Deadline: 15-Sep-2025
The BARD Research Grant Pioneer Track is a funding opportunity aimed at supporting innovative agricultural research projects that offer significant and practical outcomes. The goal is to encourage pioneering ideas and fresh solutions to critical challenges in agricultural science that provide real-world benefits to both partner countries involved.
This funding track focuses on new directions in agricultural research, particularly in areas prioritized by the Technical Advisory Committee and the Board of Directors. These include improving production efficiency through sustainable practices, genetic advancements, and better resource use; defending against pests, diseases, and environmental threats; tackling production in marginal or stressed conditions; enhancing food quality and security; optimizing soil and water use; advancing precision agriculture and automation; and promoting sustainable environmental practices like renewable energy, circular bioeconomy, and waste reduction.
For 2025, BARD is offering only the Pioneer Track, with up to $600,000 available for three-year projects and up to $180,000 for one-year feasibility studies. Funding is open to researchers affiliated with public or private non-profit institutions that meet BARD’s research and development capability standards.
Applicants must submit proposals through these legally recognized institutions. Past BARD postdoctoral fellows may only apply as PIs or Co-PIs if they are affiliated with institutions in their home country, not their mentor’s country. Fellows can also serve as collaborating investigators if their budget request stays under $40,000 per year.
A project’s Principal Investigator (PI) leads the submission and coordination of the proposal and reports. The Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) is the main partner in the second country. Additional team members are considered Collaborating Investigators. Early-career scientists (within five years of postdoctoral training or their first appointment) should note their status in the application.
BARD does not allow concurrent funding for investigators already leading or co-leading a BARD-funded project. This also applies to collaborators requesting over $40,000 per year.
Applicants must submit each document as a separate Word file, then upload it as a PDF. Proposals must be in English, formatted with 1.5 line spacing, 12-point font, 3 cm margins for header/footer, and 2.5 cm side margins. Page numbers should not be added, as these will be assigned automatically during upload.
For more information, visit BARD.
