Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Foundational and Applied Science | USDA NIFA AFRI 006772

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 006772

The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Foundational and Applied Science program is a competitive grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). Its purpose is to fund work that strengthens U.S. agriculture by advancing both fundamental science (building core knowledge) and applied science (turning that knowledge into practical approaches, tools, or practices). In other words, the program is set up to support everything from discovery-driven research to on-the-ground solutions that improve agricultural productivity, resilience, sustainability, and public well-being.

This funding opportunity is organized around six AFRI priority areas, which represent the main topic lanes applicants can propose projects within. The first priority area, Plant Health and Production and Plant Products, covers research and related activities aimed at improving plant performance, protecting crops from pests and diseases, and enhancing the quality and value of plant-based products. The second, Animal Health and Production and Animal Products, supports efforts to improve animal health, welfare, and productivity, along with innovations related to animal-derived foods and other products. The third area, Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health, focuses on keeping the food supply safe while also improving nutritional outcomes and understanding how food and diet connect to human health. The fourth, Bioenergy, Natural Resources, and Environment, includes work that addresses energy from biological sources as well as the management and protection of natural resources, environmental quality, and the impacts of agriculture on ecosystems. The fifth, Agriculture Systems and Technology, emphasizes the development and improvement of agricultural systems, engineering, data-driven tools, and technologies that can increase efficiency and sustainability across the supply chain. The sixth area, Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities, supports research and outreach that examine the economic side of agriculture and the conditions that shape rural prosperity, including markets, policy, labor, community development, and the broader social factors affecting rural areas.

A key feature of this opportunity is that it welcomes different project formats, depending on the goals and the audience being served. Applicants may propose research-only projects (focused primarily on generating new knowledge or technologies), extension-only projects (focused on delivering education, training, technical assistance, and adoption support to stakeholders), or integrated projects that combine research with education and/or extension. Integrated projects are designed to connect discovery with learning and real-world implementation, which can be especially relevant for complex agricultural challenges where adoption and workforce development matter as much as technical results.

The opportunity is a discretionary grant program, meaning awards are made competitively based on merit review and program priorities rather than by formula. It is associated with CFDA number 10.310 and is listed under the funding opportunity number USDA NIFA AFRI 006772. The posting indicates the responsible agency is USDA NIFA and that applications were due by December 18, 2019, with the opportunity created on May 7, 2019. While the summary listing does not provide an award ceiling or an expected number of awards, those details, along with budget rules, project period limits, required components, and review criteria, are typically laid out in the official Request for Applications (RFA).

Eligibility is not open-ended and is tied directly to the project type. The notice indicates that only eligible entities may apply and that eligibility requirements are specified in the RFA, specifically in the section labeled Part III.A (Eligible Applicants). This matters because different AFRI project tracks can have different eligibility rules, and applicants are expected to confirm that their organization type and project structure align with the RFA requirements before submitting. For the exact expectations on what must be included in an application, what topic areas are accepting proposals in a given year, and how proposals will be evaluated, applicants are directed to consult the Foundational and Applied Science RFA itself.

• The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Foundational and Applied Science" 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 2019-05-07.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-12-18. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

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