Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 004917

  • The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture food and nutrition health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Childhood Obesity Prevention 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 Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI).
  • This funding opportunity was created on May 21, 2015 and posted on Feb 18, 2015.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 26, 2015 The application due date for program area code A2151 ONLY has been extended to June 26, 2015.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • The funding agency has allocated a total of $6,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
  • Eligibility is described in Part III, A.
Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 004917

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Opportunity Summary:

The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Childhood Obesity Prevention Challenge Area is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) that targets what the announcement describes as the leading nutrition-related problem in the United States: childhood obesity. The program is framed around the idea that food and the broader food system are central drivers of obesity risk, and that USDA has a distinct role and responsibility because of its connection to agriculture, nutrition, and the U.S. food supply. In practical terms, the opportunity is meant to support work that can measurably contribute to preventing obesity and improving nutrition outcomes for children and adolescents.

The long-term outcome emphasized in the notice is a reduction in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among youth ages 2 through 19. Projects supported under this challenge area are expected to connect scientific knowledge with real-world implementation, not just describe the problem. To do that, the program funds multi-function, integrated projects that can combine research, education, and extension activities, meaning applicants can propose efforts that generate evidence, translate it into curricula or training, and deliver it through community-facing or practitioner-facing outreach. In addition to these integrated projects, the program also supports Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) grants, which are a category within AFRI often used to broaden participation and strengthen scientific capacity through targeted project types.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number USDA-NIFA-AFRI-004917 and falls under CFDA 10.310 (Agriculture and Food Research Initiative). The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity areas span agriculture, food and nutrition, and health. The estimated total funding amount listed is $6,000,000, and the announcement indicates there is a cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants should plan for required non-federal contributions consistent with the rules described in the full solicitation.

Key dates included a posted date of February 18, 2015, with an original closing date of April 23, 2015. The closing date was later extended to June 26, 2015 for program area code A2151 only, and the opportunity was archived on July 1, 2015. Eligibility is not fully specified in the excerpt and is instead described in Part III, A of the full announcement, with the listing showing "Others" and directing applicants to additional eligibility language for clarification. For help accessing the announcement, the notice provides the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, excluding federal holidays), and it notes that further contact guidance is available for questions about application content.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the AFRI Childhood Obesity Prevention Challenge Area?

It is a discretionary grant opportunity under the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) that focuses on preventing childhood obesity and improving nutrition outcomes for children and adolescents.

2. Which federal agency runs this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under AFRI.

3. Why is this program focused on childhood obesity?

The announcement describes childhood obesity as the leading nutrition-related problem in the United States and frames the food system as a central driver of obesity risk.

4. What long-term outcome is emphasized by the funding notice?

The notice emphasizes reducing the prevalence of overweight and obesity among youth ages 2 through 19.

5. What kinds of projects does this opportunity aim to support?

The program is intended to support work that can measurably contribute to preventing obesity and improving nutrition outcomes for children and adolescents, with an emphasis on connecting scientific knowledge to real-world implementation.

6. Does the program fund projects that only describe the problem?

The notice indicates projects are expected to go beyond describing the problem and instead connect scientific knowledge with real-world implementation.

7. What does it mean that projects can be "integrated" and "multi-function"?

Integrated, multi-function projects can combine research, education, and extension activities in a single proposal, such as generating evidence, translating findings into curricula or training, and delivering outreach to communities or practitioners.

8. Can an application include research, education, and extension all together?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly supports integrated projects that can combine research, education, and extension activities.

9. What are extension activities in the context of this opportunity?

Based on the notice description, extension activities include community-facing or practitioner-facing outreach intended to deliver knowledge, training, or practical implementation in real-world settings.

10. Are there other grant types included besides integrated projects?

Yes. The program also supports Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) grants, which are a category within AFRI often used to broaden participation and strengthen scientific capacity through targeted project types.

11. What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?

The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA-NIFA-AFRI-004917.

12. What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 10.310 (Agriculture and Food Research Initiative).

13. What is the funding instrument used for this opportunity?

The funding instrument is a grant.

14. What activity areas does this opportunity cover?

The activity areas span agriculture, food and nutrition, and health.

15. How much total funding was estimated for this opportunity?

The estimated total funding amount listed in the notice is $6,000,000.

16. Is cost sharing or matching required?

Yes. The announcement indicates there is a cost sharing or matching requirement, so applicants should plan for required non-federal contributions consistent with the rules in the full solicitation.

17. When was this opportunity posted?

The posted date shown is February 18, 2015.

18. What was the original closing date?

The original closing date listed was April 23, 2015.

19. Was the deadline extended?

Yes. The closing date was extended to June 26, 2015 for program area code A2151 only.

20. Does the extension apply to all program areas?

No. The notice states the extension to June 26, 2015 applied only to program area code A2151.

21. When was the opportunity archived?

The opportunity was archived on July 1, 2015.

22. Where can I find the detailed eligibility requirements?

The excerpt indicates eligibility is described in Part III, A of the full announcement. The listing shows "Others" and directs applicants to the full eligibility language for clarification.

23. Who should I contact for help accessing the announcement?

The notice provides the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 for assistance accessing the announcement.

24. What are the NIFA Help Desk hours listed in the notice?

The help desk hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, excluding federal holidays.

25. Who should I contact with questions about application content?

The notice indicates that further contact guidance is available for questions about application content, but the specific contacts are not included in the excerpt provided.

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