Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Foundational and Applied Science Program
Grant Opportunity Analysis
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is offering the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Competitive Grants Program for Fiscal Year 2024, with approximately $300 million available to support foundational and applied research in agriculture. The program focuses on six priority areas: Plant Health and Production, Animal Health and Production, Food Safety, Bioenergy, Agricultural Systems and Technology, and Agricultural Economics and Rural Communities, encouraging innovative projects that address critical challenges such as climate change and food security. Eligible applicants include a wide range of institutions, from state agricultural experiment stations to private organizations, with grant amounts ranging from $1,000 to $15 million. Interested parties can find more information and submit inquiries via email to grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov, with applications due by December 31, 2024.
Eligible Applicants
Eligibility is linked to the project type as specified below.1. Research, Education or Extension ProjectsEligible 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; andi) any group consisting of two or more entities identified in a) through h).Eligible institutions do not include foreign and international organizations.2. Integrated ProjectsEligible applicants for Integrated Projects include:a) colleges and universities;b) 1994 Land-Grant Institutions; andc) 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 whicha) 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; ande) 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 GrantsPart II § C.2 contains the eligibility details for Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants. Note that under FASE program, New Investigator, Strengthening Standard, Strengthening Conference, Seed, Equipment and Sabbatical Grants are solicited in this RFA.Applicants must respond to the program area priorities and deadlines found in Part I § C. Grant recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project. Failure to meet an eligibility criterion by the application deadline may result in the application being excluded from consideration or, even though an application may be reviewed, will preclude NIFA from making an award (see Part III § B).