Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 003968
Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 003968
- 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 15, 2012 and posted on Nov 15, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 15, 2013 In FY 2013, 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.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $5,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) For profit organizations other than small businesses Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Individuals Small businesses Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- Please see Part III, A for additional eligibility information.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Agriculture and Natural Resources Science for Climate Variability and Change grant opportunity (USDA NIFA AFRI 003968) is a discretionary, competitive grant program run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It is aimed at helping U.S. agriculture and natural resource systems respond to climate variability and long-term climate change by supporting work that both improves resilience (adaptation) and reduces climate impacts (mitigation). The core idea is to fund projects that help producers and land managers adjust practices and systems in ways that keep food and fiber production viable under changing conditions while also lowering greenhouse gas emissions and increasing carbon storage in soils and vegetation.
The program is organized around a “Challenge Area” that targets practical, system-level outcomes. The long-term outcomes emphasized in the announcement include reducing energy use, improving nitrogen use efficiency (and reducing nitrogen losses), reducing water use in the production of food, feed, fiber, and fuel, cutting greenhouse gas emissions associated with agricultural and natural resource practices, and increasing carbon sequestration across agroecosystems. In plain terms, NIFA is looking for work that can change management, technology, and decision-making so that agriculture uses fewer inputs per unit of production, wastes less, emits less, and stores more carbon, without losing productivity and profitability.
AFRI indicates support for more than one project style, including multi-function integrated projects that combine research with education and/or extension, as well as Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants. Integrated projects are meant to move beyond research alone by also training students or professionals and delivering knowledge and tools to end users through extension and outreach. FASE awards are generally intended to strengthen and broaden the research and education pipeline in food and agricultural sciences, often by supporting investigators or efforts that expand capacity and participation. Together, these project types signal that NIFA is interested not just in generating findings, but in building the workforce and getting climate-related practices and tools into real-world use.
Administratively, this opportunity falls under CFDA number 10.310 (Agriculture and Food Research Initiative). The total estimated funding listed for the opportunity is $5,000,000. A cost-sharing or matching requirement applies, meaning applicants should be prepared to document and justify required non-federal contributions according to the rules in the full solicitation. The opportunity was posted on November 15, 2012, with an original and current closing date of April 15, 2013, and an archive date of May 15, 2013, indicating it was a time-limited competition for that fiscal year cycle.
A key application requirement in FY 2013 was the mandatory submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI) for all program areas within this Challenge Area as a prerequisite to submitting a full application, with the exception of conference grant applications. The LOI requirement is important because it affects eligibility to proceed and typically helps the agency plan peer review and assess the volume and range of submissions. The announcement directs applicants to the solicitation instructions (Part IV, A) for how to prepare and submit the LOI.
Eligibility is broad and includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses, individuals, Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), and nonprofit organizations including both those with and without 501(c)(3) status (with the caveat that applicants should consult the full Part III, A eligibility section for details and any program-specific constraints). This wide eligibility suggests NIFA anticipated proposals from universities, research institutes, NGOs, private-sector innovators, and individual investigators, potentially in partnership, particularly for integrated research-extension-education efforts.
The funding activity categories listed for the opportunity span agriculture, education, environment, food and nutrition, natural resources, regional development, and science and technology/other research and development. That breadth reflects the cross-cutting nature of climate work in agriculture: strong proposals would typically connect biophysical science (soils, crops, livestock, water, ecosystems) with management and technology solutions, and often with human dimensions such as adoption, risk management, outreach, and training.
For assistance, NIFA provided a help desk contact for access issues (202-401-5048, business hours 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, excluding federal holidays) and indicated additional contacts were available for questions related to preparing application content. The full announcement, including the additional eligibility information, LOI formatting, and submission instructions, is referenced through the listed additional information link in the posting.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the AFRI Agriculture and Natural Resources Science for Climate Variability and Change opportunity?
It is a discretionary, competitive grant opportunity under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The specific opportunity referenced is USDA NIFA AFRI 003968, focused on climate variability and long-term climate change as they affect U.S. agriculture and natural resource systems.
What is the main purpose of this grant program?
The program is intended to help U.S. agriculture and natural resource systems respond to climate variability and climate change by supporting projects that improve resilience (adaptation) and reduce climate impacts (mitigation). The emphasis is on keeping food and fiber production viable under changing conditions while also lowering greenhouse gas emissions and increasing carbon storage in soils and vegetation.
What kinds of outcomes is NIFA looking for under this Challenge Area?
The long-term outcomes highlighted include: reducing energy use; improving nitrogen use efficiency and reducing nitrogen losses; reducing water use in producing food, feed, fiber, and fuel; cutting greenhouse gas emissions associated with agricultural and natural resource practices; and increasing carbon sequestration across agroecosystems.
Does the program focus only on research?
No. While research is a core component, the opportunity also supports integrated projects that combine research with education and/or extension. This signals an interest in both generating knowledge and ensuring it reaches end users through training, outreach, and tool delivery.
What are "integrated projects" in this program?
Integrated projects are multi-function projects designed to go beyond research alone by also including education and/or extension components. These projects are intended to train students or professionals and deliver usable information, practices, or tools to producers, land managers, and other end users through extension and outreach.
What are FASE Grants, as referenced in this opportunity?
Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants are referenced as another supported project style. They are generally intended to strengthen and broaden the research and education pipeline in food and agricultural sciences, often by supporting investigators or efforts that expand capacity and participation.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity falls under CFDA 10.310, which corresponds to the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI).
How much funding is estimated for this opportunity?
The total estimated funding listed for the opportunity is $5,000,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. A cost-sharing or matching requirement applies. Applicants are expected to be prepared to document and justify required non-federal contributions in line with the rules described in the full solicitation.
When was the opportunity posted, and what were the key dates?
The opportunity was posted on November 15, 2012. The original and current closing date was April 15, 2013. The archive date was May 15, 2013, indicating it was a time-limited competition for that fiscal year cycle.
Was a Letter of Intent (LOI) required?
Yes. For FY 2013, a Letter of Intent (LOI) was mandatory for all program areas within this Challenge Area as a prerequisite to submitting a full application, with the exception of conference grant applications.
Are conference grant applications subject to the LOI requirement?
No. The LOI requirement applied to all program areas within this Challenge Area except conference grant applications.
Why does the LOI requirement matter?
The LOI requirement matters because it affects whether an applicant can proceed to submit a full application. It also typically helps the agency plan peer review and anticipate the number and range of submissions.
Where are the LOI preparation and submission instructions located?
The announcement directs applicants to the solicitation instructions, specifically Part IV, A, for guidance on how to prepare and submit the LOI.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes: public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; for-profit organizations (including small businesses and for-profit organizations other than small businesses); individuals; Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); and nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status. Applicants are advised to consult the full Part III, A eligibility section for details and any program-specific constraints.
What kinds of organizations does this eligibility structure suggest NIFA expected to apply?
The wide eligibility suggests NIFA anticipated proposals from universities, research institutes, nonprofit organizations, private-sector innovators, and individual investigators, potentially in partnership, particularly for integrated research-extension-education efforts.
What funding activity categories are associated with this opportunity?
The listed funding activity categories span agriculture, education, environment, food and nutrition, natural resources, regional development, and science and technology/other research and development.
How does the program describe the type of work it wants to support?
The Challenge Area targets practical, system-level outcomes. In plain terms, NIFA is looking for projects that can change management, technology, and decision-making so that agriculture uses fewer inputs per unit of production, wastes less, emits less, and stores more carbon, without losing productivity and profitability.
What types of climate-related strategies are emphasized?
The opportunity emphasizes both adaptation and mitigation: improving resilience to climate variability and long-term change, and reducing agriculture-related climate impacts through reduced emissions and increased carbon sequestration in soils and vegetation.
What support contacts were provided for applicants?
NIFA provided a help desk contact for access issues at 202-401-5048, available during business hours (7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET), excluding federal holidays. The announcement also indicates there were additional contacts available for questions related to preparing application content.
Where can applicants find the full announcement details?
The posting references a full announcement via the listed additional information link. That full announcement is where applicants would find additional eligibility information, LOI formatting requirements, and submission instructions.
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