Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FAS 10962 0700 10 21 0004
The 2021 Cochran Fellowship Program - U.S. Pesticide System Study Tour is a discretionary USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) grant that funds the design and delivery of an in-person training program in the United States focused on how the U.S. regulates pesticides and sets maximum residue limits (MRLs). The opportunity sits within the long-running Cochran Fellowship Program, which has been funded by Congress since 1984 to bring mid- to senior-level agricultural specialists and administrators from eligible countries to the United States for practical, policy-relevant training. In this special initiative, the emphasis is on strengthening foreign regulatory capacity and encouraging greater alignment of pesticide registration systems and residue standards with risk-based approaches used in the United States and reflected in international standard-setting processes.
At a policy level, the grant is motivated by two linked challenges USDA highlights. First, many countries struggle to access newer, lower-risk pesticide products because of regulatory capacity gaps or slow, inconsistent approval pathways. Second, even when products are available, trade can be disrupted when residue standards differ widely between markets or are missing entirely, creating uncertainty for exporters and importers. USDA frames improved regulatory alignment, greater use of Codex MRLs where appropriate, and the adoption of import tolerances as practical tools to reduce unnecessary trade barriers while still protecting consumer health. The broader trade rationale is explicit: more harmonized, science- and risk-based standards abroad can support market access for U.S. agricultural exports while also improving partners' domestic oversight and enforcement systems.
The funded activity requires an awardee (generally a U.S. higher education institution, public or private) to build and run a comprehensive study-tour style training for 24 foreign government officials who regulate and study pesticides in their home countries. Participants are drawn as two fellows each from 12 priority countries spanning three regions: Brazil, Colombia, Ghana, Guatemala, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, and Vietnam. Rather than hosting a single cohort, the recipient is expected to deliver three separate but identical training sessions, likely grouped by region (Latin America, Africa, and Asia), scheduled at intervals agreed upon with FAS during the period of performance. The training is expected to take place in the United States and may involve multiple states or cities, reflecting the intention to expose fellows to a range of agencies, laboratories, private-sector actors, and real-world implementation settings.
The main objective is to broaden fellows' understanding of the full U.S. pesticide system and to build support for risk-based regulatory approaches and international standards. In practice, that means the agenda should connect how pesticides are evaluated, registered, monitored, and enforced across the U.S. government, and how those domestic processes tie into international trade rules and standards discussions. The program is meant to be comprehensive, covering not only the mechanics of registration and MRL setting, but also surveillance programs, laboratory quality systems, data requirements, emergency use mechanisms, and the ways government, industry, and public-interest stakeholders interact in the U.S. model.
The learning goals are detailed and wide-ranging. Fellows are expected to come away with a clear picture of which U.S. entities do what in pesticide oversight, including the Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration, and relevant USDA components such as the Agricultural Marketing Service and APHIS, and how those institutions coordinate. The curriculum is expected to cover the U.S. legal framework, guidelines, and standards; the role of the private sector; the process for establishing MRLs; and the U.S. import tolerance program. It also emphasizes the technical backbone of regulation: how efficacy and residue data are generated, what registration formats and data packages look like, and how risk assessment is performed. Special topics include emergency use regulations, biopesticide registration and use, and the practical realities of sampling, monitoring, and surveillance for both domestic products and imports. A major operational theme is laboratory capability, including pesticide residue diagnostics and Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), as well as how agencies communicate with the public and engage with non-governmental organizations on pesticide issues.
International engagement is another core pillar. The training is expected to explain the roles of international standard-setting bodies relevant to pesticides and biopesticides, with particular attention to the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues and how Codex standards are developed and used. It also calls for coverage of World Trade Organization Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Committee engagement, helping fellows understand how pesticide-related measures can affect trade and how countries raise and resolve concerns. In addition, the agenda should contrast risk-based approaches with hazard-based approaches, including discussion of the precautionary principle and how it can shape regulatory outcomes. The opportunity also explicitly asks for an overview of the European Union approach to pesticide regulation and the downstream impacts that approach can have on trading partners, referencing the kinds of analytical perspectives produced by the U.S. International Trade Commission and USDA's Economic Research Service.
From an implementation standpoint, the awardee is responsible for end-to-end program logistics and costs. That includes arranging and paying for international and domestic airfare, local transportation, visa fees, lodging, travel insurance, and meals and incidental expenses for fellows. The recipient must also secure venues, equipment, speakers, and technical experts, and provide U.S.-based staff to accompany and manage fellows throughout the U.S. program. Agenda development is collaborative: the awardee works closely with FAS to shape a daily schedule that meets the learning objectives and includes exposure to key public and private stakeholders involved in pesticide regulation, compliance, and trade. FAS also coordinates candidate identification from the priority countries, working with the awardee on selection and participation.
A distinctive feature of this opportunity is the required coordination with a separate USDA Special Initiative Borlaug Program covering similar themes. That Borlaug component is expected to host four researchers focused on generating efficacy and residue data through field trials to support MRL establishment. The Cochran awardee is expected to collaborate with the Borlaug host institution(s) so the two efforts reinforce one another, with the collaboration scope defined with FAS ahead of the performance period. USDA staff may accompany training activities at their own expense, handling their own logistics, while participating in the technical and programmatic engagement.
Administratively, the opportunity is listed under CFDA 10.962 and is managed by USDA under the Cochran Fellowship Program (international training). Eligible applicants are public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. The funding opportunity number is USDA FAS 10962 0700 10 21 0004, with an award ceiling of $300,000 and an expected single award. The notice was created June 25, 2021, with an original closing date of July 30, 2021. Overall, the grant is best understood as funding a highly structured, multi-cohort U.S. study tour that blends regulatory policy, technical residue science, laboratory and surveillance practices, and international trade and standards engagement, all aimed at strengthening partner-country pesticide regulatory systems while reducing friction in agricultural trade.Apply for USDA FAS 10962 0700 10 21 0004
- The Department of Agriculture, Cochran Fellowship Prog-Intl Trng 10.962 in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2021 Cochran Fellowship Program - U.S. Pesticide System Study Tour" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.962.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 25, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 30, 2021. (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 $300,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): 2021 Cochran Fellowship Program - U.S. Pesticide System Study Tour
1) What is the 2021 Cochran Fellowship Program - U.S. Pesticide System Study Tour grant?
It is a discretionary USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) grant to fund the design and delivery of an in-person training program in the United States. The training focuses on how the U.S. regulates pesticides and establishes maximum residue limits (MRLs), with an emphasis on risk-based regulatory approaches and alignment with international standards processes.
2) Which USDA program is this opportunity part of?
This opportunity sits within the Cochran Fellowship Program, a long-running international training program funded by Congress since 1984. The Cochran program brings mid- to senior-level agricultural specialists and administrators from eligible countries to the United States for practical, policy-relevant training.
3) What is the main purpose of this special initiative?
The initiative is intended to strengthen foreign regulatory capacity and encourage greater alignment of pesticide registration systems and residue standards with risk-based approaches used in the United States and reflected in international standard-setting processes.
4) Why is USDA funding a study tour focused on pesticides and MRLs?
USDA describes two connected challenges: (1) many countries face regulatory capacity gaps or slow and inconsistent approval pathways that can limit access to newer, lower-risk pesticide products, and (2) differences or gaps in residue standards across markets can disrupt trade by creating uncertainty for exporters and importers.
5) How does USDA frame the trade-related rationale for this project?
USDA explicitly links improved regulatory alignment and science- and risk-based standards abroad to reduced unnecessary trade barriers, improved partner-country oversight and enforcement, and support for market access for U.S. agricultural exports.
6) What kinds of regulatory tools and concepts are emphasized in the opportunity?
The opportunity highlights greater use of Codex MRLs where appropriate and the adoption of import tolerances as practical approaches to reduce trade friction while maintaining consumer health protections.
7) Who is expected to apply for and receive this grant?
Eligible applicants are U.S. institutions of higher education, specifically public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education.
8) What will the awardee be responsible for delivering?
The awardee must build and run a comprehensive study-tour style training program in the United States for 24 foreign government officials involved in pesticide regulation and study in their home countries.
9) How many participants (fellows) are included, and how are they selected?
The program includes 24 fellows total. Participants are drawn as two fellows each from 12 priority countries. FAS coordinates candidate identification from those countries and works with the awardee on selection and participation.
10) Which priority countries are included?
The 12 priority countries listed are: Brazil, Colombia, Ghana, Guatemala, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, and Vietnam.
11) How is the training structured across cohorts or sessions?
The recipient is expected to deliver three separate but identical training sessions rather than hosting a single cohort. These sessions are likely grouped by region (Latin America, Africa, and Asia) and scheduled at intervals agreed upon with FAS during the period of performance.
12) Where will the training take place?
The training is expected to take place in the United States and may involve multiple states or cities. This multi-location approach is intended to expose fellows to a range of agencies, laboratories, private-sector actors, and real-world implementation settings.
13) What is the overall objective of the study tour?
The main objective is to broaden fellows' understanding of the full U.S. pesticide system and build support for risk-based regulatory approaches and international standards that relate to pesticide regulation and residues.
14) What U.S. agencies and entities are expected to be covered?
The agenda is expected to clarify roles and coordination among key U.S. entities involved in pesticide oversight, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and relevant USDA components such as the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and APHIS.
15) What subject areas should the curriculum cover?
The curriculum is described as comprehensive and is expected to cover the U.S. legal framework, guidelines, and standards; the role of the private sector; the process for establishing MRLs; and the U.S. import tolerance program. It also includes how pesticides are evaluated, registered, monitored, and enforced, and how domestic processes connect to international trade rules and standards discussions.
16) What technical topics are specifically mentioned?
The opportunity calls for coverage of how efficacy and residue data are generated, what registration formats and data packages look like, and how risk assessment is performed. It also highlights surveillance programs, laboratory quality systems, data requirements, and practical sampling, monitoring, and surveillance for domestic products and imports.
17) Are emergency-use and biopesticides included in the training topics?
Yes. Special topics explicitly listed include emergency use regulations, biopesticide registration and use, and related practical regulatory realities.
18) What laboratory and quality-system elements are expected to be addressed?
A major operational theme is laboratory capability, including pesticide residue diagnostics and Good Laboratory Practices (GLP). The training is also expected to address monitoring and surveillance systems that depend on laboratory performance and quality systems.
19) Does the opportunity mention stakeholder engagement and public communication?
Yes. The agenda is expected to include how agencies communicate with the public and engage with non-governmental organizations on pesticide issues, along with the ways government, industry, and public-interest stakeholders interact in the U.S. model.
20) What international standards and trade bodies must be included in the training content?
The training is expected to explain international standard-setting bodies relevant to pesticides and biopesticides, with particular attention to the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues and how Codex standards are developed and used. It also calls for coverage of engagement in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Committee.
21) What is the relevance of the WTO SPS Committee to this training?
The program is intended to help fellows understand how pesticide-related measures can affect trade and how countries raise and resolve concerns through the SPS Committee context.
22) Will the training compare different regulatory philosophies (risk-based vs hazard-based)?
Yes. The agenda should contrast risk-based approaches with hazard-based approaches, including discussion of the precautionary principle and how that principle can shape regulatory outcomes.
23) Does the opportunity require coverage of the European Union approach to pesticide regulation?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly asks for an overview of the European Union approach and discussion of downstream impacts on trading partners, referencing analytical perspectives produced by the U.S. International Trade Commission and USDA's Economic Research Service.
24) What logistics and cost responsibilities does the awardee have?
The awardee is responsible for end-to-end program logistics and costs for fellows, including international and domestic airfare, local transportation, visa fees, lodging, travel insurance, and meals and incidental expenses.
25) What operational and staffing responsibilities are included?
The recipient must secure venues, equipment, speakers, and technical experts, and provide U.S.-based staff to accompany and manage fellows throughout the U.S. program.
26) How is the agenda developed, and what is FAS's role?
Agenda development is collaborative. The awardee works closely with FAS to shape a daily schedule that meets the learning objectives and includes exposure to key public and private stakeholders involved in pesticide regulation, compliance, and trade. FAS also coordinates candidate identification and works with the awardee on selection and participation.
27) Is coordination with any other USDA program required?
Yes. The opportunity requires coordination with a separate USDA Special Initiative Borlaug Program covering similar themes. The Cochran awardee is expected to collaborate with the Borlaug host institution(s) so the two efforts reinforce one another, with the scope defined with FAS ahead of the performance period.
28) What does the related Borlaug component cover?
The Borlaug component is expected to host four researchers focused on generating efficacy and residue data through field trials to support MRL establishment.
29) Will USDA staff participate in the training activities?
USDA staff may accompany training activities at their own expense, handling their own logistics, while participating in technical and programmatic engagement.
30) What is the CFDA number and funding opportunity number listed?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 10.962. The funding opportunity number is USDA FAS 10962 0700 10 21 0004.
31) What is the maximum funding amount and how many awards are expected?
The award ceiling is $300,000, and USDA expects a single award.
32) What are the key dates provided in the notice?
The notice was created on June 25, 2021, and the original closing date was July 30, 2021.
33) What is the "study tour" style expected to achieve?
The study tour format is meant to provide practical exposure to the U.S. pesticide regulatory system across agencies, laboratories, and stakeholders, connecting policy design to on-the-ground implementation in monitoring, enforcement, residue testing, and trade-related standards engagement.
34) What is the core theme connecting pesticide regulation to trade in this opportunity?
The opportunity emphasizes that more harmonized, science- and risk-based pesticide standards (including MRL approaches) can reduce friction in agricultural trade while supporting consumer health protections and strengthening partner-country regulatory systems.
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