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[lofo List] revised summary -> now 298 words

Hi;
Here is the revised ADF summary, based on comments from Marion and Howard. We can still tweak this, but we also need to complete the LOI form. I've attached details of that below. 

Best regards,
Daryl
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TITLE:
Local Food as a Catalyst for Sustainable Communities and Economic Development 

SUMMARY:
Saskatchewan is Canada’s breadbasket, yet much of what we eat comes from outside the province. Supply chains, lack of processing and diversified production, and changing consumption patterns have dampened Saskatchewan’s potential to feed itself.
The realities of climate change make the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions an essential task. Importing processed food contributes significantly to emissions. Other reasons to favour locally grown and processed food include economic development, community stability, and food safety.
Production of food for local consumption can provide alternatives to bankruptcy for family farms. Successful local food initiatives around the world have improved economic, social and environmental indicators.
This project focuses on the opportunities that local food provides for Saskatchewan. In particular, we will survey both individual and institutional consumers and producers to understand the priorities of each group and identify the barriers to increasing local food production and consumption. We will augment this information with an international inventory of best practices that is adapted to Saskatchewan.
One of the barriers already understood is information, thus information technology is central to this research. The project will construct a local food directory (print and web forms) that will address consumer and producer issues. It will include geographic information so consumers will know distances to local food sources. The directory will be designed to empower producers to get information about their products to consumers and to let consumers of all kinds to easily incorporate local foods into their regular purchases. New businesses opportunities can be identified based on consumers’ queries to the online directory. Information about existing demands can be used to target business development inside the province, targeting the regions that maximize environmental and economic gain for the province. Interest in local food will encourage the further strengthening of communities through development of food-based tourism destinations. 
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What is ADF?
The Agriculture Development Fund, or ADF, provides
funding for agriculture and agri-food research and
development and is administered by the Agriculture
Research Branch of Saskatchewan Agriculture and
Food. The fund includes three programs: Research
and Development Projects Program (RDP), Agri-
Value Program (AVP) and Strategic Research
Program (SRP).
This brochure outlines the R & D Projects Program.
Information on the AVP and SRP is available on the
SAFRR Web site under “Research.”

SAF Goals
Funding is provided to projects that help SAF
to achieve its strategic goals and support the
development of an innovative, diversified and value-
added economy for Saskatchewan.
ADF is one of several tools employed by SAF to
increase the value of agriculture and value-added
processing. The strategy is based, to a large extent,
on increased use of food and food components
for health and wellness, demand for bio-based
feedstock in manufacturing and industrial products,
maintaining a healthy and sustainable environment,
and consumer demand for safe food. The specific
goals of SAF’s strategy are:
• Increased livestock production and diversification to
higher value crops;
• Increased value-added activities to support SAF’s
manufacturing strategy;
• Enhanced environmental stewardship; and
• Maintaining the highest standards in food safety.

Project proposals
Any person, business or organization with an
idea that will benefit and be of practical value to
Saskatchewan’s agriculture and food industry
is eligible to submit a Letter of Intent.  Persons
proposing projects are expected to  be qualified to
undertake proposed research and must have access
to appropriate capacity/infrastructure to complete the
proposed research activities.

Letter of Intent
The Letter of Intent will allow researchers to describe
their proposed projects without having to go into the
detail required on an application.  Letters of Intent
are reviewed by ADF Board committees to select
projects that will be invited to submit full applications.

To obtain a copy of the Letter of Intent
application, or if you require additional
information about the application process,
please contact the Agriculture Research Branch.
Phone: (306) 787-6566 or (306) 787-5929
Fax: (306) 787-2654
E-mail: lmarinos@agr.gov.sk.ca

Deadline for Letters of Intent
The annual deadline date for Letters of Intent
proposing research and development projects is
April 1st.

Decision process
After the annual deadline, the Letters of Intent will be
reviewed against the following criteria:
• project alighment with SAF strategic goals;
• uniqueness and research gap being addressed;
• anticipated benefits to Saskatchewan agri-food
industries; and
• the degree of stakeholder collaboration and
financial contribution.
LOIs selected by the ADF Board will be invited to
submit a full proposal.  Proposals will be reviewed
against the criteria listed below.

Other factors such as availability of funding and the
number and quality of applications will also affect
the outcome.  Successful applicants will be invited to
enter into a contract with SAF.

Criteria
** Strategic alignment:
• fit with SAF strategic goals
• degree of industry support
** Scientific and research feasibility:
• research plan
• literature review
• scientific capacity
** Impact:
• potential economic impact
• industry adoption
• potential environmental impact
** Other criteria:
• budget
• partnerships

Funding

Approved projects may receive funding for up to 100
per cent of eligible costs. Matching funds from other
sources are encouraged.

Eligible costs:
• professional or technical salaries and fees
• equipment rentals
• materials and supplies
• project travel
• workshop or seminar costs

Ineligible costs:
• purchase of land, equipment or other capital
expenses
• expenditures made on a project prior to ADF
funding approval

Sharing Results
ADF is committed to helping the agriculture
and food industry gain access to the results
of research and development activities.
Project results, final reports and executive
summaries are posted on the SAF Website
at www.agr.gov.sk.ca, or obtained by contacting
the Agriculture Research Branch.

Confidentiality
Information contained in the Letters of Intent, the
applications and appendices submitted to the ADF is
subject to The Freedom of Information and Protection of
Privacy Act of Saskatchewan.
Where projects are approved for funding, the title, name of
applicant, objective and amount of funding is considered to
be public information. Research results are considered to
be public information unless the applicant has negotiated
confidentiality of results with SAF.

For more specific information on research and
development priorities, please contact SAF’s
Agriculture Research Branch.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------- 
*** LOI Form ***

1. APPLICANT INFORMATION
Title
First Name
Name of Individual
Last Name
Name of Organization
Street Address/P.O.Box #
City
Province
Mailing Address
Postal Code
Telephone
Fax
Email
R.M. #

2. PROJECT TITLE (must be short and concise)

3. BRIEFLY PROVIDE THE CONTEXT FOR THIS PROPOSAL.
What information gap does the project fill? (e.g. how does the project extend current knowledge: 
Why is this project important at this time?)

4. LIST PROJECT OBJECTIVES

5. BRIEF PROJECT DESCRIPTION (to a maximum of 300 words)
6. PROJECT BUDGET (Provide estimated cost, including confirmed and/or potential contributions 
from other sources.)
Estimated Total Project
Budget
Funding Request from
ADF
Funding from Other
Sources
Project Duration

7.  INDICATE OTHER SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT
a) List any producer organizations, businesses, institutions or other funding agencies that have been approached or will be approached to provide funding support for this project.
8 COLLABORATORS (provide the names and business addresses, including phone # and email, of 
other researchers involved in this project.)
Name/Organization Organization Address Phone # Email Address
Declaration: By the completing and submitting this form to SAF, the applicant agrees to the following: I. This is a letter of intent and full proposals can only be submitted by invitation; II. All information contained in this application is true and correct and the capacity to undertake proposed 
research exits; and
III. Saskatchewan Agriculture And Food can disclose application information, in confidence, to ADF Board members and reviewers to obtain expert review and recommendation for funding. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------- 
Daryl H. Hepting, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor  * Computer Science Department * CW 308.22
University of Regina * Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada S4S 0A2
dhh@cs.uregina.ca    * http://www.cs.uregina.ca/~hepting
tel: (306) 585-5210  * fax: (306) 585-4745



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