USB FY23 REQUEST FOR CONCEPTS
Concept Submission Guidelines
INSTRUCTIONS
STEP 1: Read about the United Soybean Board FY23 Request for Concepts, and Assessment & Scoring.
STEP 2: Follow the Submission Guidelines.
STEP 3: Submit online.
ABOUT THE UNITED SOYBEAN BOARD (USB)
The United Soybean Board (USB) is the governing body that directs the U.S. commodity checkoff program for soybeans. Our mission is to create value for U.S. soy farmers by investing in research, education and promotion of soy. Efforts of the checkoff are directed by 78 volunteer farmer-leaders. Each year, these leaders meet to approve new investments that increase innovation, resilience and profitability for U.S. soy farmers, while driving a coordinated message that differentiates our sustainability across the entire value chain.
USB launched a new strategic plan on October 1, 2021 that focuses on value to U.S. soy farmers through reputation, differentiation and resilience. To launch the new strategic plan, USB seeks conceptual ideas for FY23 research and promotion programs based upon the organization’s new strategic plan, with special attention to our goals of resilience, differentiation and reputation.
USB FY23 REQUEST FOR CONCEPTS
USB is seeking concepts for research and promotion for fiscal year 2023 (FY23) that align with the new strategic plan. The new plan focuses on value to U.S. soy farmers through resilience, differentiation and reputation. We encourage submissions that support new and creative solutions to identified and unidentified problems, and support submissions that define and build on previous program work, so long as they are well-justified. We encourage submission of soundly justified and strategically aligned concepts that creatively define and build on previous program work, as well as new, innovative, and multiyear ideas.
USB farmer-directors will review submissions between December and February. Idea submission does not guarantee an invitation to further develop this concept with USB nor does it ensure inclusion in USB’s FY23 plan of work.
Submission Deadline for USB FY23 Concepts: Noon CST, 12/10/2021.
ASSESSMENT & SCORING
Farmer-directors will assess submissions based on alignment with the three goals of the new strategic plan, along with market impact and partnering potential. Please carefully consider the questions outlined below when submitting:
Strategic Alignment: How does the idea align with value-building goals in USB’s new strategic plan?
- Resilience: How will the idea create more economically and environmentally resilient soy farming systems that activate market signals and enhance value capture opportunities?
- Differentiation: How will the idea strengthen and differentiate the utilization of U.S. soy? Preference will be given to ideas that develop sustainable farming system options, activate market signals, reduce barriers to increased use and value of soy in human and animal applications, and/or catalyze innovation pathways.
- Reputation: How will the idea inform strategy or contribute to the positive reputation of U.S. soy, U.S. soybean farmers or the U.S. Soy brand? How does the idea demonstrate USB’s commitment to sustainability? How does the idea socialize and amplify differentiation and resilience of U.S. Soy farming and farmers?
Market Impact: How will the idea result in a clearly targeted, market-driven opportunity with a clear path to commercialization or a well-defined farmer benefit, including enhanced opportunities to increase revenue on soybean farms? How will the idea positively disrupt the value chain and/or improve flow of valuable market information in a way that benefits U.S. soybean farmers?
Partnerships: How will the idea build upon existing partnerships, establish new ones, and/or leverage funding from other sources?
WRITING TIPS
Concept submissions will be evaluated by farmers. Farmers prefer submissions that they understand, they trust, and that include influential partners. For submissions to be considered they should:
- Use clear and concise writing readily understood by our farmer-directors.
- State explicitly how your proposal would align with the USB strategic plan.
- Identify capabilities and expertise of the submitter.
- Identify collaborative funding and execution opportunities with influential partners.
- Write in active voice and plain language.
- Explain complex technical terms and jargon at first use.
- Usually use the expected word order – subject, verb, additional information.
- Eliminate “to be” verbs (is, was, has been, were, have been) in favor of more descriptive verbs where possible.
- Do not include any proprietary information.
Please include the following in your submission:
CONCEPT SUMMARY (300-word limit)
- Define the problem or challenge your concept will address.
- Describe your proposed solution.
- How does the idea create value for U.S. soybean farmers?
STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT (100-word limit)
- State explicitly how your proposal would align with the USB strategic plan.
- Specifically address the problem you will solve, how you will solve it, and the value this will create for U.S. soybean farmers.
MARKET IMPACT (100-word limit)
- How will the idea result in a clearly targeted, market-driven opportunity with a clear path to commercialization or a well-defined farmer benefit?
- How will the idea positively disrupt the value chain or improve flow of valuable market information in a way that benefits U.S. soy farmers?
PARTNERSHIPS (75-word limit)
- How will the idea build new, or use existing, key partnerships as well as leverage funding from other sources?
- Identify collaborative funding and execution opportunities with influential partners.
Submit any questions to RFP@unitedsoybean.org by November 30, 2021. Questions and responses will be posted on the USB website by December 3, 2021, under the USB FY23 Request for Concepts section on the Partner menu.
USB farmer-directors will review submissions between December and February. Idea submission does not guarantee an invitation to further develop this concept with USB nor does it ensure inclusion in USB’s FY23 plan of work.
Submit through the online portal. Thank you!
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
National Soybean Checkoff Research Database
Associated Press Stylebook – USB’s preferred guidelines for grammar, punctuation, style and language