instructions are found on the cover page within the template. It is important to express specifically how your research idea will benefit Ontario’s barley, corn, oat, soybean and wheat farmers, and to use plain language when describing your project.
 
If there is confidential content within your proposal, please identify the sensitive content clearly with “Confidential” at the beginning of the section.


Timeline for 2020 Call for Research Proposals:
 
LOI intake opens – Friday, June 14, 2019
LOI submission deadline – Monday, July 15, 2019; 4:30pm
LOIs reviewed – August 12-13, 2019
Researchers notified of LOI outcome – 5-10 business days after review
 
Full proposals will be requested for successful LOIs – 5-10 business days after review
Full proposal deadline – mid-November 2019
Full proposals reviewed – January 2020
Researchers notified of full proposal outcome – mid/late-February 2020
 
If you have any questions or concerns, Josh Cowan, Manager, Research & Innovation (519-993-7692 or joshcowan@gfo.ca) or Matthew Czerwinski, Research Lead (519-767-0212 or mczerwinski@gfo.ca). •

Grain Farmers of Ontario
Grain Farmers of Ontario is the province‘s largest commodity organization, representing Ontario‘s 28,000 barley, corn, oat, soybean, and wheat farmers. The crops they grow cover over 6 million acres of farm land across the province, generate over $2.5 billion in farm gate receipts, result in over $9 billion in economic output and are responsible for over 40,000 jobs in the province.

Grain Farmers of Ontario
679 Southgate Drive, Guelph, Ontario N1G 4S2
Tel: 1-800-265-0550 • www.gfo.ca