Deadline: 27-Apr-22
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is seeking applications for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Sustainable Agricultural Systems (SAS) that seeks creative and visionary applications that take a systems approach for projects are expected to significantly improve the supply of affordable, safe, nutritious, and accessible agricultural products, while fostering economic development and rural prosperity in America.
There is an increasing need to foster holistic and systems approaches to mitigate the climate crisis; improve agricultural productivity; ensure a safe, affordable, and nutritious supply of food; invigorate and realize the promise of the bioeconomy; and promote the development of a skilled agricultural workforce. Solving agricultural challenges will require a convergence of science, technology, workforce availability, and policy.
The purpose of Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) is to invest in research, education, and extension work by awarding grants to solve key problems of local, regional, national, and global importance in sustaining conventional, organic, and urban agricultural systems. The project supported by AFRI address topics such as farm/ranch production efficiency, profitability and sustainability; bioenergy and bio-based products; forestry; aquaculture; rural communities and entrepreneurship; human nutrition; biotic and abiotic constraints on food production; food safety; reducing food waste and food loss; physical and social sciences; family and consumer sciences and rural human ecology; development of circular economies, and genetic improvement of plants and animals.
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.
Priorities
- Addressing climate change via climate smart agriculture and forestry;
- Advancing racial justice, equity, and opportunity;
- Creating more and better market opportunities; and
- Tackling food and nutrition insecurity.
Funding Information
- The anticipated amount available for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Sustainable Agricultural Systems (SAS) RFA in FY 2022 is approximately $80,000,000 for integrated projects.
- Grant Duration: Up to 60 Months
- Anticipated of Awards: 8
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants for Integrated Projects include:
- colleges and universities;
- 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=338563