CWB Post-Harvest Research, FY 2021-2022
- This RFP was uploaded by the owner.
The California Walnut Board (CWB), representing over 4,500 growers and 85 handlers of California walnuts, invites agricultural research faculty, extension academics, and others affiliated with agricultural colleges, universities and agencies to submit requests for funding of applied research projects addressing identified post harvest research issues and challenges.
The California walnut industry has a long and successful legacy of deploying innovative science-based solutions to foster industry growth, stability, health, and sustainability. It does this primarily through supporting a robust and diverse post-harvest research program whose direction and operations are overseen by its Grades & Standards Committee.
The CWB maintains a comprehensive and regularly updated list of post-harvest research goals, objectives, and priorities to guide CWB's post harvest research activities and funding decisions as set by the CWB Grades & Standards Committee. This document is available on request from Technical & Regulatory Affairs Director, Joshua Rahm, for applicants' use in better understanding our industry's needs and the research strategies it has developed to address them.
The CWB has proposed FY 2021/2022 budget of $450,000 for post-harvest research. Proposals for new projects will be considered. Multi-year projects are subject to an annual evaluation of progress toward stated objectives and availability of funds. Project funding varies widely with the scope nature and scope of projects. There is no formal maximum or minimum limit on annual project funding.
The Grades & Standards Committee uses five criteria to evaluate and score proposals:
Conformity of project with Grades & Standards Committee goals and priorities
Fund request commensurate with benefits of a successful outcome
Requested funds seem reasonable for the work proposed
Likelihood that a successful outcome will result in practical benefits for the walnut industry
For projects initiated in a previous year: Is the project on track toward completion in the time originally proposed?
In evaluating proposals each year, the Grades & Standards Committee evaluates new proposals more closely based on these criteria than it does continuing proposals. The main emphases in evaluating continuing proposals are whether the project is on track toward completion within its originally proposed timeframe and whether funds requested in the current year continue to be reasonable in relation to the work proposed and potential benefits of a successful outcome.
Numerical scores for each proposal are an average of individual scores given by each Grades & Standards Committee member-from 1 (low) to 5 (high) - after formal group review and discussion.
How to apply:
The submission deadline for FY 2021/22 proposals is Friday, July 02, 2021.
The CWB has transitioned its proposal preparation and submission processes to an electronic on-line format. A template and instructions for proposal preparation and submission can be found at https://cawalnuts.infoready4.com/ by clicking on "CWB Post-Harvest Research". To be considered for funding, proposals must be submitted through this portal and must conform to formatting and content guidelines contained in the "CWB Post-Harvest Research Proposal Guidelines" provided at the website address previously listed and attached for additional reference. New and continuing project principal leaders are expected to attend and make a brief oral presentation of their proposal at the Grades & Standards Committee meeting to be held virtually in July 2021. Meeting invite and agenda to be sent out in advance.
For further information please feel to contact the CWB Technical & Regulatory Affairs Director, Joshua Rahm (email: jrahm@walnuts.org).
Sincerely,
Joshua Rahm
Director, Technical & Regulatory Affairs, California Walnut Board
