Field to Market Announces Request for Proposals for 2026 National Indicators Report Biodiversity Chapter

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture® is pleased to announce a Request for Proposals (RFP) from expert lead authors for the Biodiversity Chapter of the upcoming 2026 National Indicators Report® (NIR). This RFP is made possible thanks to the generous support from The Mosaic Company.

As the most comprehensive, peer-reviewed assessment of environmental outcomes in U.S. commodity agriculture, the NIR provides over 40 years of data across 300 million acres of cropland. The 2026 edition will expand its reach to cover 15 major crops and will feature contextual indicator chapters to address critical sustainability topics where annual quantitative tracking is not yet feasible.

Project Scope and Objectives

The selected scientist or research group will conduct a state-of-the-science review focused on row commodity crop production in the contiguous U.S. for the last 45 years. While the Alliance has historically focused on terrestrial (above-ground) biodiversity, authors for this edition are encouraged to expand the scope to include below-ground, freshwater, and marine biodiversity as impacted by crop production.

Key workstreams include:

• Contextual Indicator Chapter A comprehensive state-of-the-science review covering biodiversity definitions, measurement methods, 45-year trends across U.S. croplands, ecosystem service linkages, management practices with proven impact, relevant policy and market mechanisms, and emerging technologies. The chapter will follow Field to Market’s Contextual Indicators Framework and move beyond trend documentation to provide actionable, science-based solutions for producers.
• WILD Index Scientific Evaluation An independent assessment of the evidence base underlying Field to Market’s proposed transition from the legacy Habitat Potential Index (HPI) to the new Wildlife and Landscape Diversity (WILD) Index. The evaluation will address six targeted topics identified through extensive member feedback: the use of semi-natural cover as a biodiversity proxy, landscape complexity as a moderator, management practices as biodiversity indicators, cropland conversion penalty calibration, component weighting and interactions, and the feasibility of empirical cross-validation.

Who Should Apply

Field to Market welcomes proposals from lead scientists or research teams affiliated with universities, research institutions, non-profit organizations, corporations, or working as independent researchers. Experience with U.S. row crop agriculture is required, and expertise in agricultural biodiversity, landscape ecology, and related fields is essential. The selected author(s) will be prominently credited in all published versions of the chapter.

Submission Details

• Deadline for Submissions: March 20, 2026, at 11 p.m. EST
• Project Timeline: Work will commence in Spring 2026, with targeted final publication in December 2026.
• AI Integration: Field to Market encourages the responsible use of generative AI to enhance research efficiency, provided it is governed by strict scientific integrity and human expertise.

How to Apply

Interested parties should submit a proposal (not exceeding 5 pages) to Eric Coronel, Ph.D., Director of Science and Research, at science@fieldtomarket.org. Proposals must demonstrate expertise in U.S. row crop agriculture and landscape ecology.

For full details on the Contextual Indicators Framework and submission requirements, please refer to the complete RFP document.