Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the New Zealand Fund for Global Partnerships in Livestock Emissions Research (the Fund) are now being called. The Fund is aimed at accelerating global research into mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from pastoral livestock farming.


The Fund is open to international scientists, and it is hoped that multi-stakeholder/country consortia bids will be put forward. Projects can be led by New Zealand or international participants, but must include a New Zealand partner. Co-funding from international participants is also required. 


Round 1 of the Fund totals NZ$16 million, and supports projects up to four years in duration. The cost of individual projects is expected to be in the range of NZ$1-4 million over the four years. 


The Fund will seek proposals in response to a set of high-level research challenges that have been identified by an international strategic science panel, chaired by the Prime Minister&#39;s Chief Science Advisor Professor Sir Peter Gluckman. These challenges are in the areas of: 


	Manipulating rumen function
	Reducing nitrous oxide emissions from soils in predominantly grazing livestock systems
	Manipulating the rates of soil carbon change in predominantly grazing livestock systems
	Improved tools for farmer decision making in predominantly grazing livestock systems


There is a two-stage application process beginning with a short expression of interest (EOI) which closes 7 November 2011. Successful EOI applicants are then invited to submit full proposals. Projects from Round 1 that gain approval are expected to commence in July 2012. 


Please visit www.maf.govt.nz/nzlivestockemissionsfund to obtain further information on the fund. Alternatively, applicants that wish to can proceed via the Government Electronic Services Tender (GETS) process and obtain the information and documents from www.gets.govt.nz.