NSERC-SSHRC Sustainable agriculture research initiative

The Sustainable Agriculture Research Initiative is a joint effort between the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), in collaboration with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). 

This initiative will fund multidisciplinary, collaborative networks of researchers to address specific research objectives by initiating or accelerating the development of truly transformative solutions, and by mobilizing expertise, technologies and research in social sciences, natural sciences and engineering and in areas that broaden the traditional network of agriculture research partners. 

This funding opportunity for transformative science towards a sustainable agricultural sector in a net-zero economy, delivered jointly by NSERC and SSHRC in collaboration with AAFC, has the following objectives: 

• Support fundamental and applied research to develop a technical path to a more sustainable and resilient agricultural sector in a net-zero economy. 
• Develop metrics to better understand and report on environment and climate impacts of different production systems and of producers' efforts in adopting innovative practices. 
• Improve ways to transfer science and technology knowledge effectively to the agricultural sector, with a view to accelerate change. 

Eligibility and Team 

Canadian university researchers from the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences or engineering fields, may apply for this funding opportunity. Specifically, eligible Canadian university researchers must apply as part of a team with two or more eligible co-applicants. To be an applicant or co-applicant, you must be working in a research area supported by NSERC or SSHRC and you must meet NSERC's eligibility requirements at the time of application. You are limited to one application as the applicant, but you can be a co-applicant or collaborator on more than one application. 

Grants awarded as part of this initiative will support large-scale proposals, and so applicants are encouraged to involve researchers across several universities, colleges and disciplines, and to include multiple partner organizations in their application. To maximize the potential impact, benefits and knowledge mobilization of the research, at least one partner organization is required, however, collaboration with additional partner organizations is encouraged. Even though NSERC and SSHRC will cover 100% of the project's eligible costs, you must include at least one partner organization (from the private, public or not-for-profit sectors) whose cash contributions would have been recognized for cost sharing (see Alliance grants: Role of partner organizations for more details). 

Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with knowledge users (such as agronomists, producers, smart farms, etc.) to support knowledge mobilization. 

To increase the impact of Canadian research in the global research community, you may incorporate international collaborations into your project proposal, but these researchers must secure their own sources of funding.  

Funding 

You can request $500,000 to $2,000,000 per year from NSERC and SSHRC for four years; applications for projects less than four years will not be accepted. Cash contributions from partner organizations are not required. 

In-kind contributions are important for the success of the project. All partner organizations participating in the project must play an active role in it and make in-kind contributions through such involvement (see the Alliance grants: Partner organizations page for more details). 

Research costs for collaborations outside the NSE and social and behavioural sciences and humanities (i.e., health) can represent up to 30% of the project costs and must be specifically identified in the project budget justification. 

To facilitate partnerships and build successful multidisciplinary and multi-sectoral collaborations required to establish strong teams and relevant proposals, preparatory funds are available to NSERC- and SSHRC-eligible researchers. Up to $50,000 can be requested to support application-related expenses. Only one application for preparatory funding can be submitted per team and it is expected that ~20 awards will be available.  

Webinars

NSERC will provide information webinars on May 2 (English) and May 3 (French). For more details, please see the resources page.

Application process and UPEI internal deadlines 

Stage 1: Preparatory funding (optional) 

Complete a preparatory funding request in NSERC’s online system and submit it for UPEI approval using the Romeo Researcher Portal. Deadline for receipt by Research Services: May 3, 2023. 

Submit the preparatory funding request in NSERC’s online system by May 5, 2023. Research Services will forward it to NSERC by the deadline of May 8, 2023. 

Stage 2: Full project funding 

Complete a full proposal in NSERC’s online system and submit it for UPEI approval using the Romeo Researcher Portal. Deadline for receipt by Research Services: October 25, 2023. 

Submit the full proposal in NSERC’s online system by November 3, 2023. Research Services will forward it to NSERC by the deadline of November 8, 2023. 

Note: For optimal support, given the scope of this funding opportunity, it is recommended that teams engage with Research Services well in advance of the deadlines.