Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 004156
Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 004156
- 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 Feb 13, 2013 and posted on Feb 8, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 11, 2013. (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.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $5,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Eligibility is described on page 14, Part III, A. of this RFA.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Childhood Obesity Prevention grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA AFRI 004156) was a discretionary USDA funding program administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA 10.310. It targeted one of the most pressing public health and nutrition challenges in the United States: reducing overweight and obesity among children and adolescents. The program framed childhood obesity as a societal challenge tied closely to the food system, emphasizing USDA's unique role and responsibility because of its connection to agriculture, food production, food access, nutrition education, and related policy and community systems. The stated long-term outcome was a measurable reduction in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among youth ages 2 through 19.
The opportunity supported projects designed to prevent childhood obesity by addressing how food environments, dietary patterns, and broader food-system factors contribute to weight gain and health outcomes. Rather than limiting proposals to clinical approaches, the program encouraged efforts that connect agricultural and food research with practical strategies that can be implemented in real-world settings such as schools, communities, and households. In practical terms, the focus aligned with developing, testing, and scaling interventions that can improve diet quality, food choices, and healthy behaviors among children and adolescents, while also considering the upstream factors that shape what foods are available, affordable, and appealing.
NIFA offered funding through two main mechanisms. First, the program supported multi-function integrated projects that combine research, education, and/or extension in a coordinated way. These integrated projects were intended to move beyond isolated studies by pairing scientific inquiry with outreach, training, and on-the-ground implementation so that findings translate into programs and practices that families, educators, and community partners can actually use. Second, it supported Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants, which are typically used within AFRI to broaden participation and strengthen the scientific workforce and institutional capacity in food and agricultural sciences, depending on the specific RFA details for that year.
From the funding details provided, the estimated total funding available was $5,000,000, with an award ceiling listed at $5,000,000 and an award floor of $0. The listing also indicates that cost sharing or matching was required, meaning applicants were expected to contribute non-federal resources or documented support consistent with the RFA rules. The opportunity was posted on February 8, 2013, with an application closing date of April 11, 2013, and it was archived on May 11, 2013, indicating it was tied to a specific competition cycle rather than an open, ongoing solicitation.
Eligibility was not fully specified in the summary text and was instead referenced as being defined in the Request for Applications (RFA), specifically on page 14, Part III, A. This suggests that eligibility likely included a set of institution types and applicant categories common to AFRI (often including universities, research institutions, and other eligible organizations), but the definitive requirements were contained in the official RFA. The listing notes "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," signaling that the program may have allowed applications from a broader range of organizations than a simple category label would capture.
For applicant support, NIFA provided a help desk contact for technical difficulties accessing the announcement, with phone support during standard business hours (202-401-5048). The listing also notes that additional contact information was available for questions related to preparing application content, implying that prospective applicants could get guidance on proposal preparation and compliance with program requirements, again as detailed in the full announcement.
Overall, this funding opportunity was built to promote coordinated, evidence-based solutions to childhood obesity prevention that leverage USDA's strengths in food and agriculture. By emphasizing integrated research, education, and extension, the program aimed to support projects that not only generate knowledge but also change practices and environments in ways that can sustainably improve nutrition and health outcomes for children and adolescents across the United States.
AFRI Childhood Obesity Prevention (USDA NIFA) Grant FAQs
What is the AFRI Childhood Obesity Prevention grant opportunity?
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Childhood Obesity Prevention opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA AFRI 004156) was a discretionary USDA funding program administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA 10.310. It focused on preventing overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in the United States.
What public health issue did this opportunity address?
The program targeted reducing overweight and obesity among children and adolescents, framed as a major public health and nutrition challenge with strong connections to the food system.
Who administered the program?
The program was administered by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) as part of AFRI.
What was the long-term outcome the program aimed to achieve?
The stated long-term outcome was a measurable reduction in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among youth ages 2 through 19.
What kinds of projects did the opportunity support?
The opportunity supported projects designed to prevent childhood obesity by addressing how food environments, dietary patterns, and broader food-system factors contribute to weight gain and health outcomes. It encouraged approaches that connect agricultural and food research with practical strategies that can be implemented in real-world settings such as schools, communities, and households.
Was the focus limited to clinical or medical interventions?
No. The program specifically encouraged efforts beyond clinical approaches, emphasizing food environment, dietary patterns, and food-system factors, along with practical interventions that can be implemented in everyday settings.
What real-world settings were emphasized for implementing solutions?
The summary highlights implementation in settings such as schools, communities, and households.
What upstream factors did the program want applicants to consider?
The program emphasized considering broader factors that shape what foods are available, affordable, and appealing, reflecting USDA's role in agriculture, food production, access, and nutrition education.
What funding mechanisms were available under this opportunity?
NIFA offered funding through two main mechanisms: (1) multi-function integrated projects that combine research, education, and/or extension in a coordinated way, and (2) Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants, which are used within AFRI to broaden participation and strengthen the scientific workforce and institutional capacity (as determined by the specific year’s RFA details).
What are multi-function integrated projects in this context?
Integrated projects were intended to coordinate research with education and/or extension so that findings translate into outreach, training, and on-the-ground implementation that families, educators, and community partners can use.
What are FASE Grants (as referenced here)?
FASE (Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement) Grants are described as an AFRI mechanism typically used to broaden participation and strengthen the scientific workforce and institutional capacity in food and agricultural sciences, depending on the RFA for that year.
How much total funding was estimated to be available?
The estimated total funding available was listed as $5,000,000.
What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling was listed as $5,000,000.
What was the minimum award amount (award floor)?
The award floor was listed as $0.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The listing indicates that cost sharing or matching was required, meaning applicants were expected to contribute non-federal resources or documented support consistent with the RFA rules.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on February 8, 2013, and the application closing date was April 11, 2013.
Is this grant opportunity still open?
No. It was archived on May 11, 2013, indicating it was tied to a specific competition cycle rather than an ongoing solicitation.
Where were the official eligibility requirements defined?
Eligibility was not fully specified in the summary and was referenced as being defined in the Request for Applications (RFA), specifically page 14, Part III, A.
Does the summary indicate who could apply?
The summary notes that eligibility details were in the RFA and includes a category label of "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," suggesting eligibility may have covered more than a single simple organization type, but the definitive requirements were in the RFA.
What role did USDA's food and agriculture mission play in this program?
The program emphasized USDA's unique role due to its connection to agriculture, food production, food access, nutrition education, and related policy and community systems, positioning childhood obesity prevention as closely tied to the food system.
Did NIFA provide any applicant support for technical issues?
Yes. A help desk contact was provided for technical difficulties accessing the announcement: 202-401-5048, with phone support during standard business hours.
Was there support for questions about application content?
The listing notes that additional contact information was available for questions related to preparing application content, as detailed in the full announcement.
What does it mean that the opportunity was part of AFRI?
Based on the summary, being part of AFRI meant the funding supported agriculture and food-related research approaches, including integrated projects and the potential use of FASE Grants, with an emphasis on translating research into practical outcomes via education and/or extension.
What age group was the program focused on?
The program’s targeted long-term outcome focused on youth ages 2 through 19.
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