Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Food Security Challenge Area | Apply Online

AFRI Food Security Challenge Area (FY 2014) - FAQ

1) What is this grant opportunity?

This opportunity is the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Food Security Challenge Area grant program offered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It is a discretionary grant program focused in FY 2014 on a single central priority: reducing crop and livestock losses in U.S. agricultural systems.

2) What is the main FY 2014 priority for this AFRI Challenge Area?

The stated priority is to reduce crop and livestock losses across U.S. agricultural systems. The program emphasizes meaningful loss reduction both before harvest and after harvest.

3) What kinds of losses is the program especially concerned with?

The program highlights losses driven by diseases, insects, and weeds across crop and animal production systems. It also encourages applicants to consider losses throughout the broader food system beyond the farm stage.

4) Does the program focus only on pre-harvest losses, or post-harvest losses too?

Both. Proposals are expected to address loss reduction before harvest and after harvest. The scope can extend into harvesting, storage, processing, distribution, and even consumption stages.

5) What does "reduce losses without trading one problem for another" mean in this context?

The opportunity indicates that applicants should reduce losses while keeping product quality steady or improved and while maintaining or increasing overall production efficiency. In other words, loss reductions should not come at the expense of lower quality or reduced efficiency.

6) What kind of approach does NIFA expect from projects?

Projects are expected to use a sustainable, integrated management approach. Proposals should be built around multi-pronged strategies that can operate under real-world conditions, rather than relying on a single isolated tactic that only solves one part of the problem.

7) How broad is the scope of eligible topics across the food system?

The scope is intentionally broad. Applicants are encouraged to address losses end to end, including production, harvesting, storage, processing, distribution, and consumption. This reflects the view that food security is influenced both by on-farm outcomes and by post-harvest handling and supply chain losses.

8) Are social, economic, and behavioral factors relevant to this grant?

Yes. The announcement explicitly calls for attention to the social, economic, and behavioral dimensions of food security. This suggests competitive proposals may incorporate factors such as adoption barriers, incentives, decision-making by producers and supply chain actors, and practical cost-benefit considerations for implementing recommended practices.

9) Is this opportunity limited to research, or does it also support outreach and education?

The program is structured to support applied outcomes, including extension of new knowledge to stakeholders through outreach and education. It is not limited to generating research results only.

10) What project types does AFRI say it will support under this Challenge Area?

AFRI indicates it will support several project types within this Challenge Area, including:

• Multi-function Integrated Research, Education, and/or Extension Projects
• Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants
• Conferences and/or workshops

11) What is a multi-function Integrated Research, Education, and/or Extension Project in this context?

Based on the description provided, these projects can combine research with education and extension activities in coordinated efforts, with an emphasis on applied outcomes and engagement with stakeholders.

12) What are FASE Grants within this opportunity?

The opportunity states that FASE Grants are included as an eligible project type and that they can support smaller enhancement grants intended to strengthen scientific capacity.

13) Are conferences or workshops eligible for funding?

Yes. The program indicates it will support conferences and/or workshops. These may be used to help shape agendas, share findings, or accelerate collaboration across institutions and disciplines.

14) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?

The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NIFA AFRI 004417.

15) What CFDA number is associated with this grant?

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

16) When was the opportunity posted, and what were the key dates?

The posted date was January 10, 2014. The closing date was June 12, 2014. The archive date was July 12, 2014.

17) How much funding is available under this opportunity?

The estimated total funding amount is listed as $6,000,000.

18) What is the minimum and maximum award size?

The award ceiling is listed as $6,000,000 and the award floor is $0. This indicates award sizes may vary widely depending on the project type and program area.

19) Does this program require cost sharing or matching?

Yes. Cost sharing or matching is required. Applicants should be prepared to document and justify the matching resources expected by the specific program area and project type.

20) Is a Letter of Intent required before submitting a full application?

Yes. A required procedural step for all program areas in this Food Security Challenge Area is the submission of a Letter of Intent prior to submitting a full application.

21) Are Letter of Intent deadlines the same for everyone?

The information provided indicates that Letter of Intent deadlines are tied to each program area and are described in the full announcement. Applicants need to consult the full solicitation for the specific deadline that applies to their program area.

22) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is not summarized as a single blanket category in the provided information. Instead, eligibility is linked to the project type requested and the specific program area descriptions. Applicants should align their organizational status and project structure to the eligibility rules in the solicitation.

23) Where can applicants get help if they cannot access the full announcement?

For access issues with the full announcement, NIFA directs applicants to its Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during standard business hours.