Deadline: 15-Sep-20
The Nordic Public Private Partnership on Pre-breeding (PPP) is opening a call for proposals to fund plant pre-breeding projects that focus on environmental and climate resilient crops through utilization of plant genetic resources.
Funding for projects depends on approval by the Nordic Council of Ministers for Fisheries, Aquaculture, Agriculture, Food and Forestry (MR-FJLS).
PPP was established by the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2011. The purpose of PPP is to support the development of Nordic plant breeding to satisfy the long-term needs of the agricultural and horticultural industries, especially regarding adaptation to climate change, targets for environmental policies, and demands from consumers and markets.
Objective
Plant production in the Nordic countries is already affecting environmental and global climatic changes. The increased variation in weather conditions within and between years is challenging the stress resilience in crop plants. The objective with this call is to facilitate utilization of genetic resources to improve resistance to environmental and biological stresses in crops, relevant for the Nordic region now and in the future.
Funding Information
Approximately 24 mill SEK is available under this call for the funding period starting March 2021 and ending December 2023. The funding is expected to provide a frame of maximum 16 mill SEK in total per project, including 8 mill SEK of public funding/year and minimum of 8 mill SEK/year of corresponding funding from project partners. This could be in cash or in-kind contribution.
Eligible Projects and Activities
The funding opportunities provide support for pre-breeding projects in relation to climate change and/or environmental stresses. Projects may focus on one or more main crops that are important in the Nordic region today, or on new or upcoming crops, e.g. protein crops.
Projects could address one or more of the following topics:
- Drought and/or heat tolerance
- Water logging resistance
- Winter hardiness
- Diseases and/or pest resistance
Eligibility Criteria
The call is open for project proposals from:
- Nordic plant breeding entities that have joined the PPP, or are eligible to join, provided that the funding from the Nordic countries will be in line with given indications.
- Nordic research organizations.
- Associated partners can participate as partners in project proposals under the condition that these partners can provide their share of the public-private funding. This also includes potential partners from the Baltic countries.
Assessment Criteria
The assessment will focus on the quality, potential impact, structure and feasibility of the project. In addition, the ability and commitment of the project consortium will be assessed. Other assessment criteria are:
- For new PPP projects priority will be given to projects that include:
- other crops than addressed in ongoing projects
- implementation of new breeding methods or technologies
- introduction of genetic variation for specific traits relevant for Nordic countries
- Continuation of established PPP projects will also be evaluated on previously obtained project results and the long-term nature of the project in question.
- Level of involvement by the Nordic plant breeding entities in a specific crop together with universities or public research institutions.
- Level of financial commitment from participating plant breeding entities or other private companies.
- Impact on the competitiveness of Nordic crop production related to environmental issues and adaptation to climate change.
- Potential Nordic value and synergy
- Use of genetic resources
For more information, visit https://www.nordgen.org/en/the-nordic-ppp-collaboration-has-opened-a-new-call-for-proposals-on-pre-breeding-projects/