Dear Colleagues,
Through the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR), the International Consortium for Antimicrobial Stewardship in Agriculture (ICASA) is soliciting Letters of Intent (LOI) for research concepts for potential funding and collaboration. ICASA, a public-private partnership, is focused on antibiotic stewardship in animal agriculture and has committed to investing in research to accelerate innovation and antibiotic stewardship across the livestock supply chain. ICASA members work collaboratively to improve the health and welfare of beef cattle, swine, and poultry through the development of practical solutions, including advanced tools and management practices to address the underlying drivers of antibiotic use in livestock. By leveraging knowledge and resources from diverse organizations, ICASA will advance stewardship and improve health outcomes for livestock.
ICASA is seeking novel and potentially high-impact projects related to antibiotic stewardship and animal health that can be conducted in collaboration with or inform commercial livestock producers, processors and allied industry. Applicants should describe how the work will enhance responsible antibiotic use, reduce the potential for resistance and/or provide actionable information to antimicrobial-prescribers.
ICASA is seeking projects related to early disease detection, pathogen control/elimination and antibiotic use traceability in beef cattle and pigs.
Early Disease Detection
- Diagnostics utilizing new methodologies such as proteomics, metabolomics, i.e. “–OMICS” approaches.
- Data analytics – understanding the contribution of individual data to population health and treatment history to inform antibiotic use decision-making.
Pathogen control and elimination
- Diagnostics or other technologies for detection and control of pathogens significant to production, particularly detection of subclinical / carrier phenotypes.
Antibiotic usage traceability from producer to consumer
- Technologies that facilitate antibiotic traceability across the supply chain.
- Economic and cost/benefit analyses that contribute to understanding trade-offs, incentives, policies and voluntary data-sharing frameworks from multiple perspectives including beef / pork producers, processors, consumers and other stakeholders.
Research topics not supported under this call include:
- Evaluation of nutritional supplements, pre- and probiotics and phytogenics.
- Novel therapeutics or disease mitigation strategies.
- Individual behavioral monitoring without physiological (i.e. -OMICS) approaches or a mechanism for improved antibiotic traceability across the supply chain.
ICASA will consider a range of requests for funding and/or access to commercial production facilities. Requests should be reasonable and appropriate for the work proposed, and applicants should be cognizant that the project must provide value to and potential for implementation by the commercial livestock sector. Projects should be no more than 2 years in duration. The maximum allowable request is $150,000.
Matching funds are OPTIONAL for this program.
For additional information, please review the program website:
LOI Request Open: April 7, 2021
Letters of Intent Due: May 12, 2021
Submitting a pre-application is required to submit a full application.
Full Application Receipt Open: June 9, 2021
Only open to applicants invited to submit a full application.
Full Applications Due: July 28, 2021
Award Notification: Fall 2021
Anticipated Project Start Date: Early 2022
Thank you.
Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)