Formas call for proposals for funding of research into organic production

Formas has the task of promoting and supporting basic research and need-driven research related to sustainable development within the areas of the environment, agricultural sciences and spatial planning. The research that is supported should be of the highest scientific quality and be of relevance to sustainable social development within the areas Formas has responsibility for. This presupposes human and animal health and welfare, biological diversity, environment, productivity of ecosystems, economics, ethics as well as social and cultural values being taken into consideration. Formas is also able to finance development efforts to a limited extent.

Organic production
Organic production is governed by regulations that are common to all EU countries. These regulations do not just apply to the cultivation of plants and animal husbandry but also to the processing of products, labelling, import and monitoring of organically produced agricultural products and foodstuffs. National targets for the development of organic production and consumption of organic foodstuffs are set by the government and parliament.

The aim of organic production is to produce foodstuffs in a manner that not only protects the health of people, animals and the environment but is also competitive from a long-term perspective. No chemical plant-protection products or chemical fertilisers are used in organic production and in animal husbandry the natural behavioural needs of the animal are taken into consideration. Local provision, storage and distribution of products are also integral to organic production. At the same time organic production should be studied in a global context.

Research is necessary to allow organic farming to contribute to the provision of foodstuffs with a lower use of non-renewable resources and lesser impact on the environment.
On the behalf of the government Formas annually allocates SEK 23 million to finance research into this area. Of this funding Formas will distribute approximately SEK 18 million annually via this call for proposals.
 
Focus of the call
To develop organic production and the consumption of organic foodstuffs towards increased sustainability, new knowledge based on research within several areas is needed. The research may encompass different aspects of the entire food supply chain, from primary agricultural and horticultural production to product processing and the marketing of organic foodstuffs. Comparisons with conventional product forms are generally desirable.
Research in all scientific areas may be relevant to the development of organic production. It is also desirable for the research to be of a general nature and span several scientific areas or disciplines.

In the application the research programme should include a clear plan of how the scientific results will be published and disseminated. Each applicant should also pay particular consideration to the need and opportunities to strengthen international contributions to, and acceptance of, the proposed project. The application may be for a one, two or three year project.

The research funded by Formas should be of interest for stakeholders in association to organic production. An expression of the prioritisation of the need for research with a commercial orientation is published in the framework programme for research 2010-2012 compiled by the CUL (Centre for Sustainable Agriculture) in consultation with the stakeholders involved.

General instructions and application format
Funding will be awarded only to universities, university colleges or institutes in Sweden. Authorities tasked with research activities may also be eligible. Funds from Formas may be used as Swedish counter-financing in EU projects. Gender equality perspectives will be taken into consideration in projects where this is relevant.

For general information and instructions as to how the application should be structured please refer to the Formas' Handbook 2010. This also outlines the principles for how the application will be evaluated.

The call for proposals closes and applications should be registered in Formas Direct by midnight CET on 11 May 2010. Technical support is available until 4:45 pm CET on the application closing date. Please ensure that applications are submitted well in advance of 4:45 pm on the application closing date to enable help to be provided if a problem occurs. The application should be submitted using the web-based form.

Planned future calls for proposals within the area
For several years Formas has been a participant in the European Research Area network, known as ERA-net. This collaboration is aimed at identifying future strategic research programmes and harmonising European calls for proposals within prioritised research areas. One of these areas is the ERA-net collaboration on organic production and consumption; CORE Organic II (Coordination of European Transnational Research in Organic Food and Farming).

This collaboration involves 22 participating countries and there will be a joint call for proposals in the area in the future, although the exact date has not been currently determined. Some of the SEK 23 million that Formas has available to finance research into organic production and consumption may be designated to such a joint European call for proposals.

For more information please contact:
Sara Österman, Senior Research Officer. Telephone +46(0)8-775 40 50
E-mail: