The National Institute of Food and Agriculture is seeking applications for its Urban and Indoor Agriculture Research Initiative.
Donor Name: National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 07/27/2026
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: 3 Years
Details:
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), to the extent permitted by law, will no longer make grants or otherwise fund programs or activities that improperly discriminate on the basis of race or sex, including discrimination in the name of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies. Instead, USDA will prioritize merit and efficiency. USDA recognizes programs and initiatives will have the greatest impact when these programs and initiatives put American farmers, ranchers, and foresters first by:
- Solving the most pressing challenges they face;
- Protecting America’s food, fuel, and fiber supply to enhance national security;
- Supporting production of healthy and safe food for consumers;
- Expanding and developing domestic markets;
- Training the next generation of agriculturalists; and
- Fueling innovation to keep American farmers at the forefront of productivity.
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is committed to advancing these principles and encourages applicants to actively engage farmers, ranchers, and foresters when applying for funding opportunities to ensure relevancy and adherence to them. NIFA also encourages agricultural leaders to engage in the peer review panel process to ensure American producers are better served through research, education, and extension activities. Projects submitted under this NOFO should align with USDA Secretary’s Memorandum Directive on Departmental Research and Development Priorities:
- Increasing Profitability of Farmers and Ranchers
- Expanding Markets and Creating New Uses of U.S. Agricultural Products
- Protecting the Integrity of American Agriculture from Invasive Species
- Promoting Soil Health to Regenerate Long-Term Productivity of Land
- Improving Human Health through Precision Nutrition and Food Quality
Project and Grant Types
The following describes the types of projects or grants that are eligible for funding:
- Project Types
- Integrated Projects: An Integrated Project includes at least two of the three functions of the agricultural knowledge system (i.e., research, education, and extension) within a project. For this program, each proposal must include a research component. Additionally, the projects should have either an extension component or an education component or both as relevant to project objectives. Any one component cannot exceed 67 percent and has to be a minimum of 33 percent of the project activity and budget.
- Research activity means a scientific investigation or inquiry which results in the generation of knowledge.
- Education activity means formal classroom instruction, laboratory instruction, and practicum experience in the food and agricultural sciences and other related matters.
- Extension activity means a series of educational activities with identified learning objectives that deliver science-based knowledge to people outside of the traditional classroom, enabling them to make practical decisions.
- Integrated Projects: An Integrated Project includes at least two of the three functions of the agricultural knowledge system (i.e., research, education, and extension) within a project. For this program, each proposal must include a research component. Additionally, the projects should have either an extension component or an education component or both as relevant to project objectives. Any one component cannot exceed 67 percent and has to be a minimum of 33 percent of the project activity and budget.
- Grant Types
- Standard Grant
- Standard Grants for UIE support targeted original Integrated Projects.
- Workshop Grants
- Workshop Grants support workshops bringing together scientists and others, including end-users, to identify research, education, or extension needs; update information; or advance understanding of food systems targeted by this program’s priorities. These should occur within 12 months of the award start date. Workshops providing current information to growers should be held to the extent possible in conjunction with meetings regularly attended by target producers and processors. Workshop grants should go beyond just meeting activities and should lead to clear outputs and outcomes.Documentation of outputs and outcomes may include, but is not limited to proceedings, white papers, opinion papers, fact sheets, bulletins, or priority setting.
- Standard Grant
Funding Information
- The amount available for UIE in 2026 is approximately $4,000,000.
- Maximum Award Amount: $500,000
Grant Period
24-36 Months
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants for the UIE must meet all the requirements discussed in this NOFO. Failure to meet the eligibility criteria by the application deadline may result in exclusion from consideration or preclude NIFA from making an award. For those new to Federal financial assistance, NIFA’s About Grants provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand the Federal awards process.
- Applications may only be submitted by the following entities:
- State Agricultural Experiment Stations;
- Colleges and universities;
- University research foundations;
- Other research institutions and organizations;
- Federal agencies;
- National laboratories;
- Private organizations, foundations, or corporations;
- Individuals; or
- Any group consisting of two or more of the entities described in subparagraphs.
For more information, visit Grants Gov.
