Policy

Policy Update – NASA Releases Early Career Solicitation Towards Plant/Food Production Technologies

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The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Space Technology Mission Directorate released a NASA Research Announcement (NRA) titled “Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion-2020 (SpaceTech-REDDI-2020).”  The purpose of an NRA is to address future technological challenges of the aerospace enterprise that encourage economic growth and space research objectives.  Included in this specific solicitation are several … Read more

Policy Update – FFAR Releases 2020 New Innovator Award, Eliminates Match Requirement

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The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) released its 2020 solicitation for the New Innovator Award.  This award offers support to new faculty members in the first three years of their careers to “promote career advancement of highly creative and promising new scientists who intend to make a long-term career commitment to research in … Read more

Policy Update – Agencies Release Website for Biotechnology Regulation

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Following the streamlining of biotechnology regulations in the fall of 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) have launched the “Unified Website for Biotechnology Regulation.”  This website comes as part of the Trump Administration’s broader effort to streamline the regulation of biotechnology that was kicked … Read more

Policy Update – DOE Releases Sustainable Bioenergy Crops Solicitation

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On January 10, the Department of Energy (DOE) released its fifth funding call under the Biological and Environmental Research (BER) program, and the second for its Biological Sciences program.  The “Systems Biology Research to Advance Sustainable Bioenergy Crop Development” solicitation provides a total of $15 million in fiscal year (FY) 2020 and $75 million over … Read more

Policy Update – ASPB Nominee Named to BIO AC

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Dr. C. Robertson “Rob” McClung, who served as ASPB President from 2007 to 2008, has been named as the newest member of the National Science Foundation’s Biological Sciences Directorate (BIO) Advisory Committee (AC).  Dr. McClung, currently a Professor of Biological Sciences at Dartmouth College, was nominated by ASPB based on his expertise and leadership in … Read more