Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 005843
Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 005843
- The USDA-NIFA in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Agriculture and Food Research Initiative: Foundational Program" 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 May 13, 2016 and posted on May 13, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 30, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI): Foundational Program is a competitive grant opportunity run by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA). It is designed to fund research and related project work that strengthens the core scientific and technical knowledge needed to address major agriculture and food challenges, both now and in the future. This program sits within AFRI, USDA's flagship extramural research funding program, and it emphasizes building foundational science that can later support practical solutions, innovations, and applied outcomes across the food and agriculture system.
The opportunity supports projects aligned with six AFRI priority areas. These areas cover the major domains USDA considers most critical to national agricultural resilience and public wellbeing: (1) Plant Health and Production and Plant Products, which includes improving crop health, productivity, breeding, and the quality or value of plant-based products; (2) Animal Health and Production and Animal Products, which supports work to improve livestock health, welfare, productivity, and the safety and value of animal-derived products; (3) Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health, focused on reducing foodborne risks, improving nutrition, and understanding links between diet and health outcomes; (4) Bioenergy, Natural Resources, and Environment, addressing renewable energy from biological sources along with stewardship of soil, water, air quality, and ecosystems; (5) Agriculture Systems and Technology, which often includes engineering, data, automation, precision agriculture, and systems approaches that improve efficiency and sustainability; and (6) Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities, which looks at the economic, social, and community dimensions of agriculture, including rural development and the impacts of policy and markets.
AFRI Foundational calls typically allow multiple project types, and this opportunity explicitly highlights three: single-function Research Projects, multi-function Integrated Projects, and Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants. Single-function research projects are primarily research-focused and are generally intended to generate new knowledge, methods, or discoveries within one of the program area priorities. Integrated projects are multi-function by design, meaning they combine two or more components such as research, education, and extension in one coordinated effort, with the expectation that findings are translated into training, outreach, or on-the-ground practice more directly. FASE Grants are a specific AFRI mechanism intended to strengthen and broaden participation in agricultural research, often by supporting smaller-scale projects, new investigators, or capacity-building efforts, depending on the specific FASE category described in the Request for Applications (RFA).
A key requirement is alignment with one of the program area priorities described in the Foundational Program RFA. In practice, that means applicants are expected to choose a specific program area priority topic (within one of the six broad priority areas) and shape the project goals, methods, and deliverables to clearly match that topic. The notice points applicants to the Foundational Program RFA for the detailed priorities and expectations, which is where the specific subtopics, evaluation criteria, and any special requirements are typically laid out.
From the opportunity record provided, this is a discretionary grant competition (not a formula allocation), categorized under the Agriculture funding activity area and listed under CFDA 10.310. The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA AFRI 005843, and the agency is USDA-NIFA. The opportunity was posted May 13, 2016, created May 13, 2016, and had a closing date of September 30, 2016 (the original and current closing dates match). The record does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards in the fields shown. Eligibility is listed as "Others," with the note that applicants should consult the "Additional Information on Eligibility" section in the full announcement or RFA for precise eligibility rules, which commonly define which institutions and organizations may apply and under what conditions.
Overall, the AFRI Foundational Program is best understood as a broad, science-forward funding stream meant to underwrite high-quality work across crops, animals, food, environment, technology, and rural economics, with flexible project structures ranging from research-only to integrated research-education-extension efforts, and with additional mechanisms like FASE intended to strengthen the agricultural research enterprise.
AFRI Foundational Program (USDA-NIFA) - FAQs
What is the AFRI: Foundational Program?
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI): Foundational Program is a competitive grant opportunity run by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA). It funds research and related project work that strengthens core scientific and technical knowledge needed to address major agriculture and food challenges now and in the future.
How does this program fit within USDA funding?
This opportunity sits within AFRI, which is USDA's flagship extramural research funding program. The Foundational Program specifically emphasizes building foundational science that can later support practical solutions, innovations, and applied outcomes across the food and agriculture system.
Is this a competitive grant or a formula allocation?
It is a discretionary, competitive grant competition (not a formula allocation).
Which agency runs this funding opportunity?
The agency is USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA).
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The record lists this opportunity under CFDA 10.310.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA AFRI 005843.
What funding activity area is this opportunity categorized under?
It is categorized under the Agriculture funding activity area.
What is the main purpose of the Foundational Program?
The program is designed to support high-quality, science-forward work that builds the foundational knowledge base across key agriculture and food domains. The intent is to strengthen the underlying science and technical understanding that can eventually enable applied advances and real-world improvements.
What are the AFRI priority areas supported by this opportunity?
The opportunity supports projects aligned with six AFRI priority areas:
- Plant Health and Production and Plant Products (crop health, productivity, breeding, and the quality/value of plant-based products)
- Animal Health and Production and Animal Products (livestock health, welfare, productivity, and the safety/value of animal-derived products)
- Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health (reducing foodborne risks, improving nutrition, and understanding diet-health links)
- Bioenergy, Natural Resources, and Environment (bioenergy plus stewardship of soil, water, air quality, ecosystems)
- Agriculture Systems and Technology (engineering, data, automation, precision agriculture, and systems approaches for efficiency and sustainability)
- Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities (economic and social dimensions of agriculture, rural development, and impacts of policy and markets)
Do applicants have to align with a specific priority area?
Yes. A key requirement is alignment with one of the program area priorities described in the Foundational Program Request for Applications (RFA). Applicants are expected to select a specific program area priority topic (within one of the six broad priority areas) and ensure the project's goals, methods, and deliverables clearly match that topic.
Where are the detailed priority topics and requirements defined?
The notice points applicants to the Foundational Program RFA for details. The RFA is typically where the specific subtopics, evaluation criteria, and any special requirements are laid out.
What types of projects does this opportunity support?
This opportunity highlights three project types: single-function Research Projects, multi-function Integrated Projects, and Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants.
What is a single-function Research Project under this program?
Single-function Research Projects are primarily research-focused. They are generally intended to generate new knowledge, methods, or discoveries within one of the program area priorities.
What is an Integrated Project?
Integrated Projects are multi-function by design and combine two or more components, such as research, education, and extension, in one coordinated effort. The expectation is that findings are translated into training, outreach, or on-the-ground practice more directly than a research-only project.
What are FASE Grants and what are they meant to do?
Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants are an AFRI mechanism intended to strengthen and broaden participation in agricultural research. They often support smaller-scale projects, new investigators, or capacity-building efforts, depending on the specific FASE category described in the RFA.
Does the record specify the award ceiling?
No. In the fields shown in the opportunity record provided, an award ceiling is not specified.
Does the record specify the expected number of awards?
No. The opportunity record does not list the expected number of awards in the fields shown.
When was this opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on May 13, 2016, and the record was created on May 13, 2016.
What was the application closing date?
The closing date was September 30, 2016. The original closing date and the current closing date match.
What does the eligibility field say?
Eligibility is listed as "Others."
Where can applicants find the precise eligibility rules?
The record notes that applicants should consult the "Additional Information on Eligibility" section in the full announcement or the RFA for the precise eligibility rules, including which institutions and organizations may apply and under what conditions.
What is the overall focus of the AFRI Foundational Program compared to more applied funding?
Based on the description provided, the Foundational Program is best understood as a broad, science-forward funding stream. It underwrites foundational work across crops, animals, food, environment, technology, and rural economics, with flexible project structures ranging from research-only to integrated research-education-extension efforts, and with FASE mechanisms intended to strengthen the agricultural research enterprise.
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