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Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Foundational and Applied Science Program

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

USDA-NIFA-AFRI-011134

USDA-NIFA

General Information

$300,000,000
Est. Program Funding:
December 31, 2026
Closing Date:
N/a
Expected No. of Awards
$10,000,000
Award Ceiling

Opportunity Number:
USDA-NIFA-AFRI-011134

Owning Agency:
USDA-NIFA

Opportunity Category:
Discretionary (D)

Synopsis

The AFRI Foundational and Applied Science Program supports grants in six AFRI priority areas to advance knowledge in both fundamental and applied sciences important to agriculture. The six priority areas are: 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. Research-only, extension-only, and integrated research, education and/or extension projects are solicited in this Request for Applications (RFA). See Foundational and Applied Science RFA for specific detail.

Response Date Dec 31, 2026 12:00:00 AM EST
Posting Date Aug 01, 2025 12:00:00 AM EDT
Archive Date Jan 30, 2027 12:00:00 AM EST
Award Ceiling 10,000,000
Award Floor 10,000
Cost Sharing No

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Additional Info on Eligibility: Eligibility Requirements Applicants for AFRI must meet all the requirements discussed in this RFA. 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. Eligibility is linked to the project type as specified below. 1. Research, Education or Extension Projects Eligible applicants for single-function Research, Education or Extension Projects include: a) State Agricultural Experiment Station; b) colleges and universities (including junior colleges offering associate degrees or higher); c) university research foundations; d) other research institutions and organizations; e) Federal agencies; f) national laboratories; g) private organizations or corporations; h) individuals who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents; and i) any group consisting of two or more entities identified in a) through h). Eligible institutions do not include foreign and international organizations. 2. Integrated Projects Eligible applicants for Integrated Projects include: a) colleges and universities; b) 1994 Land-Grant Institutions; and c) Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities (see NIFA's Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities page). For item a) under Integrated Projects, the terms "college" and "university" mean an educational institution in any state which a) 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; b) is legally authorized within such state to provide a program of education beyond secondary education; c) provides an educational program for which a bachelor’s degree or any other higher degree is awarded; d) is a public or other nonprofit institution; and e) 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. 3. 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 the FASE program, New Investigator Standard, New Investigator Seed, Strengthening Standard, Strengthening Workshop, Strengthening Seed, Equipment and Sabbatical Grants are solicited by specific program area priorities in this RFA. Not all grant types are solicited by every program area priority in this RFA and only grant types specifically solicited by each specific program area priority, as identified in the Program Area Descriptions of Part I § C, will be considered for review.

Additional Information

Agency Name Joseph Perez Program Analyst
Link to Additional Information: Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Foundational and Applied Science Program
Grantor Contact Information: If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact: GrantSolutions Help Desk
Phone: 202-445-5402

CFDA Program(s)

  • 10.310: Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI)
   

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