Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA SRGP 003403
Apply for USDA NIFA SRGP 003403
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Special Research Grants Program Potato Breeding Research" 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 Jan 14, 2011 and posted on Jan 14, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 1, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,300,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,300,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
- Applications may be submitted by State agricultural experiment stations, land grant colleges and universities, research foundations established by land grant colleges and universities, colleges and universities receiving funds under the Act of October 10, 1962, as amended (16 USC 582a et seq.), and accredited schools or colleges of veterinary medicine. Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project. An applicant s failure to meet an eligibility criterion by the time of an application deadline may result in the application being excluded from consideration or, even though an application may be reviewed, will preclude NIFA from making an award.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Special Research Grants Program - Potato Breeding Research (Funding Opportunity Number: USDA NIFA SRGP 003403) is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to fund research that directly supports the development of improved potato varieties (Solanum tuberosum L.) intended for commercial production. The central goal is to strengthen and advance potato breeding programs that are actively creating, evaluating, and moving new varieties toward real-world use by growers and the potato industry. This is not a general potato research program; the work has to be tied closely to cultivar improvement, with clear relevance to varietal advancement and the steps needed to demonstrate performance and suitability for production.
The program specifically targets "varietal development and testing," defined here as breeding research that uses both traditional genetics and biotechnological approaches to develop improved potato varieties. In practical terms, this means proposals should focus on the breeding pipeline: generating improved germplasm, selecting promising lines, and conducting screening, evaluation, and testing that directly support the release or advancement of new cultivars. While research may include evaluation activities like disease screening, quality assessments, or agronomic performance trials, those components are expected to be in service of breeding and variety development rather than stand-alone studies. Projects should therefore be structured so that testing and screening are clearly connected to selection decisions and progress toward commercially viable varieties.
Funding for the opportunity was estimated at $1,300,000 total, with an award ceiling listed at $1,300,000 and an award floor of $0, and NIFA anticipated making about five awards. The funding instrument type is a grant, and the activity category is listed under Agriculture, Science and Technology, and other Research and Development. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which typically simplifies budgeting for applicants because the federal funds do not need to be paired with non-federal matching dollars to be eligible.
Eligible applicants include a range of higher education and research institutions connected to agricultural research and public service missions. Applications may be submitted by State agricultural experiment stations, land-grant colleges and universities, research foundations established by land-grant institutions, colleges and universities receiving funds under the Act of October 10, 1962 (as amended), and accredited schools or colleges of veterinary medicine. The eligibility listing also includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. The program allows award recipients to subcontract with organizations that are not themselves eligible to apply, as long as those partners are needed to conduct the project, which can be important for collaborating with specialized labs, industry partners, or other entities supporting breeding trials and evaluation.
Key dates in the original posting show it was posted and created on January 14, 2011, with an application closing date of March 1, 2011, and an archive date of April 1, 2011. The CFDA number associated with the program is 10.200 (Grants for Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants). For support accessing the full announcement or technical assistance, NIFA referenced its Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during standard business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, excluding federal holidays), and noted there was additional contact support for application content questions.
Overall, the opportunity is best understood as targeted funding for breeding-focused, variety-driven potato research, where every major activity (from genetics methods to field trials) is expected to contribute directly to developing and validating improved potato varieties that can realistically be adopted for commercial production.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is the Special Research Grants Program - Potato Breeding Research.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA SRGP 003403.
Which agency is offering this grant?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
What is the main purpose of the program?
The program funds research that directly supports the development of improved potato varieties (Solanum tuberosum L.) intended for commercial production, with the central goal of strengthening and advancing active potato breeding programs.
Is this a general potato research program?
No. The work must be closely tied to cultivar improvement and varietal advancement, including the steps needed to demonstrate performance and suitability for real-world production.
What type of research does the program specifically target?
The program specifically targets "varietal development and testing," meaning breeding research that uses traditional genetics and/or biotechnological approaches to develop improved potato varieties.
What kinds of activities are expected in a competitive project?
Projects are expected to focus on the breeding pipeline, such as generating improved germplasm, selecting promising lines, and conducting screening, evaluation, and testing that directly support the release or advancement of new cultivars.
Are field trials, screening, and quality testing allowed under this program?
Yes. Activities such as disease screening, quality assessments, and agronomic performance trials may be included, but they are expected to support breeding decisions and variety development rather than operate as stand-alone studies.
How should testing and evaluation be positioned within the project?
Testing and screening should be clearly connected to selection decisions and progress toward commercially viable varieties, demonstrating how results move lines forward in the breeding program.
What crop and scientific focus does this program cover?
The focus is potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) breeding research aimed at developing improved varieties for commercial production.
What is the total amount of funding estimated for this opportunity?
Total funding was estimated at $1,300,000.
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The award ceiling is listed as $1,300,000.
What is the award floor?
The award floor is listed as $0.
How many awards did NIFA anticipate making?
NIFA anticipated making about five awards.
What is the funding instrument type?
The funding instrument type is a grant.
What activity category is associated with this funding opportunity?
The activity category is listed under Agriculture, Science and Technology, and other Research and Development.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement for this opportunity.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include State agricultural experiment stations, land-grant colleges and universities, research foundations established by land-grant institutions, colleges and universities receiving funds under the Act of October 10, 1962 (as amended), accredited schools or colleges of veterinary medicine, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and private institutions of higher education.
Can award recipients work with partners that are not eligible to apply directly?
Yes. Award recipients may subcontract with organizations that are not themselves eligible to apply, as long as those partners are needed to conduct the project.
What kinds of partners might be involved through subcontracts?
The opportunity notes that subcontracting can support collaboration with specialized labs, industry partners, or other entities supporting breeding trials and evaluation.
When was this opportunity originally posted?
The original posting (and creation date) is January 14, 2011.
What was the application closing date?
The application closing date listed is March 1, 2011.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date listed is April 1, 2011.
What CFDA number is associated with this program?
The CFDA number is 10.200 (Grants for Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants).
Where can applicants get help accessing the full announcement or technical assistance?
NIFA referenced its Help Desk at 202-401-5048 for support accessing the full announcement or for technical assistance.
What are the Help Desk hours?
The Help Desk hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, excluding federal holidays.
Is there a contact for application content questions?
Yes. The opportunity indicates that additional contact support was available for application content questions.
What makes a project a good fit for this program overall?
A good fit is breeding-focused, variety-driven potato research where the core activities (from genetics methods to evaluation trials) contribute directly to developing and validating improved potato varieties that can realistically be adopted for commercial production.
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