To establish a Center for Agricultural Technologies, CRDF Global seeks partners whoshare our vision of strengthening Ukraine’s next generation of agriculturalscientists. This center will enhance the capabilitiesof the Ukrainian agricultural sector through education and training programs,promoting research, and stimulating outreach to agricultural stakeholdersthroughout Ukraine. 

Whyan Agricultural Research and Education Center?

Despitehaving some of the world’s most fertile land, Ukraine is far from reaching itscompetitive potential in the global agricultural marketplace. To supportUkraine’s economic development and independence, CRDF Global and the College ofAgricultural Sciences at The Pennsylvania State University (PSU), inpartnership with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (MESU) and acompetitively-selected Ukrainian university, will establish the Center for Agricultural Technologies. 

The Centerfor Agricultural Technologies will:

·        Develop and introduce better methods andtechnologies for reducing waste and loss, increasing crop yields, and improvinghardiness

·        Study privatization and globalization, farmmanagement, and economics issues

·        Support young investigators

·        Promote high-quality scientific research andeducational programs

·        Disseminate up-to-date knowledge to agriculturalstakeholders

·        Cooperate closely with other leading research,educational, government and community institutions 

Whya University-based Center?

Integratingresearch with education attracts and engages students, enlivens teaching, andemploys the research-oriented approach of the world’s top universities. CRDFGlobal and MESU have together already established two such centers:  National Mining University in Dnipropetrovskon mining safety and environmentally sound mining techniques and Vasyl StefanykPrecarpathian National University in Ivano-Frankivsk on nanomaterials forenergy efficiency technologies. CRDF Global has established nearly 30 similarcenters in five other countries, most recently a center for research ondangerous pathogens at Ilia State University in Georgia.  

We envisionopen competition among interested universities to host the center, allowing each applicant university toidentify topics of urgent interest. A grant of at least three years’ duration willenable the selected university to develop new educational curricula, improveresearch capabilities, and generate new knowledge of direct relevance to Ukrainianagriculture. The process of developing a competitive proposal will stimulateall applicant universities to think creatively about their role in advancingagricultural science in Ukraine. During the grant period, CRDF Global willclosely monitor progress using written reports and site visits. CRDF Global’s Kyiv office will be key tothese efforts and – if needed – to administering corrective measures. 

How will theCenter be Funded?

A $20,000 seed gift from the Woskob NewCentury Fund is supporting the development of the concept for the center.  A minimum budget of $1.5 million is needed to create a strong andsustainable center that will long outlast its initial three-year grant. Thecore grant to the center will cover research equipment, laboratory renovations,and travel funds for collaborations. Additional funding will supportcollaborations between PSU’s College of Ag and Ukraine. Additional activitiessuch as trainings in scientific presentation in English and technologycommercialization mentorship can be added if funding permits.   

For most ofthe previous centers established by CRDF Global, both the host government andthe recipient university have contributed a percentage of the core grantsupporting the center.  In the currentUkrainian economic situation, this seems unlikely.  We will ask the host university to makein-kind contributions of laboratory, field, and office space to support the center.However, we expect that the entire core grant will be provided by the funding consortium.  

What are the Benefits to ParticipatingCompanies? 

Companiesmaking substantial contributions to the center will have the opportunity tosuggest research topics, provide field and/or laboratory equipment andsupplies, engage professors as advisors, and mentor students as futureemployees.  Participation in pre-award(selection) and post-award site visits will provide the opportunity to helpshape the program at every stage.  Contributionsof $500,000 or more may allow laboratory naming privileges.  

CRDF Global is anindependent, nonprofit organization that creates opportunities for scientistsand innovators to make the world a better place. Established in 1995 to promoteinternational scientific and technical collaboration through grants, technicalresources, training, and services, CRDF Global specializes in bringing isolatedscientific communities into the global scientific mainstream. CRDF Global has20 years of experience managing international research funding programs andsupporting emerging science and technology infrastructure in more than 40countries around the world, including Ukraine. 

For further information, please contact:

Marilyn L. Pifer, Ph.D.

Director of CapacityBuilding Programs

CRDF Global

1776 Wilson Boulevard,Suite 300

Arlington, VA 22209

mpifer@crdfglobal.org

703.526.6778