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This is a corrected version updating the RFA deadline to March 6.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 23, 2016- The U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today
announced the availability of up to $5 million for research to strengthen the
science behind the next generation of internet-connected agricultural implements
and resources through the Cyber Physical Systems program. Funding for this
program is made through NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI),
authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill.
“Data driven analytical tools throughout the food supply
chain—from production through processing, transportation, and food storage—will
allow us to make smarter decisions that can promote efficient food production,
reduce food waste, and increase food safety,” said NIFA Director Sonny
Ramaswamy. “These investments in cyber physical systems will improve
efficiencies across the agricultural industry.”
The Cyber Physical
Systems Joint Competitive Grant program helps coordinate the work of
multiple federal agencies to improve the science behind increasingly complex
cyber-physical systems (CPS)—the way the physical world connects to information
and communication technologies. Self-driving tractors and cars, remote patient
monitoring apps and smart irrigation scheduling are some examples of the cyber-physical
systems already in use or testing. The National Science
Foundation leads this initiative with support from NIFA, the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, Department of Homeland Security, National
Institutes of Health, Department of Transportation, and National Center for
Advancing Translational Sciences to strengthen the science and technology to ensure
the growing number of cyber-physical systems being used are safe, secure,
scalable, resilient and reliable.
CPS technologies can increase efficiencies in agribusiness,
provide economic opportunities to workers and promote practices that sustain
the environment. Increased secure access to information also helps producers
meet the challenges of global population growth, food waste and the impacts of
a changing climate.
Applications
are due by March 6, 2017.
Details eligibility for applicants
and research topics are available in the Program Solicitation section on the
National Science Foundation website and on the NIFA website.
Examples of previously funded projects include a University
of Tennessee project to develop and test biosensing
and animal movement monitoring for early detection of certain infections in
confined dairy herds to allow more rapid response when a herd is threatened. An
Iowa
State University project combines data from unmanned ground and aerial
vehicles and satellites with sophisticated analytics for early detection and
mitigation of row crop diseases.
Science
funded by AFRI is vital to meeting food, fiber and fuel demands as the world's
population is projected to exceed nine billion by 2050 and natural resources
are stressed under a changing climate. In addition, AFRI programs help develop
new technologies and a workforce that will advance our nutritional security,
our energy self-sufficiency, and the health of Americans.
Since
2009, USDA has invested $19 billion in research both intramural and extramural.
During that time, research conducted by USDA scientists has resulted in 883
patent applications filed, 405 patents issued and 1,151 new inventions
disclosures covering a wide range of topics and discoveries. To learn more
about how USDA supports cutting edge science and innovation, visit the USDA
Medium chapter Food
and Ag Science Will Shape Our Future.
NIFA invests in
and advances innovative and transformative research, education and extension to
solve societal challenges and ensure the long-term viability of agriculture. NIFA
support for the best and brightest scientists and extension personnel have
resulted in user-inspired, groundbreaking discoveries that are combating
childhood obesity, improving and sustaining rural economic growth, addressing
water availability issues, increasing food production, finding new sources of
energy, mitigating climate variability and ensuring food safety.
To learn more about NIFA’s impact on agricultural
science, visit www.nifa.usda.gov/impacts, sign up for email updates or
follow us on Twitter @usda_NIFA, #NIFAimpacts.
#
USDA is an equal opportunity lender, provider and
employer.
NIFA invests in and advances agricultural research, education,
and extension, and seeks to make transformative discoveries that solve societal
challenges.
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