Non-Proprietary Field Trial Agreement

Non-Proprietary Field Trial Agreement

A Non-Proprietary Field Trial is defined as an evaluation of a sponsor’s agricultural products or materials (seeds, pesticides, fertilizers, etc.) following a protocol provided by the sponsor.  It is designed to monitor these products or materials in conditions similar to actual conditions experienced by farmers.  The purpose of the trial is to record how the material reacts to variable conditions including sunlight, precipitation, temperature, humidity, pH, competing weeds, insects/parasites, etc. The material is monitored throughout the growing season to harvesting and the results provided to the sponsor and made available to growers, extension personnel, seed producers, seed dealers and agricultural workers and agencies in Pennsylvania and the world.

This Agreement is used to perform non-proprietary field trials (involving generic sponsor products or materials and not registered/trademarked/branded materials) consistent with the research interests of the sponsor.  Field trials are limited to monitoring of products or materials only and do not include further analysis/evaluation nor the furtherance of basic research.

Field trials are treated as an ‘Unrestricted Grant’ with F&A capped at 15% Total Costs as described in the University’s Funding Matrix (see Research Administration Policy RA04).

Funding Limitation: $25,000 or less. Proposed trials in excess of $25,000 require further review by the Office of Sponsored Programs prior to submission.