Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA OP 004526
Apply for USDA NIFA OP 004526
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Critical Agricultural Materials" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.200 Grants for Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 1, 2014 and posted on May 1, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 27, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Applications may only be submitted by any person, or public or private agency or organization.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Critical Agricultural Materials grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA OP 004526) was a discretionary, competitive grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA 10.200 (Grants for Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants). It was designed to move certain bio-based industrial materials closer to real-world use by funding practical work that goes beyond early research and instead focuses on product development, demonstration, and validation of performance in operational field conditions. In other words, the program was aimed at proving that specific products made from U.S.-grown agricultural feedstocks can reliably perform in demanding settings where industry and government would actually deploy them.
The technical focus of the program was fairly specific: paints, coatings, and adhesives used for composite materials, where those chemical products are manufactured from domestically produced agricultural materials. The emphasis on composites and related bonding/coating systems signals an interest in materials that are foundational to manufacturing sectors such as construction, transportation, and other industrial supply chains where durability, adhesion, and environmental resistance matter. A central priority was to support materials considered strategically and industrially important, with the stated intent of benefiting the national economy, defense readiness, and the general well-being of the country.
A key motivation behind the program was substitution: many of the targeted products can replace petroleum-based counterparts. By helping agricultural-material-based paints, coatings, and adhesives demonstrate credible field performance, the program aimed to reduce reliance on petroleum inputs and strengthen domestic supply options. The announcement also framed this as an economic development opportunity, pointing to the potential for new businesses and new markets that use agricultural materials as feedstocks. That indicates interest not only in technical feasibility, but also in translation into manufacturing, commercialization pathways, and broader market adoption where U.S. agriculture can supply industrial demand.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity listed an estimated total funding amount of $1,000,000 and did not require cost sharing or matching. The opportunity was posted and created on May 1, 2014, with an original and final closing date of June 27, 2014, and an archive date of July 27, 2014. Eligibility was broad in stated terms: applications could be submitted by any person, or by a public or private agency or organization, with the listing noting that additional eligibility clarification existed in an "Additional Information on Eligibility" section of the full announcement. For access issues, the notice provided a NIFA Help Desk contact number (202-401-5048) during standard weekday business hours, and it indicated there was also support for questions related to preparing application content.
Critical Agricultural Materials Grant (USDA NIFA) FAQs
What is the Critical Agricultural Materials grant opportunity?
The Critical Agricultural Materials grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA OP 004526) was a discretionary, competitive grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA 10.200 (Grants for Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants).
What was the main goal of this grant program?
The program was designed to move certain bio-based industrial materials closer to real-world use. It focused on practical work beyond early research, emphasizing product development, demonstration, and validation of performance in operational field conditions.
What types of projects did the program emphasize?
Projects were expected to demonstrate that specific products made from U.S.-grown agricultural feedstocks can reliably perform in demanding settings where industry and government would actually deploy them. The emphasis was on demonstrating credible field performance rather than conducting basic or early-stage research.
What technical areas did the funding opportunity target?
The technical focus was specific: paints, coatings, and adhesives used for composite materials, where those chemical products are manufactured from domestically produced agricultural materials.
Why did the program focus on paints, coatings, and adhesives for composites?
The emphasis on composites and related bonding/coating systems signals interest in materials foundational to manufacturing sectors such as construction and transportation, where durability, adhesion, and environmental resistance are critical for performance in real operating environments.
What does "domestically produced agricultural materials" mean in this context?
In this opportunity, it referred to agricultural feedstocks grown in the United States and used as inputs to manufacture the targeted paints, coatings, and adhesives.
What did the program mean by validating performance in "operational field conditions"?
It meant demonstrating and validating product performance under real-world, practical conditions that reflect how industry and government would actually use and deploy the materials, rather than limiting evaluation to laboratory or early research settings.
Was the program aimed at replacing petroleum-based materials?
Yes. A key motivation described in the opportunity was substitution: many targeted products could replace petroleum-based counterparts. Demonstrating reliable field performance was intended to help reduce reliance on petroleum inputs and strengthen domestic supply options.
How did the program describe the broader national importance of these materials?
The opportunity stated an intent to support materials considered strategically and industrially important, with the goal of benefiting the national economy, defense readiness, and the general well-being of the country.
Did the program include an economic development or commercialization angle?
Yes. The announcement framed the effort as an economic development opportunity, noting potential for new businesses and new markets that use agricultural materials as feedstocks. This suggests interest in translation toward manufacturing, commercialization pathways, and broader market adoption.
What agency administered the program?
The program was administered by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
What was the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity was listed under CFDA 10.200 (Grants for Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants).
Was this a competitive grant?
Yes. It was described as a discretionary, competitive grant program.
How much total funding was estimated to be available?
The opportunity listed an estimated total funding amount of $1,000,000.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity stated that cost sharing or matching was not required.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was described broadly: applications could be submitted by any person, or by a public or private agency or organization. The listing also noted that additional eligibility clarification was available in an "Additional Information on Eligibility" section of the full announcement.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted and created on May 1, 2014.
What was the application deadline?
The original and final closing date was June 27, 2014.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date was July 27, 2014.
Where could applicants get help with access issues?
The notice provided a NIFA Help Desk phone number for access issues: 202-401-5048, available during standard weekday business hours.
Was there support available for application preparation questions?
Yes. The opportunity indicated there was also support for questions related to preparing application content.
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