Pre-registration for 2025 Forest Growers Levy Trust research funding
Forest Growers Research is requesting research project proposals from those seeking Forest Growers Levy Trust (FGLT) funding for 2025.
Each year, the Forest Growers Levy Trust (FGLT) consults with growers on the direction of levy spend for the coming year and invests that levy money accordingly into common-good projects and initiatives that benefit all of forestry across a broad range of areas (e.g., research and development, biosecurity and promotion).
The Trust is currently reviewing the application process to ensure that levy-funded projects and initiatives are delivering tangible outcomes for growers and that applications are subject to a fair, robust, transparent and unbiased assessment process.
Levy take is likely to be reduced again in 2025, therefore FGLT Committees and the Board will be more selective in the projects they consider for 2025 funding. Projects that look to deliver the most value for money and strong outcomes for growers are more likely to be successful in their application.
Applying for 2025 Funding
Access to FGLT funding is open to anyone with a project or initiative that will directly benefit New Zealand’s forest growing sector. As such, applications for 2025 funding will open on Sunday 29 September 2024 and close at 11.59pm, Sunday 13 October, not in August as has previously been the case.
The 2025 funding application form, and more information on applying for funding, will be available on the FGLT website and the FGR website in the coming weeks.
- Pre-registration of ideas for funding is required. Applicants must pre-register their ideas by 5pm, Friday 20 September. Only pre-registered proposals will be evaluated.
- Applications open at 9:00am, 29 September 2024 and close at 11.59pm, 13 Oct 2024 (10 working days). Applications will be online. This is a later and shorter application period than normal but is necessary to align with the Forest Grower Levy Trust board strategy meeting in late September this year.
- Applicants will be required to pre-register their ideas by 5pm, Friday 20 September. Only pre-registered proposals will be evaluated.
- An interim proposal template has been provided to guide development of proposals prior to the opening of the online application process.
- Preference will be given to proposals for short-term projects that align with forestry diversification and Theme 2 of the Science and Innovation Strategy 2020 – 2035 ̶ Ensuring the long-term sustainability of commercial forestry through realising value from emerging species and developing new models for forestry.
- In line with diversification and Theme 2, we are seeking proposals that:
- Continue support for alternative species development
- Are relevant to and viable for smaller-scale operations
- Develop new forestry models, including for Pinus radiata
- Evaluate contingency species to Pinus radiata
- Aim to develop, enhance or refine new products from Pinus radiata
- Improve the mapping of the other species in New Zealand’s production forest estate
- Support the development of a long-term forestry diversification research programme.
- Proposals outside these areas would need to be highly compelling to receive detailed evaluation.
The updated FGR form is also available on the FGR website
Pre-registration of proposals must be completed using the online form by 5pm, Friday 20 September 2024. You can also copy and paste the following URL into your web browser : https://forms.office.com/r/Y0gCAS8r5r
Applicants will need to provide the following information in the pre-registration form:
- Title
- Summary (no more than 100 words)
- Total funding requested from the Forest Growers Levy Trust
- Term (how many years’ funding are you requesting).
If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact Alison Slade (alison.slade@fgr.nz).