The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is soliciting proposals for its Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Foundational and Applied Science Program.
Donor Name: National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 12/29/2023
Size of the Grant: $15,000,000
Grant Duration: 5 years
Details:
The purpose of AFRI is to support research, education, and extension projects that address key problems of local, regional, national, and global importance in sustaining conventional, organic, urban food, and agricultural and natural systems. These include farm and ranch production efficiency, profitability, and sustainability; bioenergy and bio-based products; forestry; aquaculture; rural communities and entrepreneurship; human nutrition; mitigating impacts of biotic and abiotic constraints on food production; food safety; mitigating food waste and food loss; physical and social sciences; rural human ecology; development of circular/regenerative economies, and genetic improvement of plant and animals. In addition, the economic sustainability of food systems is an overarching priority for the projects funded in response to this RFA; therefore, projects focusing on plant or animal species or commodities that are important to underserved communities, farmers, ranchers, or small- or medium-sized farms or ranches are also welcome.
The AFRI Foundational and Applied Science RFA is aligned with the following USDA Strategic Plan Goals:
- Strategic Goal 1: Combat Climate Change to Support America’s Working Lands, Natural Resources
- Strategic Goal 2: Ensure America’s Agricultural System is Equitable, Resilient, and Prosperous
- Strategic Goal 3: Foster an Equitable and Competitive Marketplace for All Agricultural Producers
- Strategic Goal 4: Provide All Americans Safe, Nutritious Food
- Strategic Goal 5: Expand Opportunities for Economic Development and Improve Quality of Life in Rural and Tribal Communities
NIFA is soliciting applications under seven AFRI program areas.
The program areas and their respective approximate available funding amounts include:
- Plant health and production and plant products ($61 million)
- Animal health and production and animal products ($57 million)
- Food safety, nutrition, and health ($39 million)
- Bioenergy, natural resources, and environment ($39 million)
- Agriculture systems and technology ($36 million)
- Agriculture economics and rural communities ($30 million)
- Crosscutting programs ($36 million)
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $300,000,000
- Award Ceiling: $15,000,000
Project Period
The funds will be awarded through a grant for performance periods of up to five years.
Eligibility Requirements
Research, Education or Extension Projects
Eligible applicants for single-function Research, Education or Extension Projects include:
- State Agricultural Experiment Station;
- colleges and universities (including junior colleges offering associate degrees or higher)
- university research foundations;
- other research institutions and organizations;
- Federal agencies;
- national laboratories;
- private organizations or corporations;
- individuals who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents; and
- any group consisting of two or more entities identified in a) through h).
Eligible institutions do not include foreign and international organizations.
Integrated Projects Eligible applicants for Integrated Projects include:
- colleges and universities;
- 1994 Land-Grant Institutions; and
- Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities
For item a) under Integrated Projects, the terms “college” and “university” mean an educational institution in any state which
- admits as regular students only persons having a certificate of graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the recognized equivalent of such a certificate;
- is legally authorized within such state to provide a program of education beyond secondary education;
- provides an educational program for which a bachelor’s degree or any other higher degree is awarded;
- is a public or other nonprofit institution; and
- is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association.
A research foundation maintained by a college or university is eligible to receive an award under this program.
Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement Grants
Part II § C.2 contains the eligibility details for Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants. Note that under FASE program, New Investigator, Strengthening Standard, Strengthening Conference, Seed, Equipment and Sabbatical Grants are solicited in this RFA.
Applicants must respond to the program area priorities and deadlines found in Part I § C. Grant recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project. Failure to meet an eligibility criterion by the application deadline may result in the application being excluded from consideration or, even though an application may be reviewed, will preclude NIFA from making an award.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
