International Animal Biotechnology Regulatory Engagement | USDA FAS 10960 0200 10 23 0008

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FAS 10960 0200 10 23 0008

The International Animal Biotechnology Regulatory Engagement grant opportunity is a USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) discretionary funding program designed to improve how animal biotechnology is regulated and understood internationally, with the broader goal of supporting safe innovation and smoother global trade. The central idea is to convene and connect key stakeholders including government regulators from multiple countries, animal biotechnology developers, and the livestock industry so they can compare approaches, share experiences, and identify practical regulatory best practices. By creating structured engagement between the people writing and implementing regulations and the entities developing real-world animal biotechnology products, the program aims to reduce confusion, close knowledge gaps, and encourage science-based oversight that is consistent enough across countries to avoid unnecessary barriers.

A major emphasis of the project is capacity building, particularly for developing countries that may be interested in animal biotechnology but lack the regulatory frameworks, technical expertise, or institutional experience to evaluate products confidently. The opportunity is framed around enabling countries to create or strengthen regulations that allow safe products of animal biotechnology to be assessed, approved, and monitored in a credible way. This matters because animal agriculture faces global challenges such as animal disease pressures, productivity demands, climate and resource constraints, and food security needs, and biotechnology is positioned as one tool that could help address some of these challenges if countries can regulate it effectively and transparently.

Another key theme is international market access and trade. The opportunity description makes the point that the benefits of animal biotechnology will only be fully realized if animals produced using biotechnology and products derived from them can move through global markets without being blocked by incompatible rules, unclear approval pathways, or inconsistent standards. In other words, even if a product is developed safely and effectively, it still needs a workable regulatory pathway and a predictable trade environment to reach producers and consumers. By promoting mutual understanding and best practices among regulators, the program is intended to reduce the risk of fragmented policies that can disrupt trade.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement, meaning the USDA/FAS expects an active partnership role with the award recipient during project implementation rather than a hands-off grant. It is listed under the Agriculture funding activity category and carries CFDA number 10.960. The program anticipated making a single award with an award ceiling of $1,000,000, indicating a relatively large, focused project rather than multiple smaller awards. The opportunity was created on July 13, 2023, with an original closing date of August 18, 2023. Eligibility is described broadly as "Others," with further clarification referenced in the opportunity’s eligibility text, suggesting it may be open to certain organizations beyond typical categories but with specific conditions defined in the full announcement.

Overall, this grant opportunity supports international engagement on animal biotechnology regulation by funding a concentrated effort to bring global regulators together with U.S. and international technical and industry stakeholders. Its practical purpose is to help countries design and apply workable, science-based regulations that protect safety while enabling innovation and facilitating trade, especially in parts of the world where regulatory capacity is still developing.

• The Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "International Animal Biotechnology Regulatory Engagement" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.960.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 13, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 18, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for USDA FAS 10960 0200 10 23 0008

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