Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 003537
Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 003537
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture education environment food and nutrition natural resources regional development science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Agriculture and Natural Resources Science for Climate Variability and Change" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.310 Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI).
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 28, 2011 and posted on Sep 21, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 13, 2012 This program has multiple deadline dates occurring throughout FY 2012. Please refer to the current Agriculture and Natural Resources Science for Climate Variability and Change Request for Application for a complete list of program deadlines. In FY 2012, all Program Areas within the Agriculture and Natural Resources Science for Climate Variability and Change Challenge Area require a Letter of Intent for submission of an application. A letter is required for all grant types except Conference Grant applications. Refer to Part IV, A (page 21) for instructions on the preparation of a Letter of Intent.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $10,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Small businesses Individuals Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Private institutions of higher education.
- Due to limited resources and in the interest of encouraging linkages between research, education, and extension, NIFA is only soliciting Integrated Projects under this RFA. Eligible applicants for the programs implemented under this RFA include 1) colleges and universities 2) 1994 Land Grant Institutions and 3) Hispanic serving agricultural colleges and universities. See the Program Area Descriptions (beginning in Part I, C (page 6)) and the Eligibility Information section (Part III, A (page 19)) for specific information. If you are unsure of your eligibility contact the Program Area Contact for clarification before applying. Applications from ineligible institutions will not be reviewed.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Agriculture and Natural Resources Science for Climate Variability and Change opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA AFRI 003537) is a discretionary grant program run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA 10.310. It is built around a clear national need: helping U.S. agriculture and natural resource systems cope with climate variability and long-term climate change while also reducing the sector's contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. In practical terms, the solicitation is looking for projects that can help producers, land managers, and communities adapt to changing conditions such as shifting precipitation patterns, more frequent extreme weather events, temperature changes, and related impacts on soils, water, crops, livestock, forests, and rangelands, while also putting workable mitigation strategies into place.
The core scientific and societal aim is to support program areas that push toward long-term outcomes tied to both efficiency and climate benefits. Those outcomes include reducing energy use in production systems, improving nitrogen efficiency (and thereby cutting losses that can drive nitrous oxide emissions and water quality problems), reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with agricultural and land management practices, and reducing water use while maintaining productivity. Another major emphasis is increasing carbon sequestration, meaning capturing and storing more carbon in soils and biomass through improved management, cropping systems, grazing strategies, agroforestry approaches, or other land stewardship practices that can be demonstrated and scaled.
AFRI frames this funding around integrated work rather than isolated research-only efforts. While the overall AFRI portfolio can support multiple project types, the eligibility note for this particular RFA indicates NIFA is only soliciting Integrated Projects under this announcement, reflecting an intent to strengthen linkages between research, education, and extension. That means strong proposals are expected to combine more than one of these components in a cohesive plan: generating new knowledge (research), building the next generation of expertise and tools (education), and delivering practical solutions through outreach and technical assistance (extension). The source description also notes that AFRI project types supported within this climate challenge area include multi-function Integrated Research, Education, and/or Extension Projects and Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants, with the integrated emphasis being especially important for this specific RFA.
Cost sharing or matching is required, which is a key planning consideration for applicants because it affects budgets, partner commitments, and documentation. The award ceiling listed is $10,000,000, signaling that the program can support large, multi-institution efforts when the scope and expected impact justify it. The funding activity categories span agriculture, education, environment, food and nutrition, natural resources, regional development, and science and technology, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of climate-related agricultural challenges and the expectation that projects may involve agronomy, animal science, soil science, hydrology, ecology, economics, decision support, risk management, and stakeholder engagement.
Eligibility is somewhat nuanced. The general eligible applicant list includes a wide range of organization types (including various nonprofit, for-profit, small business, individual, tribal organization, and higher education categories), but the RFA-specific eligibility statement narrows who can apply under this solicitation. It specifies eligible applicants include (1) colleges and universities, (2) 1994 Land-Grant Institutions, and (3) Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities. Because eligibility can differ by program area and because ineligible applications are not reviewed, the announcement strongly advises potential applicants to confirm eligibility with the relevant Program Area Contact if there is any uncertainty.
The timeline information shows this was a FY2012 competition with multiple deadlines across the fiscal year, rather than a single one-size-fits-all due date. The posting date is September 21, 2011, with an original closing date of December 16, 2011, and a listed current closing date of January 13, 2012, alongside the note that there are multiple deadline dates depending on program area. A major process requirement for FY2012 is that a Letter of Intent is required for submission of an application in all program areas, for all grant types except conference grants. This matters because the Letter of Intent functions as an early gate and planning step, and missing it can jeopardize the ability to submit a full application under the stated rules.
Overall, this grant opportunity is aimed at projects that do more than diagnose climate risks. It is structured to support integrated, practical, science-based efforts that produce measurable improvements in resource efficiency (energy, nitrogen, water), reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and increase carbon storage, while also translating results into education and extension activities that can be adopted in real-world agricultural and natural resource settings. For applicants, the most important takeaways are the integrated project expectation, the cost-share requirement, the potentially large award size for ambitious collaborations, and the procedural need to track the correct program-area deadline and submit a required Letter of Intent before the full application.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the official name of this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Agriculture and Natural Resources Science for Climate Variability and Change program.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NIFA AFRI 003537.
Which federal agency runs this program?
The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
Is this a discretionary grant program?
Yes. AFRI is described as a discretionary grant program run by USDA NIFA.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 10.310.
What national need is this opportunity designed to address?
The solicitation is built around the need to help U.S. agriculture and natural resource systems cope with climate variability and long-term climate change, while also reducing agriculture and land management contributions to greenhouse gas emissions.
What kinds of climate challenges does the solicitation focus on?
The opportunity highlights practical adaptation needs related to shifting precipitation patterns, more frequent extreme weather events, temperature changes, and related impacts on soils, water, crops, livestock, forests, and rangelands.
Is the program focused only on adaptation, or also on mitigation?
It is focused on both. The solicitation seeks projects that support adaptation to changing conditions and also put workable mitigation strategies into place to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
What long-term outcomes is AFRI trying to achieve through this program area?
The outcomes emphasized include improved efficiency and climate benefits, such as reducing energy use in production systems, improving nitrogen efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions tied to agricultural and land management practices, and reducing water use while maintaining productivity.
What does the program mean by improving nitrogen efficiency?
Based on the description provided, improving nitrogen efficiency is tied to reducing nitrogen losses that can contribute to nitrous oxide emissions and water quality problems.
What does the opportunity say about carbon sequestration?
A major emphasis is increasing carbon sequestration, described as capturing and storing more carbon in soils and biomass through improved management and land stewardship practices.
What kinds of approaches are mentioned for increasing carbon sequestration?
The solicitation references improved management, cropping systems, grazing strategies, agroforestry approaches, and other land stewardship practices that can be demonstrated and scaled.
Does this solicitation support research-only proposals?
No. The eligibility note for this specific RFA states that NIFA is only soliciting Integrated Projects under this announcement.
What is an Integrated Project in the context of this opportunity?
Integrated Projects are described as efforts that strengthen linkages between research, education, and extension. Strong proposals are expected to combine more than one component in a cohesive plan.
Which components can be included in an Integrated Project?
The components described are: research (generating new knowledge), education (building the next generation of expertise and tools), and extension (delivering practical solutions through outreach and technical assistance).
Does AFRI support FASE Grants under this climate challenge area?
Yes. The source description notes that project types supported within this climate challenge area include multi-function Integrated Research, Education, and/or Extension Projects and Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants, with an integrated emphasis being especially important for this specific RFA.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The opportunity states that cost sharing or matching is required, and it is flagged as a key planning consideration for budgets, partner commitments, and documentation.
What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount listed?
The award ceiling listed is $10,000,000.
Does the award ceiling suggest the program can fund large collaborations?
Yes. The description notes that the ceiling signals the program can support large, multi-institution efforts when the scope and expected impact justify it.
What funding activity categories are associated with this opportunity?
The categories listed include agriculture, education, environment, food and nutrition, natural resources, regional development, and science and technology.
What disciplines or areas of expertise might be relevant for proposed projects?
The description suggests projects may involve agronomy, animal science, soil science, hydrology, ecology, economics, decision support, risk management, and stakeholder engagement, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of climate-related agricultural challenges.
Who is generally eligible to apply?
The general eligible applicant list mentioned includes a wide range of organization types (including various nonprofit, for-profit, small business, individual, tribal organization, and higher education categories), but the solicitation also notes that eligibility is nuanced and may differ by program area.
Who is eligible to apply under the RFA-specific eligibility statement for this solicitation?
The RFA-specific eligibility statement narrows eligible applicants to: (1) colleges and universities, (2) 1994 Land-Grant Institutions, and (3) Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities.
What should an applicant do if they are unsure whether they are eligible?
The announcement strongly advises potential applicants to confirm eligibility with the relevant Program Area Contact if there is any uncertainty, noting that ineligible applications are not reviewed.
When was this opportunity posted?
The posting date listed is September 21, 2011.
What are the deadline dates for this opportunity?
The timeline indicates multiple deadlines depending on program area. The original closing date is listed as December 16, 2011, and the current closing date is listed as January 13, 2012, alongside a note that there are multiple deadline dates depending on program area.
Is a Letter of Intent (LOI) required?
Yes. For the FY2012 process, a Letter of Intent is required for submission of an application in all program areas, for all grant types except conference grants.
Are conference grants treated differently for the Letter of Intent requirement?
Yes. The description states that the Letter of Intent requirement applies to all grant types except conference grants.
Why is the Letter of Intent important for applicants?
The Letter of Intent is described as an early gate and planning step, and the opportunity notes that missing it can jeopardize the ability to submit a full application under the stated rules.
What are the most important planning takeaways highlighted in the opportunity description?
The description emphasizes the integrated project expectation, the cost-share requirement, the potentially large award size for ambitious collaborations, and the procedural need to track the correct program-area deadline and submit the required Letter of Intent before the full application.
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| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Agriculture and Natural Resources Science for Climate Variability and Change Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 003968 Funding Number: USDA NIFA AFRI 003968 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Environment Food and Nutrition Natural Resources Regional Development Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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