Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Center issues 2010 Request for Pre-proposals

Back to Leopold Letter Summer 2010

Iowans with ideas for testing sustainable agriculture alternatives will want to check out the 2010 Request for Pre-proposals (RFP) now available from the Leopold Center. Each of the three initiative areas—ecology, marketing and food systems, and policy—is looking for innovative new projects to enhance the Center’s long-running competitive grants program. The RFP contains specific information about what the Center is looking for and how to apply for the competitive grant funding.

The Center will accept pre-proposals from investigators representing any Iowa nonprofit organization/agency and/or educational institution (such as soil and water conservation districts, schools, colleges, universities and regional development groups). The Center places special importance on the involvement and collaboration of farmers, landowners, and farm-based businesses in the pre-proposal process.

A two–to three–page concept paper on the project and how it fits with the Leopold Center mission and specific initiative objectives is all that is required at the pre-proposal stage. If the concept is approved, the investigators will be asked to submit a more detailed full proposal later this year.

The RFP can be downloaded from the Center’s web site. Hard copies can be obtained from the Center office by calling 515–294–7311 or emailing leocenter@iastate.edu.

For inquiries about the initiatives’ interests in this first round of project competition, contact the appropriate program leader: Lois Wright Morton for Ecology or Policy (515– 294–3711, lwmorton@iastate.edu) and Rich Pirog for Marketing and Food Systems or for any general questions about the pre-proposal process (515–294–1854, rspirog@iastate.edu).

Back to Leopold Letter Summer 2010