Agriculture and Food Research Initiative – Foundational and Applied Science Program (US)

Deadline: 18-Aug-22

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is seeking applications for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) – Foundational and Applied Science Program to support grants in six AFRI priority areas to advance knowledge in both fundamental and applied sciences important to agriculture.

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.

Goals

• Strategic Goal 2: Maximize the Ability of American Agricultural Producers To Prosper by Feeding and Clothing the World; 
• Strategic Goal 3: Promote American Agricultural Products and Exports; 
• Strategic Goal 4: Facilitate Rural Prosperity and Economic Development; 
• Strategic Goal 5: Strengthen the Stewardship of Private Lands Through Technology and Research; 
• Strategic Goal 6: Ensure Productive and Sustainable Use of their National Forest System Lands; and 
• Strategic Goal 7: Provide All Americans Access to a Safe, Nutritious, and Secure Food Supply

Priority Areas

In 2022, applications are sought in the following 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.

Funding Information

• Estimated Total Program Funding: $300,000,000
• Award Ceiling: $15,000,000

Priority Outcomes

This AFRI RFA will support projects that significantly advance foundational and applied sciences for the following USDA priority outcomes: 

• Human diversity, equity, inclusion, and access; 
• Agricultural practices that provide for adaptation to ecological perturbation and mitigate climate change; 
• Rural economic development and post-pandemic economic revitalization; 
• Nutritional security; and 
• Open and competitive markets.

Eligibility Criteria

• 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.
• Integrated Projects 
  • Eligible applicants for Integrated Projects include:
    • colleges and universities; 
    • 1994 Land-Grant Institutions; and 
    • Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.

For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=338596