Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Leopold Center seeks project ideas for 2010 and beyond

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June 22, 2009

AMES, Iowa -- The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture is seeking ideas for new projects that will contribute to the development of profitable farming systems and conserve natural resources.

The Leopold Center’s 2009 Request for Pre-proposals (RFP) explains in detail the priorities that will guide the selection of innovative new projects as part of the Center’s long-running competitive grants program. Each of the Center’s initiative areas – ecology, marketing and food systems and policy – has a separate section in the RFP, available by request at (515) 294-3711.

Investigators representing any Iowa nonprofit organization/agency and/or educational institution (such as soil and water conservation districts, schools and colleges, and regional development groups) may submit pre-proposals; there are no restrictions on project partners or collaborators.

Pre-proposals are due by 5:00 p.m. August 19, with most projects funded and ready to begin in early 2010. The one- to two-page concept papers will be reviewed by Center staff and Advisory Board members for adherence to requirements in the RFP as well as their economic, environmental and community/social sustainability.

“We have offered a competitive grants program to Iowans since our first year of existence,” said Leopold Center Director Jerry DeWitt. “A major portion of the Leopold Center’s work consists of applied research projects and local demonstrations we support with annual competitive grants across Iowa. Our focus each year on the needs of Iowans and emerging issues results in our funded research and education projects."

The Ecology Initiative is looking for projects that model agro-ecological farms, those that put “living roots in the ground” for more of the year or increase carbon capture and reduce net energy costs by increasing on-farm biodiversity, and advances in practices and management that help improve soil quality and its water-holding capacity.

The Marketing and Food Systems Initiative wants to focus on projects that support existing working groups in the Value Chain Partnerships project; look at the community, health, safety, economic and environmental impacts of Iowan-grown foods; promote energy efficiencies within the food, fiber and energy value chain; offer education to increase market opportunities and reduce risk for new, immigrant and transitioning farmers; and explore strategies to increase locally-grown affordable food for Iowa’s schoolchildren.

The Policy Initiative is targeting research to reduce barriers to sustainability at various scales of farm operations, research on the effectiveness of existing land use policies, and possible local or regional policy options that encourage energy conservation an/or renewable energy in food, feed and fiber systems.

Projects that enhance the Center’s cross-initiative work in grass-based livestock production and farm energy alternatives also will be considered.

For inquiries about the initiatives' focus areas in this round of project solicitation, contact the appropriate initiative leader:Jeri Neal for Ecology (515) 294-5610, wink@iastate.edu; Rich Pirog for Marketing and Food Systems (515) 294-1854, rspirog@iastate.edu; or Jerry DeWitt for Policy (515) 294-3711, jdewitt@iastate.edu. General questions about the RFP can be directed to Associate Director Rich Pirog. 

For more info contact:

Jerry DeWitt, Leopold Center Director, (515) 294-3711, jdewitt@iastate.edu

Rich Pirog, Leopold Center Associate Director, (515) 294-1854, rspirog@iastate.edu

Laura Miller, Leopold Center Communications, (515) 294-5272, lwmiller@iastate.edu

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