Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 005823
Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 005823
- The USDA-NIFA in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "AFRI Food Security Challenge Area" 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 03, 2016 and posted on May 03, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 07, 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 AFRI Food Security Challenge Area is a competitive grant opportunity offered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). Its central aim is to tackle a major societal challenge: keeping American agriculture globally competitive while also contributing to the broader goal of ending world hunger. The program is built around improving food security by making sure safe, nutritious food is both available (enough supply is produced and maintained) and accessible (people can reliably obtain it). In practical terms, the opportunity targets projects that can sustainably raise agricultural productivity and strengthen food systems so they deliver consistent, safe, and nutritious outcomes over the long term.
The long-term goal of this challenge area is sustainability in both production and food access. That means proposals are expected to look beyond short-term gains and instead emphasize approaches that can maintain or increase output over time while protecting the resources that agriculture depends on (such as soil, water, and viable farm economies). The emphasis on safe and nutritious food also signals that success is not measured only by yield; it includes food quality, safety, and the ability of communities to obtain and benefit from that food. The overall framing ties U.S. agricultural competitiveness to global food needs, encouraging solutions that are relevant domestically while also contributing to hunger reduction more broadly.
This funding opportunity supports several project types, with a strong focus on integrated, multi-function efforts. Applicants may propose Integrated Research, Education, and/or Extension Projects, meaning projects can combine scientific research with education and outreach components that help translate results into real-world practice. This integrated structure is meant to encourage work that not only generates new knowledge, but also trains people and delivers practical tools, guidance, or demonstrations that stakeholders can adopt. In addition, the program supports Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants, which are designed to strengthen and broaden the agricultural research and education pipeline and can include mechanisms intended to support faculty development or build capacity. The challenge area also allows funding for conferences and workshops, recognizing that convenings can accelerate progress by coordinating research communities, sharing findings, setting priorities, and building partnerships.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary and uses a grant funding instrument. It falls under the funding activity category of agriculture and is associated with CFDA number 10.310. The agency administering the opportunity is USDA-NIFA. The listing identifies the opportunity number as USDA NIFA AFRI 005823 and the title as AFRI Food Security Challenge Area. The opportunity was created and posted on May 3, 2016, with an original and current closing date of July 7, 2016. The eligible applicant field is listed as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," indicating that eligibility may extend beyond a single standard institution type but requires checking the detailed eligibility language in the full announcement. The source data provided does not specify an award ceiling or the number of expected awards, so those details would typically be confirmed in the complete program solicitation or accompanying request for applications documentation.
Overall, the AFRI Food Security Challenge Area is structured to fund projects that meaningfully advance food security through sustainable productivity gains and improved access to safe, nutritious food, using integrated research-to-practice approaches, capacity-building FASE mechanisms, and community-building events like conferences and workshops.
AFRI Food Security Challenge Area (USDA-NIFA) - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the AFRI Food Security Challenge Area?
The AFRI Food Security Challenge Area is a competitive grant opportunity offered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). It is designed to fund projects that strengthen food security by improving the long-term availability and accessibility of safe, nutritious food.
What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The central purpose is to address a major societal challenge: keeping American agriculture globally competitive while also contributing to the broader goal of ending world hunger. The opportunity supports work that sustainably increases agricultural productivity and strengthens food systems so they provide consistent, safe, and nutritious outcomes over time.
How does the program define "food security" in this opportunity?
Food security is framed around two connected outcomes: availability and accessibility. Availability refers to producing and maintaining enough safe, nutritious food supply. Accessibility refers to whether people can reliably obtain that food.
What kinds of outcomes are projects expected to achieve?
Projects are expected to improve food security through sustainable productivity gains and stronger food systems. Success is not measured only by yield; it also includes food quality, food safety, and the ability of communities to obtain and benefit from safe, nutritious food over the long term.
What does "sustainability" mean in the context of this challenge area?
Sustainability is described as both sustainability in production and sustainability in food access. Proposals are expected to look beyond short-term gains and emphasize approaches that maintain or increase output over time while protecting key resources that agriculture depends on, including soil, water, and viable farm economies.
How does this opportunity connect U.S. agriculture to global hunger reduction?
The program ties U.S. agricultural competitiveness to global food needs. It encourages solutions that are relevant for domestic agriculture while also contributing to hunger reduction more broadly.
What types of projects can be funded under this opportunity?
The opportunity supports multiple project types, including Integrated Research, Education, and/or Extension Projects, Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants, and funding for conferences and workshops.
What are Integrated Research, Education, and/or Extension Projects?
These are projects that may combine scientific research with education and outreach (extension) components. The intent is to support work that generates new knowledge, trains people, and translates results into practical tools, guidance, demonstrations, or other outputs that stakeholders can adopt.
Does a proposal have to include research, education, and extension all together?
The description states that applicants may propose Integrated Research, Education, and/or Extension Projects. This indicates the program supports integrated approaches that can combine these components, but the exact requirements would be governed by the full announcement.
What are FASE Grants and what are they meant to do?
Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants are intended to strengthen and broaden the agricultural research and education pipeline. The information provided notes they can include mechanisms that support faculty development or build capacity.
Are conferences and workshops eligible for funding?
Yes. The challenge area allows funding for conferences and workshops. These convenings are recognized as a way to accelerate progress by coordinating research communities, sharing findings, setting priorities, and building partnerships.
Who is the funding agency for this opportunity?
The administering agency is USDA-NIFA (the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture).
Is this a competitive or non-competitive grant program?
This is described as a competitive grant opportunity.
What kind of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
Is this opportunity discretionary or mandatory funding?
The opportunity is categorized as discretionary.
What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category is agriculture.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 10.310.
What is the opportunity number and title?
The opportunity number is USDA NIFA AFRI 005823, and the title is AFRI Food Security Challenge Area.
When was this opportunity created and posted?
The listing indicates it was created and posted on May 3, 2016.
What is the application closing date?
The original and current closing date shown in the listing is July 7, 2016.
Who is eligible to apply?
The eligible applicant field is listed as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)." This suggests eligibility may extend beyond a single standard institution type, but applicants would need to consult the detailed eligibility language in the full announcement.
Does the listing include an award ceiling or expected number of awards?
No. The source information provided does not specify an award ceiling or the number of expected awards. Those details would typically be confirmed in the complete program solicitation or request for applications documentation.
What is the overall focus of projects funded under this challenge area?
The overall focus is to meaningfully advance food security by supporting sustainable productivity gains and improved access to safe, nutritious food, using integrated research-to-practice approaches, capacity-building mechanisms (including FASE), and community-building events like conferences and workshops.
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