Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0017826
Apply for DFOP0017826
- The Office of Global Food Security in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Feed the Future Innovation Labs" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.017.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-03-10.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-04-09. (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 $40,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Feed the Future Innovation Labs opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DFOP0017826) is a discretionary U.S. Department of State funding announcement issued through the Office of Global Food Security. It will make awards using a cooperative agreement, which typically means the government expects to stay substantively involved during implementation (for example, through collaboration on technical direction, coordination, or oversight) rather than operating as a hands-off grantmaker. The program sits in the agriculture funding activity category (CFDA 19.017) and is framed around advancing global food security in ways that align with U.S. policy priorities.
At its core, the opportunity is asking for targeted research proposals that clearly support at least one of two main objectives. The first objective focuses on the supply side of food security: advancing agricultural science and research to raise productivity, reduce or manage threats to production systems (such as pests, disease, climate stresses, or other shocks), and strengthen food systems so that hunger and malnutrition decline because more nutritious and safe foods are available. In practical terms, this could include research that improves yields, strengthens resilience, improves post-harvest handling or storage, enhances food safety, or otherwise increases reliable access to nutrient-rich foods.
The second objective emphasizes the demand side and enabling environment: increasing demand for nutritious, safe foods at the individual and household level as part of healthier diets, while also improving market pathways and opportunities for both government and private sector actors to promote consumption of those foods. This objective is about moving beyond production alone by addressing dietary choices, behavior, affordability, availability through markets, and the systems that connect producers to consumers. It can include research that helps make nutritious foods more desirable, accessible, and consistently present in markets, as well as work that supports public and private efforts to expand and normalize healthier consumption patterns.
Eligibility is restricted and very specific. Only eligible U.S. colleges and universities, as defined under Section 296(d) of Title XII of the Foreign Assistance Act (as amended), may submit applications. In other words, this is not an open competition for all nonprofits, companies, or international institutions; it is aimed at a defined set of U.S. higher education institutions that meet the statutory Title XII criteria. The announcement also notes that applicants should consult the Statement of Interest for additional details, implying there are likely further parameters on themes, expectations, or submission requirements beyond the brief description provided.
In terms of scale and timing, the opportunity anticipates making about seven awards, with an award ceiling of up to $40,000,000. The original closing date is April 9, 2026, and the opportunity was created on March 10, 2026. Overall, this solicitation is positioned as a major research investment vehicle under Feed the Future, designed to generate practical, policy-aligned evidence and innovations that either strengthen the production and availability of nutritious, safe foods or increase their consumption through better diets and stronger market and institutional pathways.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is the Feed the Future Innovation Labs funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DFOP0017826), a discretionary U.S. Department of State funding announcement issued through the Office of Global Food Security.
What type of award will be made?
Awards will be made using a cooperative agreement.
What does a cooperative agreement mean in practice?
In a cooperative agreement, the government typically expects to be substantively involved during implementation. This can include collaboration on technical direction, coordination, or oversight, rather than acting as a fully hands-off grantmaker.
What is the program area or funding category?
The opportunity is in the agriculture funding activity category and is associated with CFDA 19.017.
What is the overall purpose of the opportunity?
The opportunity seeks targeted research proposals that advance global food security in ways that align with U.S. policy priorities.
How are proposed projects expected to align with the program objectives?
Applications should clearly support at least one of the two stated main objectives (the supply-side objective or the demand-side/enabling environment objective).
What is the first main objective (supply-side focus)?
The first objective focuses on advancing agricultural science and research to raise productivity, reduce or manage threats to production systems (such as pests, disease, climate stresses, or other shocks), and strengthen food systems so hunger and malnutrition decline because more nutritious and safe foods are available.
What kinds of research topics fit under the first objective?
Examples mentioned include research that improves yields, strengthens resilience, improves post-harvest handling or storage, enhances food safety, or otherwise increases reliable access to nutrient-rich foods.
What is the second main objective (demand-side and enabling environment focus)?
The second objective emphasizes increasing demand for nutritious, safe foods at the individual and household level as part of healthier diets, while also improving market pathways and opportunities for government and private sector actors to promote consumption of those foods.
What kinds of research topics fit under the second objective?
Work may address dietary choices, behavior, affordability, market availability, and the systems connecting producers to consumers. This can include research that helps make nutritious foods more desirable, accessible, and consistently present in markets, and research that supports public and private efforts to expand and normalize healthier consumption patterns.
Is this opportunity only about agricultural production?
No. While one objective focuses on production and food system strength, the second objective explicitly goes beyond production to address diets, demand, and market and institutional pathways that influence consumption of nutritious, safe foods.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is restricted to eligible U.S. colleges and universities as defined under Section 296(d) of Title XII of the Foreign Assistance Act (as amended).
Are nonprofits, companies, or international institutions eligible to apply directly?
Based on the eligibility statement provided, the opportunity is not an open competition for all nonprofits, companies, or international institutions; it is aimed at a defined set of U.S. higher education institutions that meet the statutory Title XII criteria.
Where should applicants look for additional details beyond this summary?
The announcement notes that applicants should consult the Statement of Interest for additional details, indicating there may be further parameters on themes, expectations, or submission requirements.
How many awards does the funder expect to make?
The opportunity anticipates making about seven awards.
What is the maximum award size?
The award ceiling is up to $40,000,000.
When is the application due?
The original closing date is April 9, 2026.
When was this opportunity posted or created?
The opportunity was created on March 10, 2026.
How would you describe the scale and intent of this solicitation?
It is positioned as a major research investment vehicle under Feed the Future, designed to generate practical, policy-aligned evidence and innovations that either strengthen the production and availability of nutritious, safe foods or increase their consumption through better diets and stronger market and institutional pathways.
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