Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 003037
Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 003037
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture education food and nutrition health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Childhood Obesity Prevention" 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 Mar 30, 2010 and posted on Mar 22, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 3, 2010 Aug 03, 2010 This program has multiple deadline dates occurring throughout FY 2010. Please refer to the current Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Childhood Obesity Prevention Request for Applications for a complete list of program deadlines. Applications must be received by the date appropriate to the Program Area listed in the FY 2010 Request for Applications.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $25,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $25,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 28 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: For profit organizations other than small businesses Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Small businesses Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Individuals Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative makes awards under two legislative authorities with different eligibilities. Depending on Program Area Priorities and Project Type, the authority used and hence eligibility, may be different within a particular Program. Please check the Program Area Descriptions (beginning in Part I, C) and the Eligibility Information section (Part III, A) for specific information. Note restrictions that apply to integrated applicants. If you are unsure of your eligibility contact the Program Area Contact listed 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) Childhood Obesity Prevention grant opportunity is a competitive funding program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). AFRI is NIFA's flagship competitive grants program, created under Section 7406 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill). The overall AFRI program is designed to support high-impact research, education, and extension projects across agriculture and food systems, and in FY 2010 it organized funding through multiple Requests for Applications (RFAs), including one specifically focused on the societal challenge area of childhood obesity prevention. The intent behind this particular RFA is to back projects that can produce significant and measurable outcomes related to preventing childhood obesity, while still aligning with AFRI's broader mission in agriculture, food, and health.
This opportunity sits within AFRI's larger structure, which funds work across six priority areas: plant health and production and plant products; animal health and production and animal products; food safety, nutrition, and health; renewable energy, natural resources, and environment; agriculture systems and technology; and agriculture economics and rural communities. In FY 2010, AFRI issued seven RFAs total. One RFA supported research projects spanning those six core priority areas, while five additional RFAs targeted major societal challenge areas: Childhood Obesity Prevention, Climate Change, Food Safety, Global Food Security, and Sustainable Bioenergy. The childhood obesity prevention RFA, specifically, is part of that challenge-area set and emphasizes projects that blend or leverage research, education, and extension activities to move beyond theory and toward practical, measurable improvements.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant program (not a formula allocation), and awards are made as grants under CFDA 10.310 (Agriculture and Food Research Initiative). The estimated total funding amount listed for this opportunity is $25,000,000, and the listing anticipates approximately 28 awards. The award ceiling is shown as $25,000,000 and the award floor as $0, which typically signals that the exact award sizes can vary widely by project type and program area within the RFA, and that applicants need to rely on the RFA's program area descriptions for the most realistic expectations about budget ranges. A cost sharing or matching requirement applies, meaning applicants should be prepared for some level of non-federal contribution, although the specific rules can vary by program area and legislative authority used.
Eligibility is broad, but not uniform across every program area because AFRI makes awards under two different legislative authorities with different eligibility rules. As a result, the correct answer to "Am I eligible?" depends on the program area priorities and project type selected within the childhood obesity prevention RFA. The eligible applicant categories listed include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses), small businesses, nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) entities), Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), individuals, and other entities as described in the full announcement. NIFA notes that restrictions can apply to integrated projects (typically projects that combine research, education, and extension), and it explicitly warns that applications from ineligible institutions will not be reviewed. Because of that, applicants are expected to confirm eligibility by checking the program area descriptions and the eligibility section of the RFA, and to contact the program area contact if there is any uncertainty.
Timing and deadlines for FY 2010 are a little more complex than a single due date. While the opportunity shows an original and current closing date of August 3, 2010, it also states that there are multiple deadline dates occurring throughout FY 2010, and that applications must be received by the deadline associated with the specific program area identified in the FY 2010 RFA. In other words, the posted closing date functions more like a general marker for the funding cycle, while the real controlling deadline depends on which sub-area or program area the applicant targets within the childhood obesity prevention announcement. The posting date for the opportunity is March 22, 2010, with a creation date of March 30, 2010, and an archive date of September 2, 2010.
In practical terms, an applicant reading this listing should take away a few key points. First, this is a sizable, nationally competitive program aimed at producing real-world progress on childhood obesity prevention through the tools NIFA commonly funds: research, education, and extension, potentially in integrated combinations. Second, although the listing provides top-level funding figures and broad eligibility categories, the details that determine fit, competitiveness, allowable project structures, budget expectations, matching requirements, and exact deadlines are all embedded in the official AFRI Childhood Obesity Prevention Request for Applications. Finally, because eligibility can shift depending on which legislative authority governs a particular program area, the safest approach is to identify the exact program area within the RFA first and then confirm eligibility and requirements before investing heavily in proposal development.
For applicants who need help accessing the full announcement, NIFA provides technical assistance through the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Time). The primary reference document for all specifics is the "Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Childhood Obesity Prevention Request for Applications" linked in the opportunity materials.
AFRI Childhood Obesity Prevention (NIFA) Grant Opportunity FAQs
What is the AFRI Childhood Obesity Prevention grant opportunity?
The AFRI Childhood Obesity Prevention opportunity is a competitive discretionary grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It is part of the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), NIFA's flagship competitive grants program.
Which agency runs this program?
The program is run by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under the broader AFRI program.
What is AFRI, and what law created it?
AFRI is NIFA's flagship competitive grants program. It was created under Section 7406 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill).
What is the purpose of the Childhood Obesity Prevention RFA?
The intent of this Request for Applications (RFA) is to support projects that can produce significant and measurable outcomes related to preventing childhood obesity, while still aligning with AFRI's broader mission connecting agriculture, food systems, and health.
Is this a formula grant or a competitive grant?
This is a competitive discretionary grant program, not a formula allocation.
What types of activities does this RFA emphasize?
The RFA emphasizes projects that use AFRI-supported approaches such as research, education, and extension. It particularly highlights efforts that blend or leverage these components (including integrated projects) to move beyond theory and toward practical, measurable improvements.
How does this RFA fit into AFRI's overall structure?
This RFA is one of several FY 2010 AFRI Requests for Applications. AFRI funds projects across six priority areas, and in FY 2010 it also included RFAs focused on major societal challenge areas, including Childhood Obesity Prevention.
What are AFRI's six priority areas mentioned in the listing?
The six priority areas are: (1) plant health and production and plant products; (2) animal health and production and animal products; (3) food safety, nutrition, and health; (4) renewable energy, natural resources, and environment; (5) agriculture systems and technology; and (6) agriculture economics and rural communities.
How many RFAs were issued under AFRI in FY 2010, and what were the societal challenge areas?
In FY 2010, AFRI issued seven RFAs total. In addition to an RFA supporting research across the six core priority areas, five RFAs targeted societal challenge areas: Childhood Obesity Prevention, Climate Change, Food Safety, Global Food Security, and Sustainable Bioenergy.
What is the CFDA number for this grant program?
Awards are made under CFDA 10.310 (Agriculture and Food Research Initiative).
How much total funding is estimated for this opportunity?
The estimated total funding amount listed is $25,000,000.
About how many awards does the listing anticipate?
The listing anticipates approximately 28 awards.
What are the award ceiling and award floor shown in the listing?
The award ceiling is shown as $25,000,000 and the award floor is shown as $0.
What do the listed award ceiling and floor mean for applicants?
The listing notes that award sizes can vary widely by project type and program area within the RFA. Applicants are expected to rely on the RFA's program area descriptions for realistic expectations about budget ranges.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. A cost sharing or matching requirement applies, meaning applicants should be prepared for some level of non-federal contribution. The listing also notes that the specific rules can vary by program area and by the legislative authority used.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad but depends on the program area and project type. Eligible applicant categories listed include: public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses), small businesses, nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) entities), Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), individuals, and other entities as described in the full announcement.
Why does eligibility depend on the program area?
AFRI makes awards under two different legislative authorities that have different eligibility rules. Because of this, whether an applicant is eligible can vary based on the specific program area priorities and the project type selected within the RFA.
Are there special restrictions for integrated projects?
Yes. The listing notes that restrictions can apply to integrated projects (typically projects that combine research, education, and extension). Applicants should confirm requirements in the program area descriptions and the eligibility section of the RFA.
Will applications from ineligible organizations be reviewed?
No. NIFA explicitly warns that applications from ineligible institutions will not be reviewed.
How can applicants confirm whether they are eligible?
Applicants should first identify the specific program area within the AFRI Childhood Obesity Prevention RFA, then check the eligibility section and program area descriptions. If there is uncertainty, the listing advises contacting the program area contact.
What is the deadline to apply?
The listing shows an original and current closing date of August 3, 2010. However, it also states that there are multiple deadline dates throughout FY 2010, and that applications must be received by the deadline associated with the specific program area in the FY 2010 RFA.
Does the posted closing date control the deadline for all applications?
Not necessarily. The listing explains that the real controlling deadline depends on the specific sub-area or program area an applicant targets within the childhood obesity prevention announcement.
When was this opportunity posted and archived?
The posting date is March 22, 2010, the creation date is March 30, 2010, and the archive date is September 2, 2010.
Where are the detailed requirements (budget expectations, project structures, matching rules, and exact deadlines) described?
The listing indicates that the determining details are contained in the official "Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Childhood Obesity Prevention Request for Applications" document linked in the opportunity materials.
What are the main takeaways for someone deciding whether to apply?
The listing highlights that this is a nationally competitive program intended to drive real-world progress on childhood obesity prevention through research, education, extension, and potentially integrated combinations. It also emphasizes that applicants should identify the specific program area first, then confirm eligibility, requirements, and deadlines in the RFA before investing heavily in proposal development.
Who can help if an applicant has trouble accessing the full announcement?
NIFA provides technical assistance through the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Time).
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