USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Funding Opportunities Update

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April 5, 2019

Applications to the FY 2019 Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Sustainable Agricultural Systems (SAS) Request for Applications (RFA) must focus on approaches that promote transformational changes in the U.S. food and agriculture system within the next 25 years. NIFA seeks creative and visionary applications that take a systems approach, and that will significantly improve the supply of abundant, affordable, safe, nutritious, and accessible food, while providing sustainable opportunities for expansion of the bioeconomy through novel animal, crop, and forest products and supporting technologies. These approaches must demonstrate current and future social, behavioral, economic, health, and environmental impacts. Additionally, the outcomes of the work being proposed must result in societal benefits, including promotion of rural prosperity and enhancement of quality of life for those involved in food and agricultural value chains from production to utilization and consumption. See AFRI SAS RFA for details.

Who is eligible to apply: 

1862 Land-Grant Institutions, 1890 Land-Grant Institutions, 1994 Land-Grant Institutions, Other or Additional Information (See below), Private Institutions of Higher Ed, State Controlled Institutions of Higher Ed

More on Eligibility:

This RFA invites only integrated project (must include research, education, and extension) applications. Please see Part III, A. of the this AFRI SAS RFA for more specific eligibility requirements for integrated projects. Applications from ineligible institutions will not be reviewed.

Posted Date: Friday, March 29, 2019
Letter of Intent Due: Tuesday, June 4, 2019
Closing Dates: Thursday, September 26, 2019
Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-NIFA-AFRI-006739
Estimated Total Program Funding: $90,000,000

The purpose of the Aquaculture Research program is to support the development of an environmentally and economically sustainable aquaculture industry in the U.S. and generate new science-based information and innovation to address industry constraints. Over the long term, results of projects supported by this program may help improve the profitability of the U.S. aquaculture industry, reduce the U.S. trade deficit, increase domestic food security, provide markets for U.S.-produced grain products, increase domestic aquaculture business investment opportunities, and provide more jobs for rural and coastal America.

The Aquaculture Research program will fund projects that directly address major constraints to the U.S. aquaculture industry and focus on one or more of the following program priorities: (1) genetics of commercial aquaculture species; (2) critical disease issues impacting aquaculture species; (3) design of environmentally and economically sustainable aquaculture production systems; and (4) economic research for increasing aquaculture profitability.

Two types of applications are available:

  • Standard project proposals: The intent is to fund applied research that address program priorities with a maximum total award of $300,000 and maximum duration of 2 years.
  • Seed project proposals: For FY 2019, new category was added for smaller, research seed projects that total between $50,000 to $100,000 and are limited to 1-year duration (except in rare circumstances).

Who is eligible to apply: 

Applications may be submitted by State agricultural experiment stations, all colleges and universities, other research institutions and organizations, Federal agencies, private organizations or corporations, and individuals for the purpose of conducting research, extension, or education activities to facilitate or expand promising breakthroughs in areas of the food and agricultural sciences of importance to the United States.

More on Eligibility:

See Part III. A. Eligible Applicants for more details.

Posted Date: Friday, March 29, 2019
Letter of Intent Due: Monday, April 29, 2019
Closing Date: Tuesday, May 28, 2019
Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-NIFA-SRGP-006738
Estimated Total Program Funding: $2,000,000

The overall goal of the Organic Transitions Program (ORG) is to support the development and implementation of research, extension and higher education programs to improve the competitiveness of organic livestock and crop producers, as well as those who are adopting organic practices. NIFA administers the ORG program by determining priorities in U.S. agriculture through Agency stakeholder input processes in consultation with the NAREEEAB. ORG will continue to prioritize environmental services provided by organic farming systems in the area of soil conservation, pollinator health, and climate change mitigation, including greenhouse gases (GHG), as well as the development of educational tools for Cooperative Extension personnel and other agricultural professionals who advise producers on organic practices, and development of cultural practices and other allowable alternatives to substances recommended for removal from the National Organic Program’s National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. It is expected that all projects will integrate research, education and extension activities, as appropriate to project goals, although some projects may be weighted more heavily than others in one or more of these areas. However, all proposals should have activities and impact in research and at least one of the other areas: education and extension.

Who is eligible to apply: 

1862 Land-Grant Institutions, 1890 Land-Grant Institutions, 1994 Land-Grant Institutions, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Other or Additional Information (See below), Private Institutions of Higher Ed, State Controlled Institutions of Higher Ed

More Information on Eligibility:

Applications may only be submitted by colleges and universities as defined in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (NARETPA, 7 U.S.C. 3103).

Posted Date: Tuesday, April 2, 2019
Closing Date: Thursday, May 16, 2019 (FY 2019 funding cycle)
Other Due Date: Thursday February 27, 2020 (FY 2020 funding cycle)

NOTE: This RFA solicits application for two funding cycles (FY 2019 or FY 2020). Applications for FY 2019 funding cycle must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on May 16, 2019. Applications for FY 2020 funding cycle must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on February 27, 2020.

Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-NIFA-ICGP-006740
Estimated Total Program Funding: $5,800,000