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We have two special opportunities to bring to your attention in this newsletter: First, we are seeking grant proposals from organizations in developing countries for a new, expanded round of Trellis Fund projects. Second, we are sponsoring the first All-Africa Postharvest Congress at the end of March in Nairobi, and you may be interested in participating in a number of ways. Keep reading for more details and updates from our team.
NEW CALL FOR TRELLIS FUND GRANT PROPOSALS The Horticulture Innovation Lab invites organizations in developing countries to compete for new Trellis Fund grants up to $4,000 each for 6-month projects, to extend horticulture information to local farmers and stakeholders along fruit or vegetable value chains. Read the complete announcement on our blog: http://bit.ly/2jW2Cgw
Project proposals may address horticultural crop production, irrigation, plant nutrition, pest management, postharvest practices or marketing issues in relation to fruits and vegetables. Once projects are selected, the Trellis Fund will connect organizations with U.S. graduate students who have related agricultural expertise for project support.
Both new organizations and previously awarded organizations are encouraged to apply. Organizations based in these countries are eligible:
- In Africa: Ethiopia, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia
- In Latin America and the Caribbean: Guatemala, Haiti and Honduras
- In Asia: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Nepal, and Tajikistan
Since 2011, Trellis Fund projects have reached more than 7,396 farmers worldwide. This new call for proposals represents a sixth round of funding, for projects that will begin in 2018.
Proposals are due by April 3, 2017. For details and directions, visit http://bit.ly/2lhTuDV
Please share this information with organizations that you think may be interested in applying for a Trellis Fund grant.
*** PROGRAM NEWS ***
EVENT: 1ST ALL-AFRICA POSTHARVEST CONGRESS The Horticulture Innovation Lab is a sponsor of this event, scheduled for March 28-31 in Nairobi, Kenya, which will include a Postharvest Technology Challenge and also a special session for USAID-funded postharvest projects. The deadline for discounted early registration is Feb. 28. More information: http://bit.ly/2klc3JE
WELCOME TO BEATRIZ! The helpful voice who answers when you call the Horticulture Innovation Lab’s main office belongs to Beatriz Rodriguez Abogado, our team’s new executive assistant. We’re excited to have Beatriz join our team and hope you have a chance to meet her soon! http://bit.ly/2kBkXBc
SCOW IN VIDEO ON FARMER-LED INNOVATION Kate Scow of UC Davis was a featured TED-style speaker at a recent conference on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Watch video of her talk about developing irrigation solutions in Uganda: http://bit.ly/2kiPQtk
*** MORE OPPORTUNITIES ***
CHALLENGE: POSTHARVEST TECHNOLOGIES AND INNOVATIONSFeb. 17 is the deadline to submit postharvest technologies and innovations to the challenge associated with the 1st All Africa Postharvest Congress: http://bit.ly/2jWp0uO
UC DAVIS STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS Feb. 28 and March 31 are the deadlines for undergraduate and graduate students to apply for grants focused on poverty alleviation from the UC Davis Blum Center: http://bit.ly/2jWiELV
EVENT: FOOD SYSTEMS TO MEET URBAN DEMAND The “Cracking the Nut 2017” conference will focus on rural-urban links, improving urban markets, and scaling innovation for agriculture, March 27-28 in Bangkok: http://bit.ly/2lgNEH4
EVENT: GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY SYMPOSIUM The Chicago Council on Global Affairs is hosting its 2017 Global Food Security Symposium on March 29-30, in Washington, D.C.: http://bit.ly/2kH0gGG
*** SEE YOU NEXT TIME! Please share these opportunities with your colleagues, and send us horticulture news tips from your team for our next edition. Until then, you can connect with us via Twitter @HortInnovLab, by email at horticulture@ucdavis.edu or on our blog: https://blog.horticulture.ucdavis.edu/.