Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 004915
Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 004915
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Foundational Program" 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 20, 2015 and posted on Feb 18, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 30, 2015 A Letter of Intent (LOI) must be received by 500 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the deadline date indicated in the Program Area Descriptions section beginning in Part I.C (see Part IV A). Please note that a LOI is not required for conference grants. Applications must be received by 500 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date indicated in the Program Area Descriptions section beginning in Part 1.C.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $116,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Eligibility is linked to the project type. All project types are described beginning in Part II, C.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Foundational Program is a competitive grant opportunity run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to fund research that strengthens the core scientific knowledge needed to tackle both current and future challenges in agriculture, food, and related systems. The program is structured around six AFRI priority areas that cover the full pipeline from production through environmental impacts and community economics. Applicants are expected to propose projects that clearly fit within one of the specific Program Area Priorities described in the official Foundational Program Request for Applications (RFA), and the work should contribute to building foundational understanding that can be used to solve real-world problems over time.
The six priority areas supported under this opportunity are: 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 practice, that means NIFA is looking to fund work that can range from plant and animal biology and production systems, to food and human health connections, to conservation and energy topics, to engineering and technology solutions for agriculture, and to economic and community questions affecting rural places and agricultural markets.
The funding instrument is a discretionary grant under CFDA 10.310 (Agriculture and Food Research Initiative). The total estimated funding listed for this particular opportunity is $116,000,000. Cost sharing or matching is required, meaning applicants should plan for some level of non-federal contribution consistent with the rules laid out in the RFA and the specific project type they choose.
AFRI Foundational supports multiple project formats rather than a single one-size-fits-all structure. It includes single-function Research Projects focused primarily on research outcomes, and multi-function Integrated Projects that typically combine research with additional components such as education and/or extension to move results into practice. It also includes Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants, which are designed to strengthen participation and capacity in the food and agricultural sciences; the details of what qualifies and how these are structured are tied to the RFA and the project type descriptions.
Key submission logistics in the announcement emphasize timing and the Letter of Intent (LOI). A LOI must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date specified for the relevant Program Area (the deadlines are listed in the Program Area Descriptions section of the RFA). The LOI requirement does not apply to conference grants. Full applications must also be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the applicable Program Area deadline. For this archived posting, the original and current closing date is listed as September 30, 2015, with an archive date of October 30, 2015, indicating this specific funding notice reflects a past cycle rather than an open competition.
Eligibility is not summarized as a single blanket rule in the notice and is instead tied to the project type, with the detailed eligibility requirements described in the RFA beginning in the section that covers project types. The listing notes “Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification),” which is a signal that applicants need to confirm eligibility based on the specific mechanism they are applying under and the definitions NIFA uses for applicant organizations and roles.
For applicant support, NIFA provides a help desk contact for technical issues accessing the announcement and points applicants to program contacts for questions about application content. The NIFA Help Desk is reachable by phone at 202-401-5048 during standard federal business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays).
AFRI Foundational Program (USDA NIFA) FAQ
What is the AFRI Foundational Program?
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Foundational Program is a competitive USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) grant program that funds research intended to strengthen core scientific knowledge for agriculture, food, and related systems. The goal is to build foundational understanding that can be used to address both current and future real-world challenges over time.
Who runs this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI).
What kinds of projects is NIFA looking to fund under this program?
NIFA is looking for projects that clearly fit within one of the specific Program Area Priorities described in the official Foundational Program Request for Applications (RFA). Projects are expected to contribute to foundational knowledge that supports long-term solutions to practical problems in agriculture, food, and related systems.
What are the six AFRI priority areas?
The six priority areas supported under this opportunity are:
- 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
- Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities
Does my proposal need to align to a specific Program Area Priority?
Yes. Applicants are expected to propose projects that clearly fit within one of the specific Program Area Priorities described in the Foundational Program RFA, and the relevant deadlines are listed by Program Area in the RFA.
What is the CFDA number (assistance listing) for this grant?
The funding instrument is a discretionary grant under CFDA 10.310 (Agriculture and Food Research Initiative).
How much total funding is estimated for this opportunity?
The total estimated funding listed for this particular opportunity is $116,000,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. Cost sharing or matching is required, meaning applicants should plan for some level of non-federal contribution consistent with the rules laid out in the RFA and the specific project type they choose.
What project formats are supported (research vs. integrated, etc.)?
AFRI Foundational supports multiple project formats rather than a single structure. The opportunity includes:
- Single-function Research Projects focused primarily on research outcomes.
- Multi-function Integrated Projects that typically combine research with additional components such as education and/or extension to move results into practice.
- Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants intended to strengthen participation and capacity in the food and agricultural sciences, with eligibility and structure tied to the RFA and project type descriptions.
What are FASE Grants in the context of this program?
Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants are included under AFRI Foundational and are designed to strengthen participation and capacity in the food and agricultural sciences. What qualifies and how these grants are structured depends on the RFA and the project type descriptions.
Is a Letter of Intent (LOI) required?
Yes. A Letter of Intent (LOI) must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date specified for the relevant Program Area in the RFA.
Are there any exceptions to the LOI requirement?
Yes. The LOI requirement does not apply to conference grants.
When are LOIs due?
LOIs are due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date specified for the relevant Program Area. The deadlines are listed in the Program Area Descriptions section of the RFA.
When are full applications due?
Full applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the applicable Program Area deadline listed in the RFA.
Is this funding notice currently open?
No. This posting is archived. The original and current closing date listed is September 30, 2015, and the archive date is October 30, 2015, which indicates this specific funding notice reflects a past cycle rather than an open competition.
Where do I find the specific deadlines for my topic area?
The LOI and full application deadlines are listed by Program Area in the Program Area Descriptions section of the official Foundational Program RFA.
How is eligibility determined for applicants?
Eligibility is not summarized as a single blanket rule in the notice. Instead, eligibility is tied to the project type, and detailed eligibility requirements are described in the RFA beginning in the section that covers project types.
What does “Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)” mean?
It indicates that applicants need to confirm eligibility based on the specific mechanism they are applying under and the definitions NIFA uses for applicant organizations and roles, as described in the RFA.
Who can I contact for technical issues accessing the announcement?
NIFA provides a help desk for technical issues. The NIFA Help Desk can be reached at 202-401-5048 during standard federal business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays).
Who can I contact with questions about the application content?
Applicants are pointed to program contacts for questions about application content (as referenced in the announcement materials).
What time zone is used for the submission deadlines?
Both the LOI and the full application deadlines are specified as 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the relevant Program Area deadline date.
What general topic range can be supported across the priority areas?
Across the priority areas, NIFA indicates interest in work ranging from plant and animal biology and production systems, to food and human health connections, to conservation and energy topics, to engineering and technology solutions for agriculture, and to economic and community questions affecting rural places and agricultural markets.
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