FPRF At-Large Research Grants (Request for Proposals)

FPRF At-Large Research Grants (Request for Proposals) is sponsored by Fats and Proteins Research Foundation. Supports research in aquaculture, swine, poultry, and other animal nutrition areas.

Research Proposals – Fats and Proteins Research Foundation FPRF welcomes research proposals to enhance current uses of rendered animal products, improve rendering processes, and develop new applications. The Foundation’s key areas of focus are livestock nutrition (including aquaculture), pet food nutrition, feed safety, sustainability, and novel technologies.

An FPRF committee of industry representatives and scientists will evaluate proposals using these criteria: Relevance and Originality – The proposal will be evaluated for its potential to make a major contribution to the existing body of knowledge. FPRF would like to know how the proposed new work will fill gaps in current information and can lead to improvements in operations, product safety, or to increase usage of rendered products.

Literature Review – We expect researchers to complete a thorough literature search to avoid unnecessary duplication, dead ends, or problematic methods. Technical Merit and Feasibility – The proposed methodology should be clearly defined with respect to overall design, timeline, materials and research tools, sampling and analysis, etc. The objectives and scope of the study must be feasible with the proposed design, time, and resources.

Cost/Benefit – The potential benefit to the industry should justify the investment. Estimates of economic impacts of results should be provided along with marketing challenges. Qualifications of Applicant(s) – The researcher(s) should have the academic qualifications, competence, and track record to undertake and complete the proposed research successfully.

Demonstration of knowledge of current thinking, other experts, and needed data in the field will be an advantage, as will proposals that engage more than one location or university. Budget – The budget should be itemized and realistic. It is an advantage if funding from other sources is available to support the work including in-kind support from the research institution.

Since our funds are limited, we desire to obtain as much information as possible from our research grants. Research objectives for rendered by-products should be directed toward solving a significant problem, improving product safety/quality, chemical or biological modifications to increase value or nutritional studies to improve their utilization in animal diets.

Both proposals and pre-proposals will be considered by the FPRF research committee. Proposals are due March 15th for consideration at our spring meeting and September 15th for consideration at our fall meeting.

Recently, FPRF has focused work in aquaculture, swine, and poultry nutrition aiming directly at gaps in the current knowledge necessary for diet formulators, including critical work in nutritional characteristics of rendered products. Significant research funding has been dedicated to these nutrition studies. Other major subjects for study have been pet food and sustainability work.

Any research institution can compete for these funds by submitting “at-large” proposals to FPRF. Please email Dr. David Meeker with any questions. --> General Grant Information In recent years, FPRF has averaged approximately five at-large grants per year at a level of $45,000 each.

FPRF does not have a recommended range or limit for grants, but budget and practicality are part of the evaluation. FPRF has funded over 600 projects since 1962. Research Status Reporting Regular progress reports should be made every 6 months until the project is completed.

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