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Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Foundational and Applied Science Program

Department of Agriculture — Joseph Perez Program Analyst

Award amount
$10K – $10M
Deadline
Dec 31, 2026
Status
Open
Geography
Nationwide
Funding type
Federal Grant
Last verified
Oct 10, 2026
Program summary
The AFRI Foundational and Applied Science Program supports grants in six AFRI priority areas to advance knowledge in both fundamental and applied sciences important to agriculture. The six priority areas 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. Research-only, extension-only, and integrated research, education and/or extension projects are solicited in this Request for Applications (RFA). See Foundational and Applied Science RFA for specific detail.
Eligibility as stated by the source
Eligibility Requirements Applicants for AFRI must meet all the requirements discussed in this RFA. Failure to meet the eligibility criteria by the application deadline may result in exclusion from consideration or, preclude NIFA from making an award. For those new to Federal financial assistance, NIFA's About Grants provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand the Federal awards process. Eligibility is linked to the project type as specified below. 1. Research, Education or Extension Projects Eligible applicants for single-function Research, Education or Extension Projects include: a) State Agricultural Experiment Station; b) colleges and universities (including junior colleges offering associate degrees or higher); c) university research foundations; d) other research institutions and organizations; e) Federal agencies; f) national laboratories; g) private organizations or corporations; h) individuals who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents; and i) any group consisting of two or more entities identified in a) through h). Eligible institutions do not include foreign and international organizations. 2. Integrated Projects Eligible applicants for Integrated Projects include: a) colleges and universities; b) 1994 Land-Grant Institutions; and c) Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities (see NIFA's Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities page). For item a) under Integrated Projects, the terms "college" and "university" mean an educational institution in any state which a) admits as regular students only persons having a certificate of graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the recognized equivalent of such a certificate; b) is legally authorized within such state to provide a program of education beyond secondary education; c) provides an educational program for which a bachelor's degree or any other higher degree is awarded; d) is a public or other nonprofit institution; and e) is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association. A research foundation maintained by a college or university is eligible to receive an award under this program. 3. Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement Grants Part II § C.2 contains the eligibility details for Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants. Note that under the FASE program, New Investigator Standard, New Investigator Seed, Strengthening Standard, Strengthening Workshop, Strengthening Seed, Equipment and Sabbatical Grants are solicited by specific program area priorities in this RFA. Not all grant types are solicited by every program area priority in this RFA and only grant types specifically solicited by each specific program area priority, as identified in the Program Area Descriptions of Part I § C, will be considered for review.
How to apply
Apply through Grants.gov
Contact
Joseph Perez Program Analyst · grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov · 202-445-5402
Notes
Opportunity number USDA-NIFA-AFRI-011134.

Before you can apply

Federal applications require an active SAM.gov entity registration (Unique Entity ID) and a Grants.gov account with an Authorized Organization Representative role. SAM.gov registration commonly takes 2 to 4 weeks, so start it well before the deadline.

  • SAM.gov entity registration (UEI) — typically Commonly 2 to 4 weeks · No feeFederal grant and contract applicants must hold an active registration in the System for Award Management, which issues the Unique Entity ID used on every federal application.Start this registration
  • Grants.gov account and role assignment — typically Commonly a few days after SAM.gov registration is active · No feeApplications submitted through Grants.gov require an individual account plus an Authorized Organization Representative role approved by your organization's e-Business Point of Contact.Start this registration
  • Employer Identification Number (EIN) — typically Same day when applied for online · No feeAn EIN identifies the applying business or organization on nearly every funding application.Start this registration
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Source and verification

Change history

  • Oct 10, 2026 — Discovered: open