Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 004875
Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 004875
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Food Security 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 Feb 13, 2015 and posted on Jan 30, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 4, 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 $16,800,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $4,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Individuals Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Small businesses Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) For profit organizations other than small businesses Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
- Please review Part III, A for more specific eligibility requirements.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Food Security Challenge Area (Funding Opportunity Number: USDA NIFA AFRI 004875) was a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to support projects that strengthen U.S. food security through improved agricultural production. For FY 2015, the program focused on research, education, and extension efforts that help create plant and animal production systems that are more sustainable over the long term, more productive in terms of output, and more economically viable for producers and rural communities. A major theme is practical, regionally relevant innovation: helping farming and livestock systems perform better in real-world conditions, while also supporting resilience and the ability of different regions to meet food needs more reliably.
The opportunity emphasized advancing agricultural production in ways that improve food security at both regional and national scales. That includes investments aimed at upgrading production practices and systems (not just single technologies), promoting diversification in agricultural production, and developing crop cultivars and livestock breeds that are adapted to specific regions. The intent behind regionally adapted cultivars and breeds is to improve performance under local climate, soils, disease and pest pressures, and management realities, which can make production more dependable and reduce losses. At the same time, the program tied these scientific and technical goals to rural economic development by encouraging innovations that can improve profitability, stability, and competitiveness for agricultural producers and related industries.
This funding opportunity used the grant instrument type and fell under the agriculture funding activity category, with CFDA number 10.310 (Agriculture and Food Research Initiative). Cost sharing or matching was required, meaning applicants needed to contribute non-federal resources as defined in the full program guidance, and prospective applicants were directed to review Part III, A of the announcement for the detailed eligibility and cost-share rules. The estimated total funding available was $16,800,000, with an award ceiling of $4,000,000 and no specified award floor, which implies awards could vary widely in size depending on the project scope and the program's selections.
Eligibility was broad and included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits that are not institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profit entities that are not small businesses), individuals, and other eligible entities as further clarified in the full announcement. This range of eligible applicants reflects AFRI's typical approach of encouraging participation from universities, research organizations, industry, and other stakeholders who can translate research into practice through education and extension.
Key dates show this was a time-limited, archived opportunity for FY 2015. It was posted on January 30, 2015, created on February 13, 2015, and closed on June 4, 2015, with an archive date of June 5, 2015. Applicants needing help accessing the full announcement were directed to the NIFA Help Desk (202-401-5048) during standard business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays). The announcement also indicated there was a contact point for questions related to preparing application content, with details provided in the full notice.
AFRI Food Security Challenge Area (USDA NIFA AFRI 004875, FY 2015) - FAQs
What is the AFRI Food Security Challenge Area funding opportunity?
It is a discretionary grant opportunity under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). This particular opportunity is identified as the AFRI Food Security Challenge Area, Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA AFRI 004875 (FY 2015).
What is the main goal of this program?
The goal is to strengthen U.S. food security through improved agricultural production. For FY 2015, the program emphasized efforts that help plant and animal production systems become more sustainable long-term, more productive in output, and more economically viable for producers and rural communities.
What kinds of projects were supported (research, education, extension)?
The opportunity focused on research, education, and extension efforts. Projects were expected to produce practical, regionally relevant innovations that improve real-world performance of farming and livestock systems and support resilience so regions can meet food needs more reliably.
What does "food security" mean in the context of this opportunity?
In this notice, food security is tied to improving agricultural production systems at regional and national scales so production is more dependable, resilient, and better able to meet food needs. The emphasis is on strengthening production systems and reducing losses through regionally relevant improvements.
What were the major focus areas for FY 2015?
The FY 2015 emphasis areas included improving the sustainability of production systems over the long term, increasing productivity, and improving economic viability for producers and rural communities. The program highlighted practical innovation that works under real-world regional conditions.
What does "practical, regionally relevant innovation" mean here?
It refers to innovations designed to help farming and livestock systems perform better under real-world conditions in specific regions, rather than solutions that only work in controlled settings. It also includes supporting resilience and regional capacity to meet food needs more reliably.
Did the opportunity emphasize whole production systems or single technologies?
It emphasized upgrading production practices and systems, not just single technologies. The intent was to improve how agricultural production functions as a system in the field, including management realities and region-specific constraints.
Was diversification in agricultural production encouraged?
Yes. The opportunity included investments aimed at promoting diversification in agricultural production as part of strengthening food security.
Were regionally adapted crops and livestock a key theme?
Yes. The opportunity encouraged development of crop cultivars and livestock breeds adapted to specific regions, aiming for better performance under local climate, soils, disease and pest pressures, and on-the-ground management realities.
Why does the program emphasize regionally adapted cultivars and breeds?
The stated intent is to improve performance under local conditions, make production more dependable, and reduce losses. Matching cultivars and breeds to regional challenges can improve resilience and reliability in agricultural output.
How did the program connect agricultural innovation to rural economic development?
Alongside scientific and technical goals, the opportunity encouraged innovations that could improve profitability, stability, and competitiveness for agricultural producers and related industries, supporting rural communities economically.
What agency administered this grant program?
The program was run by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
What type of funding instrument was used?
The opportunity used the grant instrument type.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number listed is 10.310 (Agriculture and Food Research Initiative).
Was cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. Cost sharing or matching was required, meaning applicants needed to contribute non-federal resources as defined in the full program guidance. The announcement directed applicants to review Part III, A for detailed eligibility and cost-share rules.
Where were the detailed eligibility and cost-share rules located?
The notice pointed prospective applicants to Part III, A of the full announcement for detailed eligibility and cost-share requirements.
How much total funding was estimated to be available?
The estimated total funding available was $16,800,000.
What was the maximum award size (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling was $4,000,000.
Was there a minimum award amount (award floor)?
No award floor was specified. This implies awards could vary widely in size depending on scope and program selections.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad and included: public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits that are not institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profit entities that are not small businesses); individuals; and other eligible entities as further clarified in the full announcement.
Why was eligibility so broad?
The description reflects AFRI's typical approach of encouraging participation from universities, research organizations, industry, and other stakeholders who can translate research into practice through education and extension.
When was this funding opportunity posted and created?
It was posted on January 30, 2015, and created on February 13, 2015.
When did the opportunity close?
The closing date was June 4, 2015.
Is this opportunity still open?
No. It was a time-limited FY 2015 opportunity and is archived. The archive date listed is June 5, 2015.
Where could applicants get help accessing the full announcement?
Applicants were directed to the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 for help accessing the full announcement.
What were the NIFA Help Desk hours?
The help desk hours were Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.
Was there a contact for questions about preparing application content?
Yes. The announcement indicated there was a contact point for questions related to preparing application content, with details provided in the full notice.
What broad topic area did this opportunity fall under?
It fell under the agriculture funding activity category.
At what scale did the program aim to improve food security?
The opportunity emphasized improving food security at both regional and national scales by advancing agricultural production in ways that strengthen reliability, resilience, and performance across different regions.
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