Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 007052

The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Foundational and Applied Science Program is a competitive grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). Its main purpose is to fund projects that push forward both basic (foundational) and practical (applied) science that matters to U.S. agriculture and the food system. The program is structured around advancing knowledge and delivering real-world improvements, so proposals can range from early-stage discovery research to work that is closer to on-the-ground implementation, depending on the specific program area and project type described in the Request for Applications (RFA).

The opportunity is organized around six AFRI priority areas, which function like major topic tracks applicants must align with. These are: Plant Health and Production and Plant Products; Animal Health and Production and Animal Products; Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health; Bioenergy, Natural Resources, and Environment; Agriculture Systems and Technology; and Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities. Together, these priority areas cover a wide span of challenges, from improving crop and livestock outcomes and protecting plant and animal health, to strengthening food safety and human nutrition, to addressing environmental sustainability, energy and bio-based products, technology and systems innovation, and the economic and community conditions that shape rural life.

NIFA is soliciting three broad types of projects under this RFA: research-only projects, extension-only projects, and integrated projects that combine research with education and/or extension. Research-only proposals generally focus on generating new knowledge, data, tools, or methods. Extension-only proposals focus on getting proven practices and usable information into the hands of producers, industry, communities, and other end users. Integrated projects are meant to connect discovery and practical delivery, for example by pairing research with workforce training, curriculum development, outreach, demonstration, and adoption support, so that results move more quickly from the lab or model into practice.

Eligibility is a core screening factor for this grant and is tied directly to the project type and the specific rules laid out in the Foundational and Applied Science RFA. Only eligible entities are allowed to submit, and applicants are expected to confirm they meet every relevant eligibility requirement by the application deadline. If an application does not meet an eligibility criterion on time, it may be removed from consideration entirely, or it may still be reviewed but ultimately cannot be funded. In other words, even a high-quality proposal can be disqualified if eligibility requirements are not met as specified in the RFA.

From the source data, this is a discretionary grant opportunity (not a formula or entitlement program) and uses the grant funding instrument. The funding activity category is Agriculture and the CFDA number is 10.310. The opportunity is identified as "Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Foundational and Applied Science" with funding opportunity number USDA NIFA AFRI 007052. The administering agency is the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The original closing date listed is July 20, 2020, and the record shows a creation date of December 18, 2019. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided source fields, which typically means applicants must consult the full RFA for details on maximum award size, typical budget ranges by program area, and anticipated award counts.

Overall, this AFRI program is designed to support a pipeline of work that strengthens U.S. agriculture and food systems through science-based innovation and public impact, with applicants expected to choose the appropriate priority area and project type, follow the RFA requirements closely, and ensure eligibility is clearly met and documented before submission.

  • The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Foundational and Applied Science" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.310.
  • This funding opportunity was created on 2019-12-18.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-07-20. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • Eligible applicants include: Others.
Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 007052

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AFRI Foundational and Applied Science (USDA NIFA) - FAQs

What is the AFRI Foundational and Applied Science Program?

The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Foundational and Applied Science Program is a competitive, discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). It funds projects that advance both foundational (basic) and applied (practical) science relevant to U.S. agriculture and the food system.

What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?

The program is intended to support a pipeline of science-based work that both advances knowledge and delivers real-world improvements for U.S. agriculture and food systems. Depending on the program area and project type described in the Request for Applications (RFA), supported work can range from early-stage discovery research to efforts closer to on-the-ground implementation.

Is this a competitive grant or an entitlement/formula program?

This is a competitive (discretionary) grant opportunity, not a formula or entitlement program.

What funding instrument is used?

The opportunity uses a grant funding instrument.

What is the funding activity category?

The funding activity category listed for this opportunity is Agriculture.

What is the CFDA number for this program?

The CFDA number provided for this opportunity is 10.310.

What is the official funding opportunity name and number?

The opportunity is identified as "Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Foundational and Applied Science" with funding opportunity number USDA NIFA AFRI 007052.

Which agency administers this opportunity?

The administering agency is USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

What are the AFRI priority areas for this opportunity?

The RFA is organized around six AFRI priority areas that proposals must align with:

  • Plant Health and Production and Plant Products
  • Animal Health and Production and Animal Products
  • Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health
  • Bioenergy, Natural Resources, and Environment
  • Agriculture Systems and Technology
  • Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities

Do applicants have to choose one of the priority areas?

Yes. The priority areas function like major topic tracks, and applicants are expected to align their proposal with the appropriate priority area as described in the RFA.

What types of projects are solicited under this RFA?

NIFA is soliciting three broad project types under this RFA:

  • Research-only projects
  • Extension-only projects
  • Integrated projects that combine research with education and/or extension

What is a research-only project under this program?

Research-only proposals generally focus on generating new knowledge, data, tools, or methods.

What is an extension-only project under this program?

Extension-only proposals focus on getting proven practices and usable information into the hands of producers, industry, communities, and other end users.

What is an integrated project under this program?

Integrated projects are intended to connect discovery and practical delivery by combining research with education and/or extension. Examples described include pairing research with workforce training, curriculum development, outreach, demonstration, and adoption support to help results move more quickly from research settings into real-world practice.

How important is eligibility for this opportunity?

Eligibility is a core screening factor. Only eligible entities are allowed to submit, and applicants are expected to confirm they meet all relevant eligibility requirements by the application deadline, consistent with the rules in the Foundational and Applied Science RFA.

What happens if an application does not meet eligibility requirements by the deadline?

If an application does not meet an eligibility criterion on time, it may be removed from consideration entirely, or it may still be reviewed but ultimately cannot be funded. The information provided emphasizes that even a high-quality proposal can be disqualified if eligibility requirements are not met as specified in the RFA.

Where are the detailed eligibility rules defined?

Eligibility is tied to the project type and the specific rules laid out in the Foundational and Applied Science Request for Applications (RFA). Applicants are expected to follow the RFA requirements closely.

Does the opportunity support both basic and applied science?

Yes. The program explicitly supports both foundational (basic) and applied (practical) science that matters to U.S. agriculture and the food system.

Are projects required to have real-world impact?

The program is structured around advancing knowledge and delivering real-world improvements. The RFA supports proposals along a spectrum, from early-stage discovery to work closer to implementation, depending on the specific program area and project type.

What is the original closing date listed for this opportunity?

The original closing date listed in the provided information is July 20, 2020.

What is the record creation date shown for this opportunity?

The record shows a creation date of December 18, 2019.

Is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) provided in the source information?

No. The award ceiling is not specified in the provided source fields. That typically means applicants need to consult the full RFA for maximum award size and any budget limits that may vary by program area or project type.

Is the expected number of awards provided in the source information?

No. The expected number of awards is not specified in the provided source fields. Applicants are directed, by implication, to consult the full RFA for anticipated award counts (which may differ by program area).

What should applicants do if key budget or award details are missing from the summary fields?

The provided information indicates that when fields like the award ceiling or expected number of awards are not listed, applicants should consult the full Request for Applications (RFA) for details such as maximum award size, typical budget ranges by program area, and anticipated award counts.

What are examples of challenges this program is meant to address?

Across its six priority areas, the program covers challenges such as improving crop and livestock outcomes, protecting plant and animal health, strengthening food safety and human nutrition, addressing environmental sustainability, supporting energy and bio-based products, advancing technology and systems innovation, and improving the economic and community conditions that shape rural life.

How should an applicant decide whether to submit a research-only, extension-only, or integrated proposal?

The provided information describes the intended focus of each project type: research-only for generating new knowledge, extension-only for delivering proven practices and usable information to end users, and integrated projects for linking research with education and/or extension to speed adoption and impact. The appropriate choice depends on the specific program area and project type requirements described in the RFA.

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