Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 003542
Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 003542
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture education food and nutrition health regional development science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Food Security" 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 Nov 28, 2011 and posted on Sep 29, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 14, 2012 In FY 2012, all Program Areas within the Food Security Challenge Area require a Letter of Intent for submission of an application. For those programs requiring a Letter of Intent, a letter is required for all grant types except Planning/Coordination and Conference Grant applications. Refer to the Program Area Description beginning in Part I, C (page 6) to determine if a Letter of Intent is required for a specific Program Area. Refer to Part IV, A (page 30) for instructions on the preparation of a Letter of Intent.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $19,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Individuals Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Small businesses For profit organizations other than small businesses Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
- Eligibility is linked to the project type requested in Program Area Descriptions beginning in Part I, C (page 6). All project types are described beginning in Part II, C (page 21). Eligible institutions for single function Research, Education, or Extension Projects are described in paragraph #1 below. Eligible institutions for multi functional Integrated Projects are described in paragraph #2 below.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Food Security funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: USDA NIFA AFRI 003542) is a discretionary grant competition run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It is organized around the Food Security Challenge Area, which targets a broad societal goal: keeping American agriculture competitive while also contributing to the larger aim of ending world hunger. Within this challenge area, NIFA lays out specific program areas intended to drive a long-term outcome of increasing food availability and reducing the number of food-insecure individuals, reflecting a mix of agricultural productivity, food systems resilience, and human well-being priorities.
The opportunity supports multiple project structures under AFRI, allowing applicants to propose work that fits their capacity and the problem being addressed. Supported project types include single-function Extension Projects (focused primarily on delivering knowledge and practices to end users), and multi-function Integrated Projects that combine Research, Education, and/or Extension into one coordinated effort. It also includes Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants, which are AFRI mechanisms typically used to strengthen or broaden participation and build capacity in the food and agricultural sciences. The activity categories tied to this opportunity are wide-ranging, spanning agriculture, education, food and nutrition, health, regional development, and science and technology, indicating that proposals can be technical, community-facing, or systems-oriented as long as they align with the Food Security goals described in the RFA.
A notable administrative feature of this FY 2012 competition is the required Letter of Intent (LOI) for submitting an application across all program areas within the Food Security Challenge Area. The announcement specifies that, for programs requiring an LOI, it is required for all grant types except Planning/Coordination and Conference Grant applications. The RFA points applicants to the Program Area Descriptions (Part I, C) to confirm whether an LOI is required for a particular program area and to Part IV, A for instructions on preparing and submitting the LOI. The posted date is September 29, 2011, with the closing date listed as March 14, 2012, and an archive date of April 13, 2012, indicating this particular notice is a past cycle but still useful as a reference point for how NIFA structured the Food Security competition.
Funding is provided as a grant, with an award ceiling listed at $19,000,000. The opportunity also states that cost sharing or matching is required, meaning applicants should be prepared to document qualifying non-federal contributions consistent with the program rules. The CFDA number associated with this program is 10.310 (Agriculture and Food Research Initiative), which is the main federal assistance listing for AFRI.
Eligibility is broad in terms of organization type, but it is explicitly tied to the project type selected and the detailed eligibility language in the RFA. Eligible applicants include individuals; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); small businesses; and for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses), plus other entities as described in the RFA text. The announcement emphasizes that eligibility differs depending on whether the applicant is proposing a single-function Research, Education, or Extension project versus a multi-function Integrated project, and it directs applicants to the relevant sections of the RFA (Program Area Descriptions in Part I, C and project type descriptions in Part II, C) for the exact rules.
For assistance, NIFA provides a help desk contact for access issues with the full announcement (NIFA Help Desk, 202-401-5048, business hours Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, excluding federal holidays). The notice also indicates there are contacts for questions related to preparing application content, reinforcing that applicants are expected to follow the detailed RFA instructions closely, especially around the LOI requirement, project type selection, and eligibility constraints.
FAQs: AFRI Food Security (USDA NIFA) - Funding Opportunity USDA NIFA AFRI 003542
What is this funding opportunity?
This is the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Food Security funding opportunity administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It is a discretionary grant competition associated with the AFRI program (CFDA 10.310) and is organized under NIFA's Food Security Challenge Area.
What is the main goal of the Food Security Challenge Area?
The Food Security Challenge Area is aimed at keeping American agriculture competitive while also contributing to the broader goal of ending world hunger. Within this challenge area, the program is structured to support a long-term outcome of increasing food availability and reducing the number of food-insecure individuals.
What kinds of outcomes or impacts is NIFA looking for?
Based on the description provided, NIFA is targeting outcomes that support food availability and reductions in food insecurity. The emphasis reflects a mix of priorities including agricultural productivity, food systems resilience, and human well-being.
What types of projects can be funded under this opportunity?
The opportunity supports multiple AFRI project structures, including:
- Single-function Extension Projects (primarily focused on delivering knowledge and practices to end users).
- Multi-function Integrated Projects that combine two or more of Research, Education, and Extension in one coordinated effort.
- Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants, which are AFRI mechanisms typically used to strengthen or broaden participation and build capacity in the food and agricultural sciences.
What is the difference between an Extension Project and an Integrated Project?
An Extension Project is described as single-function and focused primarily on delivering knowledge and practices to end users. An Integrated Project is multi-function and combines Research, Education, and/or Extension into one coordinated project.
What are FASE Grants in the context of AFRI?
FASE (Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement) Grants are AFRI mechanisms typically intended to strengthen or broaden participation and build capacity in the food and agricultural sciences.
What activity categories does this opportunity cover?
The activity categories described as tied to this opportunity are wide-ranging and include agriculture, education, food and nutrition, health, regional development, and science and technology. The scope suggests proposals may be technical, community-facing, or systems-oriented, as long as they align with the Food Security goals described in the RFA.
Is a Letter of Intent (LOI) required?
Yes. A notable administrative feature of this FY 2012 competition is a required Letter of Intent (LOI) for submitting an application across all program areas within the Food Security Challenge Area. However, the notice also states that the LOI requirement applies for programs requiring an LOI and is required for all grant types except Planning/Coordination and Conference Grant applications.
Are there any exceptions to the LOI requirement?
Yes. The announcement specifies that, for programs requiring an LOI, it is required for all grant types except Planning/Coordination and Conference Grant applications.
Where do applicants confirm whether an LOI is required for their specific program area?
The notice directs applicants to the Program Area Descriptions (Part I, C) of the RFA to confirm whether an LOI is required for a particular program area.
Where are the instructions for preparing and submitting the LOI?
The notice points applicants to Part IV, A of the RFA for instructions on preparing and submitting the LOI.
When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?
The posted date is September 29, 2011. The closing date is March 14, 2012. The archive date is April 13, 2012.
Is this an active funding opportunity?
The dates provided indicate this particular notice is from a past cycle (FY 2012) and has been archived. The description notes it can still be useful as a reference point for how NIFA structured the Food Security competition.
What is the type of funding instrument?
The opportunity provides funding as a grant.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $19,000,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The opportunity states that cost sharing or matching is required, so applicants should be prepared to document qualifying non-federal contributions consistent with program rules.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number associated with AFRI is 10.310 (Agriculture and Food Research Initiative).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as broad, but it is explicitly tied to the project type selected and to the detailed eligibility language in the RFA. The notice lists eligible applicants as including:
- Individuals
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)
- Small businesses
- For-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses)
- Other entities as described in the RFA text
Does eligibility depend on the type of project being proposed?
Yes. The announcement emphasizes that eligibility differs depending on whether an applicant is proposing a single-function Research, Education, or Extension project versus a multi-function Integrated project, and it directs applicants to the RFA for exact eligibility rules.
Where can applicants find the detailed eligibility requirements?
The notice directs applicants to:
- Part I, C (Program Area Descriptions) of the RFA
- Part II, C (Project type descriptions) of the RFA
Who can applicants contact if they cannot access the full announcement?
For access issues, the notice lists the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048, available Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET (excluding federal holidays).
Is there support for questions about preparing the application content?
Yes. The notice indicates there are contacts for questions related to preparing application content and emphasizes that applicants are expected to follow the detailed RFA instructions closely, especially regarding the LOI requirement, project type selection, and eligibility constraints.
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| Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Food Security Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 004192 Funding Number: USDA NIFA AFRI 004192 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Food and Nutrition Health Regional Development Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Global Food Security Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 003041 Funding Number: USDA NIFA AFRI 003041 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Food and Nutrition Health Regional Development Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
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