[Pollinator] Request for Research Proposals - Please Share
Kelly Rourke
kr at pollinator.org
Wed Feb 18 14:10:49 PST 2015
*[image: Pollinator_notag]*
*See the full RFP at http://www.pollinator.org/CDRC.htm
<http://www.pollinator.org/CDRC.htm> *
*Request for Proposals – February 2015*
*Pollinator Partnership – Corn Dust Research Consortium*
*Call for Research Proposals Related to *
*Reducing Honey Bee Exposure to Dust Emitted During Planting of Treated
Corn Seeds*
*Background*
The Pollinator Partnership has formed a Corn Dust Research Consortium
(CDRC) to fund, oversee, and advise on four proposed research projects to
further our understanding of best management practices for mitigating seed
treatment exposure to honey bees during corn planting. The Pollinator
Partnership has issued CDRC invitations to stakeholders from crop
protection, seed production, farm equipment, corn growing, beekeeping,
academic, governmental and conservation organizations.
*The Corn Dust Research Consortium is seeking research proposals from North
American researchers addressing two specific approaches to the issue.*
*Research Priorities and Funding*
We anticipate funding (from pooled resources of $300,000) proposals that
address four questions:
*Project 1- Use by Honey Bees of flowering resources in and around
cornfields during spring planting, and how this behavior can be effectively
managed to reduce exposure to pesticide dust and residues;*
*Project 2 - The long-term health consequences of exposure of honey bee
colonies to dust emitted during planting of neonicotinoid treated corn
seeds; *
* Project 3 – The efficacy of CDRC recommendations in preventing
honey bee exposure to corn dust; and *
* Project 4 - Efficacy of seed lubricant products.*
The Consortium will allocate the funding between the four project questions
based on the proposals received. Proposals will be considered that address
any or all questions. While this RFP lists four possible projects, there is
no guarantee that projects in each category will be funded in 2015. Funds
must be used within an eight-month period (March 2015 to November 2015)
except for Project 2 which may extend to March of 2016 to assess
overwintering health of colonies.
Focused, targeted projects with a high likelihood of providing tangible
results that can be applied to best management practices for mitigating
seed treatment exposure to honey bees are preferred. Proposals providing
valuable extensions of previously funded projects will be considered.
Proposals that involve coordinated applications between institutions,
multiple geographic locations in North America, replication of or direct
analysis of working field conditions and standard planting equipment are
preferred. The projects will be funded for one year, with discussion of
extensions to be considered at the end of the first year (fall of 2015).
*Background and Specifics*
The Corn Dust Research Consortium has identified four priority areas for
funding. Principal Investigators may apply to address either or both of
the proposed projects.
A number of ideas for reducing exposure to planter-emitted dust from
treated seeds have been proposed (please see Issue Overview on page 6).
These include:
1) development of seed coatings that reduce the amount of toxic dust
abraded from the seeds;
*2) **removal of flowering plants in or near fields prior to planting to
reduce the likelihood bees come in contact with seed dust deposits;*
3) modification of planting equipment to either limit the amount of dust
released into the air or direct emitted dust toward the ground so that the
potential for off-site drift is reduced;
*4) **development and use of seed lubricants that reduce the amount of
dust abraded from treated seeds;*
5) confining bees to hives on days when nearby fields are planted or
providing a barrier to prevent drift into hives; and
6) using untreated seeds and managing pests in a different way.
The long-term effects of exposure to corn dust during planting on honey bee
colonies are also of interest. In some regions of North America, beekeepers
have made claims that winter losses are a direct result of exposure to corn
dust. Prior CRDC recommendations developed in 2013 and 2014 can be
implemented and reviewed to determine if they can work in conjunction with
new technologies to reduce risk and bee losses. Additionally, some regions
(Ontario in particular) have developed management guidelines and
restrictions on product use to promote bee health. An examination of colony
health and survival under proposed best management or regulatory scenario
can now be researched. Studies following health and survivorship of honey
bee colonies from spring, through summer, and throughout the overwintering
period would be beneficial in order to determine if management and exposure
to corn landscapes can be directly linked to survival and long-term health.
*Project Oversight*
The Corn Dust Research Consortium has been formed to review proposals and
oversee the project execution, including review and comment on study
protocols, draft reports and presentation materials prior to their
execution and public release. Final decisions on technical interpretation
of the study findings and content of study reports, publications and
presentations will be made by study personnel. The role of the Corn Dust
Research Consortium on these matters will be advisory only. The Corn Dust
Research Consortium intends to include at least one representative from
each primary sponsoring organization (industry, beekeeping, academia,
government, and conservation). The CDRC will also seek input on project
selection, review, and recommendation development from regulatory agencies,
including the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Canadian
Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA).
*Proposal Requirements*
1) Cover page including:
a. Project or projects the proposal will address (Project 1, Project 2,
Project 3, Project 4 or a combination.)
b. Contact information including email(s), physical mailing address, and
telephone number(s).
2) A 2-page (maximum) project description for each project proposal
being submitted with sufficient background and description of methods to
ascertain the importance and feasibility of the studies. Please use Arial,
12-pt font, single- spaced, with page numbers. References are not included
in this page limit. If the proposal combines the two projects, the limit
would be 8 pages.
3) Detailed budget that includes funds for the Principal Investigator
and a research timeline by month (approximately March 2015 to November 2015
or in the case of Project 2, March 2016). CDRC funding can only be used for
direct project costs and cannot be used to cover overhead costs.
4) 2-page CV of the principal investigator(s).
5) Please include funding details if the proposal is under consideration
by other funding organizations.
*Submission*
Email your proposal packet as a single PDF file to Kelly Rourke (
kr at pollinator.org) *by 3PM PDT on Friday, March 20, 2015.*
Please identify the email subject line and the PDF attachment using *“Project
#, PI Last Name, First Name.”*
*Funding Decisions*
The proposals will be evaluated by members of the Corn Dust Research
Consortium Advisory panel, and* funding decisions will be made by Monday,
March 30, 2015.*
*See the full RFP at http://www.pollinator.org/CDRC.htm
<http://www.pollinator.org/CDRC.htm> *
Kelly Rourke
Program Associate
Pollinator Partnership
423 Washington Street, 5th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111
e: kr at pollinator.org
w: www.pollinator.org
p: 415.362.1137
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