Center for Behavioral Economics and Child Nutrition Research Summary The Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program (FANRP) of USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS), in collaboration with the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), invites proposals for a competitive grant to establish and fund a center for behavioral economics and child nutrition research. The center will (1) facilitate new and innovative research on the application of behavioral economics theory to child nutrition program operations and activities, leading to program improvements that will benefit children’s diets and health; (2) broaden the network of social scientists who participate in research that applies concepts and theories of behavioral economics to the improvement of nutrition, food security, and health outcomes associated with participation in USDA’s child nutrition programs; and (3) disseminate information obtained via its research program to a diverse stakeholder audience, including other researchers, policy and program officials, and the general public. Subject to the availability of funds, the center will receive an initial grant of up to $1 million which will be expected to support activities over a 3-year period. Full Announcement http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/AP46/ Funding Levels Expected Number of Awards: 1 Estimated Total Program Funding: $1,000,000 Award Ceiling: $1,000,000 Award Floor: $900,000 Deadline Current Closing Date for Applications: May 19, 2010 Eligible Applicants Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" Contact Information David Smallwood Deputy Dir for Food Asst. Res. Phone 202-694-5466 [email protected] Agency Profile Economic Research Service http://www.ers.usda.gov The Economic Research Service is a primary source of economic information and research in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. With over 350 employees, ERS conducts a research program to inform public and private decisionmaking on economic and policy issues involving food, farming, natural resources, and rural development. ERS's highly trained economists and social scientists conduct research, analyze food and commodity markets, produce policy studies, and develop economic and statistical indicators. The agency’s research program is aimed at the information needs of USDA, other public policy officials, and the research community. ERS information and analysis is also used by the media, trade associations, public interest groups, and the general public.

The Agency's work is structured among four Divisions:  Food Economics (http://www.ers.usda.gov/AboutERS/freddiv.htm)  Information Services (http://www.ers.usda.gov/AboutERS/isddiv.htm)  Market and Trade Economics (http://www.ers.usda.gov/AboutERS/mteddiv.htm)  Resource and Rural Economics (http://www.ers.usda.gov/AboutERS/reddiv.htm) ERS staff disseminates economic information and research results through an array of outlets, including: Agency-published research reports, market analysis and outlook reports, economic briefs, and data products (all accessible on the Internet, with hard copies available for purchase (http://www.ers.usda.gov/AboutERS/Sales/) An award-winning magazine, Amber Waves, covering the entire range of ERS work and available in print and on the Internet The website, which provides access to all ERS products and which links users directly with ERS analysts Oral briefings, written staff analyses, and congressionally mandated studies delivered directly to executive and legislative branch policymakers and program administrators Articles in professional journals, and papers presented to academic colleagues at conferences and meetings For more information, contact: [email protected]