The Crop-Animal Systems Research program supports innovative and transformative research that explores these interconnections to advance both crop and animal systems.
Donor Name: Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR)
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 06/11/2025
Size of the Grant: $500,000 to $1 million
Grant Duration: 5 Years
Details:
Research Themes Supported
FFAR seeks projects that foster innovation with the potential for transformative impact to crop and animal systems. Through the Thriving Production Systems Priority Area, FFAR funds crop and animal systems research to develop knowledge and tools that support the following themes:
- Crop Resilience & Productivity – Advances research that delivers crop productivity and resilience against biotic and abiotic stress.
- Integrated Animal Health, Welfare & Productivity – Supports research to improve animal health and welfare while maintaining or increasing productivity.
- Economically Viable Systems – Advances research that designs and assesses adaptive production systems to advance farmers’ and ranchers’ profitability now and in the future.
- Agricultural Stewardship – Supports research to cultivate efficient crop and animal systems that protect and restore natural resources.
Research Areas of Interest Supported
The objective of this RFA is to simultaneously advance crop and animal systems. Therefore, applicants must demonstrate how their proposed research aligns with one or more of the above themes to advance both systems. Cross-disciplinary collaborative teams that leverage the strength and expertise of diverse scientific fields are essential to both crop and animal research. Research areas of interest include, but are not limited to the following:
- Resource-efficient animal feed
- Improved animal nutrition
- Bioaccumulation of environmental contaminants (e.g., per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, etc.) in crop and animal systems
- Efficient cycling of nutrients between crops and livestock
- Optimal rotations of crops with grazing periods to maintain soil health, control pests and maximize forage availability for livestock
- Incorporation of circular agriculture principles
- Other relevant topics that advance crop and animal systems.
Funding Information
At FFAR’s discretion, they will award up to $4,000,000 in FFAR funding through the Crop-Animal Systems RFA. Individual awards must range from U.S. $300,000 to $1,000,000 of FFAR funds plus matching funds.
Grant Period
Projects must have planned durations ranging between 24 and 60 months.
Who is eligible to apply?
- Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) may apply to the Crop-Animal Systems RFA through their home institution or organization.
- FFAR welcomes applications from all domestic and international higher education institutions, nonprofit and for-profit organizations and U.S. government-affiliated research agencies. The following principles guide FFAR’s international engagement under this RFA:
- The proposal must identify a clear benefit to the U.S. food and agriculture system and a clear pathway to deploy the technology or solution in the U.S.
- FFAR will prioritize research that delivers broader benefits across geographies and production systems.
- FFAR will not support research that addresses a challenge primarily limited to another country or region outside the U.S. or where the technology or solution is not broadly relevant to the U.S.
For more information, visit FFAR.
