Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 009755
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Competitive Grants Program Foundational and Applied Science Program is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA 10.310. Its overall purpose is to fund work that moves agriculture forward by supporting both foundational (fundamental) and applied science. The program is organized around six broad AFRI priority areas: Plant Health and Production and Plant Products; Animal Health and Production and Animal Products; Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health; Bioenergy, Natural Resources, and Environment; Agriculture Systems and Technology; and Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities. Within those areas, the Request for Applications (RFA) invites projects that generate new knowledge, translate knowledge into practice, or do both, depending on the chosen project type and program area priorities outlined in the RFA.
A key feature of this opportunity is that it supports multiple types of work, not just traditional research. Applicants may propose research-only projects, extension-only projects, or integrated projects that combine research with education and/or extension. In practical terms, that means proposals can range from laboratory or field research, to outreach and producer education efforts, to multi-part projects that connect discovery with training and on-the-ground implementation. The RFA emphasizes that applicants must align their proposals with the specific program area priorities and adhere to the relevant deadlines listed in the RFA, since those details govern what topics are being sought and when applications are due.
Eligibility depends heavily on the type of project being proposed. For single-function projects (research, education, or extension), the eligible applicant pool is broad. It includes State Agricultural Experiment Stations; colleges and universities (including junior colleges that offer associate degrees or higher); university research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; Federal agencies; national laboratories; private organizations or corporations; and individual applicants who are U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or permanent residents. Groups made up of two or more eligible entities may also apply. One clear limitation is that foreign and international organizations are not considered eligible institutions to apply directly, even though partnerships may still be possible through other mechanisms.
For integrated projects, eligibility is more limited and focused on specific kinds of academic institutions. Eligible applicants include colleges and universities, 1994 Land-Grant Institutions, and Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities. The RFA also clarifies what NIFA means by a "college" or "university" for this purpose: it must admit students with a secondary school diploma (or equivalent), be legally authorized by its state to offer education beyond secondary school, award bachelor’s degrees or higher, be public or nonprofit, and be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting body. A research foundation maintained by a college or university is also eligible to receive an award, which can be important for institutions that route sponsored funding through affiliated foundations.
The opportunity also includes Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants, which are a set of mechanisms intended to support specific applicant groups and needs. The RFA notes that it solicits several FASE categories, including New Investigator, Strengthening Standard, Strengthening Conference, Seed, Equipment, and Sabbatical Grants, with additional eligibility rules described in the RFA section devoted to FASE. These options can be particularly relevant for early-career investigators, capacity-building institutions, conference organizers, or applicants seeking targeted support such as equipment or a sabbatical to advance a research program.
Administratively, NIFA stresses that applicants must meet all eligibility requirements by the application deadline; failing to do so can result in the application being excluded from consideration or prevent NIFA from making an award even if the application is reviewed. The agency also points new applicants to NIFA’s grants overview resources to better understand federal award requirements and processes. Finally, while eligibility rules govern who may apply as the primary recipient, the RFA allows grant recipients to subcontract to otherwise ineligible organizations if those partners are necessary to carry out the work, which can enable collaborations with specialized entities as part of an allowable project structure.
In the published opportunity record, the funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA AFRI 009755, the original closing date listed is 2023-12-29, and the award ceiling is shown as $15,000,000. The agency is the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and the funding instrument type is a grant.Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 009755
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Foundational and Applied Science Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.310.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2023-02-03.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-12-29. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $15,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Competitive Grants Program, Foundational and Applied Science Program. It is a discretionary grant program administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA 10.310.
2. What is the overall purpose of the AFRI Foundational and Applied Science Program?
The program funds work that moves agriculture forward by supporting both foundational (fundamental) and applied science. It is designed to support projects that generate new knowledge, translate knowledge into practice, or do both, depending on the chosen project type and the priorities described in the Request for Applications (RFA).
3. What are the six AFRI priority areas mentioned for this program?
The program is organized around six broad AFRI priority areas:
- Plant Health and Production and Plant Products
- Animal Health and Production and Animal Products
- Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health
- Bioenergy, Natural Resources, and Environment
- Agriculture Systems and Technology
- Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities
4. What kinds of projects does the RFA invite?
Within the AFRI priority areas, the RFA invites projects that:
- Generate new knowledge
- Translate knowledge into practice
- Combine both approaches, depending on the project type and program area priorities in the RFA
5. Does this program support only traditional research?
No. A key feature of this opportunity is that it supports multiple types of work. Applicants may propose research-only projects, extension-only projects, or integrated projects that combine research with education and/or extension.
6. What is meant by a research-only, extension-only, or integrated project in this program?
- Research-only: Projects focused on laboratory, field, or other research activities.
- Extension-only: Projects focused on outreach and education efforts (for example, producer education).
- Integrated: Projects that connect research with education and/or extension, linking discovery with training and real-world implementation.
7. Do applicants have to follow specific RFA priorities and deadlines?
Yes. The RFA emphasizes that proposals must align with the specific program area priorities and must adhere to the relevant deadlines listed in the RFA. Those details govern which topics are being sought and when applications are due.
8. Who is eligible to apply for single-function projects (research, education, or extension)?
For single-function projects, the eligible applicant pool is broad and includes:
- State Agricultural Experiment Stations
- 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
- Individual applicants who are U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or permanent residents
- Groups made up of two or more eligible entities
9. Are foreign or international organizations eligible to apply directly?
No. Foreign and international organizations are not considered eligible institutions to apply directly, based on the information provided.
10. Can otherwise ineligible organizations still participate in a project?
Yes. While eligibility rules govern who may apply as the primary recipient, the RFA allows grant recipients to subcontract to otherwise ineligible organizations if those partners are necessary to carry out the work. This can enable collaborations with specialized entities as part of an allowable project structure.
11. Who is eligible to apply for integrated projects?
Eligibility for integrated projects is more limited. Eligible applicants include:
- Colleges and universities
- 1994 Land-Grant Institutions
- Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities
12. How does the RFA define an eligible "college" or "university" for integrated projects?
For this purpose, NIFA defines an eligible college or university as an institution that:
- Admits students with a secondary school diploma (or equivalent)
- Is legally authorized by its state to provide education beyond secondary school
- Awards bachelor’s degrees or higher
- Is public or nonprofit
- Is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting body
13. Can a university-affiliated research foundation receive an award?
Yes. A research foundation maintained by a college or university is eligible to receive an award. This can matter for institutions that route sponsored funding through affiliated foundations.
14. What are Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants in this opportunity?
FASE Grants are a set of mechanisms within the opportunity intended to support specific applicant groups and needs. The RFA notes that it solicits several FASE categories, with additional eligibility rules described in the RFA section devoted to FASE.
15. What FASE categories are mentioned?
The RFA mentions the following FASE categories:
- New Investigator
- Strengthening Standard
- Strengthening Conference
- Seed
- Equipment
- Sabbatical Grants
16. Who might FASE options be particularly relevant for?
Based on the description provided, these options can be particularly relevant for early-career investigators, capacity-building institutions, conference organizers, or applicants seeking targeted support such as equipment or a sabbatical to advance a research program.
17. What happens if an applicant does not meet eligibility requirements by the deadline?
NIFA stresses that applicants must meet all eligibility requirements by the application deadline. Failing to do so can result in the application being excluded from consideration or prevent NIFA from making an award even if the application is reviewed.
18. Is this a discretionary or entitlement grant?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity.
19. What federal program identifier (CFDA) is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 10.310.
20. What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number in the published record is USDA NIFA AFRI 009755.
21. What is the listed closing date for this opportunity record?
The original closing date listed in the opportunity record is 2023-12-29.
22. What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) shown in the opportunity record?
The award ceiling shown is $15,000,000.
23. What agency administers this program?
The administering agency is the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
24. What is the funding instrument type?
The funding instrument type is a grant.
25. Where should new applicants look for help understanding federal grant requirements and processes?
NIFA points new applicants to NIFA’s grants overview resources to better understand federal award requirements and processes.
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| Special Research Grants Program Potato Research Apply for USDA NIFA SRGP 009702 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SRGP 009702 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Alfalfa Seed and Alfalfa Forage Systems Apply for USDA NIFA OP 009882 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 009882 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $900,000 |
| New Beginning for Tribal Students Program Apply for USDA NIFA TGP 009902 Funding Number: USDA NIFA TGP 009902 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Food and Agricultural Education Information System Apply for USDA NIFA OP 009753 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 009753 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $1,100,000 |
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