Guide to cooperative research projects between the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research in 2023
According to 11 research centers (institutes) under the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), Namely, the International Biodiversity Center (Bioversity), the International Tropical Agriculture Center (CIAT), the International Forestry Research Center (CIFOR), the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), the International Potato Center (CIP), the International Agricultural Research Center for Arid Areas (ICARDA), the World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF), and the International Semi-arid Tropical Crops Research Institute (ICRISAT). The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) have reached a cooperation consensus that the two sides will jointly fund scientists to carry out cooperative research. Cooperative research will focus on sustainable agriculture and research fields related to biodiversity and climate change.
The funding field is determined through consultation between NSFC and CGIAR’s research centers (institutes), and NSFC is responsible for the acceptance, evaluation and management of the project. Chinese researchers should jointly apply for the project with the researchers of one of the 11 research centers (research institutes) under CGIAR as the project director.
I. Project Description
(1) Funding field and application code
- Basic research on excellent germplasm resources mining and genetic improvement of major grain crops (rice, corn and wheat) (application code 1 selects the subordinate code of C13).
- Basic research on accurate identification and utilization of related wild species resources of major grain crops (rice, corn and wheat) and potato crops (sweet potato, cassava and potato) (application code 1 selects the subordinate code of C13).
- Cultivation mode and theory of high-efficiency utilization of water and nutrients in main grain crops (rice, corn and wheat) (application code 1 selects the subordinate code of C15).
- Basic research on the prevention and control of major pests and diseases of major grain crops (rice, corn and wheat) and potato crops (sweet potato, cassava and potato) (the subordinate code of C14 is selected for application code 1).
- Introduction and in-depth evaluation of edible bean germplasm resources (application code 1 selects the subordinate code of C13).
- Dryland agriculture and dryland crop improvement (application code 1 selects the subordinate code of C13).
- Basic research on important genetic resources of livestock and poultry (the subordinate code of C17 is selected for application code 1).
- Basic research on the prevention and control of important livestock and poultry diseases (application code 1 selects C18 subordinate code).
- Analysis and genetic improvement of tropical forage germplasm resources (application code 1 selects the subordinate code of C16).
- Basic research on forage cultivation and efficient utilization of forage (application code 1 selects the subordinate code of C16).
- Protection and utilization of woody plant genetic diversity and germplasm resources (application code 1 selects C16 subordinate code).
- Study on the biodiversity of agriculture and forestry and its functions (application code 1 selects the subordinate code of C03).
- Study on the diversity and function of soil microbial resources in tropical rice planting in Asia (application code 1 selects the subordinate code of C03).
- Response and adaptation of key terrestrial ecosystems (farmland, forest and grassland) to global change (for application code 1, select the subordinate code of C03).
- Research on the transformation of crop production system based on natural solutions (application code 1 selects the subordinate code of C13).
- Research on the balance between food supply and consumption under the nutrition goal (application code 1 selects G0311).
- Socio-economic research on emergency management and integrated control technology of grassland Spodoptera exigua pest invasion in China and key countries (application code 1 is G03 subordinate code).
18 agricultural policy research (application code 1 chooses G0311).
(1) The priority of emission reduction policy of agricultural food system in China and its international comparative study under multi-objective coordinated development.
(2) The practice and policy of chemical fertilizer and pesticide reduction in China and its enlightenment to developing countries.
(3) The coupling mechanism and implementation path of agricultural and food system transformation and urban-rural integration development under the changing trade system.
(4) Research on the path and countermeasures of rural industrial transformation and upgrading under the digital background.
(5) Research on the mechanism, path and policy of ecological protection compensation system to promote the sustainable development of agriculture.
Applications that fail to fill in the specified application code 1 as required will not be accepted.
(1) the scale of funding
About 12 cooperative research projects will be funded.
(2) funding intensity
The intensity of Chinese funding is no more than 2 million yuan/item (direct cost), including research funds and international cooperation and exchange funds.
(3) Funding period
The funding period is 5 years, and the research period in the application should be filled in from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2028.
II. Applicant conditions
According to the Measures for the Administration of International (Regional) Cooperative Research Projects of the National Natural Science Foundation, the application for this project must meet the following conditions:
(a) the applicant should have a senior professional and technical position (title), as the person in charge of the project is undertaking or undertaking projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China for three years or more.
(b) Both parties have a good foundation for cooperation.
(c) Please refer to the Project Guide of the National Natural Science Foundation of China in 2023 for a detailed description of the application qualifications.
III. Provisions on application for restricted items
International (regional) cooperative research projects of NSFC include inter-organizational international (regional) cooperative research projects and key international (regional) cooperative research projects. This project belongs to an inter-organizational cooperative research project, and the applicant must abide by the following restrictions when applying:
(1) the applicant (excluding the main participants) can only apply for one international (regional) cooperative research project in the same year.
(2) the person in charge of the international (regional) cooperative research project shall not apply for this project as an applicant.
(3) as the applicant and as the person in charge of the project, not included in the senior professional and technical positions (titles) personnel to apply for and undertake the total number of projects limited to 2.
(4) other restrictions on the number of applications in the 2023 National Natural Science Foundation Project Guide.
IV. Application instructions
(1) Matters needing attention of the applicant
- Before completing the application, the applicant shall carefully read the relevant contents in this project guide and the 2023 National Natural Science Foundation Project Guide, and the project application that does not meet the project guide and relevant requirements will not be accepted.
- Chinese applicants must log in to the Network Information System of NSFC (https://grants.nsfc.gov.cn/egrantweb/) and fill in the Application for International (Regional) Cooperative Research Project of NSFC (hereinafter referred to as “Chinese Application”) online. The specific steps are as follows:
(1) Select the “Project Leader” user group to log into the system, and then click “Online Application” to enter the application interface; Click “Apply for New Project” to enter the selection interface of the science department to which the applied project belongs, and click “Apply for the project of General Science Department” to enter the selection interface of project category.
(2) Click the+sign on the left or the “Expand” button on the right of “International (Regional) Cooperation and Exchange Projects” to expand the drop-down menu.
(3) Click the “Fill in Application” button on the right side of “Inter-organization Cooperation Research (Inter-organization Cooperation Agreement Project)” to enter the interface of selecting cooperation agreement, select “NSFC-CGIAR” in the drop-down menu, and then enter the approval number of the fund project to rely on according to the system requirements. After passing the qualification certification, the specific Chinese application filling interface will be entered.
- Budget compilation requirements. The applicant shall carefully read the contents of the budget compilation requirements in the application provisions of the 2023 National Natural Science Foundation Project Guide, and carefully and truthfully compile the National Natural Science Foundation Project Fund Budget Table in strict accordance with the requirements of the Measures for Fund Management of Projects Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation (Cai Jiao [2021] No.177) and the Instructions for the Compilation of Project Fund Budget Table of the National Natural Science Foundation.
- Requirements for filling in the application. At the beginning of the text of the application, the applicant should first explain the name of the research direction targeted by the project, such as: [This application is written for “Basic research on the mining and genetic improvement of excellent germplasm resources of major food crops (rice, corn and wheat)”. 】。
- Attachment materials. In addition to filling in and submitting the application online, the applicant must upload the following attachment materials to the “Attachment” column of the application and submit them together:
(1) The applicant shall fill in the English application form together with the cooperators of relevant centers (research institutes) under CGIAR (see Annex 1).
(2) Both parties shall reach an agreement on the cooperation content and intellectual property rights, and sign a cooperation agreement (see Annex 2 for the agreement template).
(2) Acceptance of project application
The online application and acceptance period of the network information system of NSFC is from February 14th, 2023 to 16: 00 on April 14th, 2023.
Note: Applicants are requested to fill in the application in strict accordance with the requirements of this project guide. Applications that do not meet the above requirements will not be accepted. If you have any questions, please call the project contact person.
V. Announcement of approval results
In October 2023, the funding results will be announced through the network information system of NSFC.
VI. Project Contact Person
Contact: Tang Keshuang, Rong Nianhe.
Tel: +86-10-6232 8404, 6232 6998
E-mail: tangks@nsfc.gov.cn, rongnh@nsfc.gov.cn
Information System Technical Support (Information Center): +86-10-6231 7474.