Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 010653
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Sustainable Agricultural Systems (AFRI SAS) grant opportunity, offered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), is designed to fund ambitious, systems-based projects that can drive transformational change across the U.S. food and agriculture system. The emphasis is on proposals that look beyond isolated improvements and instead tackle interconnected challenges from production through processing, distribution, and consumption. Competitive projects are expected to show how their approach will meaningfully improve the supply of agricultural products that are affordable, safe, nutritious, and accessible, while also supporting economic development and rural prosperity.
A central expectation of this program is that applicants take a true "systems approach." That means proposals should consider how changes in one part of the food and agriculture value chain affect other parts, and how outcomes ripple outward into communities and markets. NIFA is looking for creative and visionary work that is grounded in real-world needs and also forward-looking, anticipating future social, cultural, behavioral, economic, health, and environmental impacts. In other words, projects should not only address what is currently limiting sustainability and resilience, but also prepare the sector for emerging pressures and opportunities, such as changing consumer demands, climate-related stresses, workforce shifts, evolving health concerns, and environmental constraints.
The program also places strong weight on public value and societal benefits. Proposed outcomes should translate into tangible improvements in quality of life for people connected to food and agriculture value chains, including those involved in farming and ranching, input and service industries, processing and manufacturing, logistics and retail, and ultimately consumers. Promoting rural prosperity is explicitly highlighted, signaling that proposals that strengthen rural economies, create durable community benefits, and support equitable participation in agricultural opportunity are aligned with the program goals.
This opportunity is a discretionary federal grant under CFDA 10.310, and it is tied to the AFRI SAS Request for Applications (RFA), which contains the detailed program rules and expectations. Applicants are expected to carefully follow the RFA requirements, because failure to meet eligibility criteria by the application deadline can result in an application being excluded from consideration or prevent NIFA from making an award. For organizations that are newer to federal funding, NIFA points applicants to its Grants Overview resources to help navigate federal financial assistance requirements and processes.
Eligibility, as described in the provided notice, focuses on Integrated Projects, with eligible applicants including colleges and universities, 1994 Land-Grant Institutions, and Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities. For standard colleges and universities, the notice clarifies that the institution must be a public or other nonprofit entity that admits students with a secondary school diploma (or equivalent), is legally authorized by the state to provide education beyond secondary school, offers programs awarding a bachelors degree or higher, and is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association. In addition, a research foundation maintained by a college or university may also be eligible to receive an award under this program, which can matter for institutions that route grants through affiliated foundations.
Key administrative details included in the source information are the funding opportunity number (USDA NIFA AFRI 010653), an application closing date of 2024-06-06, and an award ceiling of up to $10,000,000. The opportunity is listed under an agriculture funding activity category and is administered by NIFA. Applicants should rely on the full AFRI SAS RFA for specifics on required project structure, review criteria, allowable costs, partnership expectations, and other compliance elements that typically shape whether a systems-focused proposal is considered responsive and fundable.Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 010653
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Sustainable Agricultural Systems" 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 2024-02-23.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-06-06. (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 $10,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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AFRI Sustainable Agricultural Systems (AFRI SAS) - FAQ
What is the AFRI Sustainable Agricultural Systems (AFRI SAS) grant?
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Sustainable Agricultural Systems (AFRI SAS) grant is a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) funding opportunity that supports ambitious, systems-based projects intended to drive transformational change across the U.S. food and agriculture system.
What kinds of projects is AFRI SAS trying to fund?
AFRI SAS is designed for projects that go beyond isolated improvements and instead tackle interconnected challenges across the full food and agriculture value chain. This includes work spanning production through processing, distribution, and consumption, with the goal of meaningful, broad-based impact.
What does NIFA mean by a "systems approach" in this program?
A systems approach means designing a proposal that considers how changes in one part of the food and agriculture value chain affect other parts. Projects are expected to account for interconnections and ripple effects into communities and markets, rather than focusing on only one segment in isolation.
What outcomes does AFRI SAS want to see from funded projects?
Competitive projects are expected to show how their approach will improve the supply of agricultural products that are affordable, safe, nutritious, and accessible. The program also emphasizes economic development and rural prosperity as important outcomes.
How important are public value and societal benefits to AFRI SAS proposals?
They are a major focus. NIFA places strong weight on public value and societal benefits, expecting proposed outcomes to translate into tangible improvements in quality of life for people connected to food and agriculture value chains, including producers, related industries, processors, logistics and retail, and consumers.
Does the program prioritize rural prosperity?
Yes. Promoting rural prosperity is explicitly highlighted. Proposals that strengthen rural economies, create durable community benefits, and support equitable participation in agricultural opportunity align with the program goals.
What emerging pressures and future impacts should proposals consider?
The program description emphasizes forward-looking work that anticipates future social, cultural, behavioral, economic, health, and environmental impacts. Examples of the types of pressures mentioned include changing consumer demands, climate-related stresses, workforce shifts, evolving health concerns, and environmental constraints.
Who administers this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA AFRI 010653.
What is the application closing date?
The application closing date listed is 2024-06-06.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed is up to $10,000,000.
What CFDA number is associated with this grant?
This is a discretionary federal grant under CFDA 10.310.
What type of projects are eligible according to the notice?
Eligibility in the provided notice focuses on Integrated Projects.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants listed include colleges and universities, 1994 Land-Grant Institutions, and Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities.
What qualifies a standard college or university as eligible under this opportunity?
The notice explains that an eligible college or university must be a public or other nonprofit entity that (1) admits students with a secondary school diploma (or equivalent), (2) is legally authorized by the state to provide education beyond secondary school, (3) offers programs awarding a bachelors degree or higher, and (4) is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association.
Can a university-affiliated research foundation apply?
Yes. The notice states that a research foundation maintained by a college or university may be eligible to receive an award under this program.
Where are the detailed program rules and requirements described?
The detailed program rules and expectations are tied to the AFRI SAS Request for Applications (RFA). Applicants are expected to follow the RFA requirements closely.
What happens if an application does not meet eligibility criteria or other RFA requirements by the deadline?
The information provided indicates that failure to meet eligibility criteria by the application deadline can result in an application being excluded from consideration or prevent NIFA from making an award.
Is there guidance available for organizations that are newer to federal grants?
Yes. NIFA points applicants to its Grants Overview resources to help navigate federal financial assistance requirements and processes.
What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under an agriculture funding activity category.
What should applicants rely on to understand project structure, review criteria, allowable costs, and compliance expectations?
Applicants should rely on the full AFRI SAS RFA for specifics on required project structure, review criteria, allowable costs, partnership expectations, and other compliance elements that determine whether a systems-focused proposal is responsive and fundable.
What parts of the value chain does the program expect projects to address?
The program emphasizes proposals that address interconnected challenges from production through processing, distribution, and consumption, rather than focusing only on a single segment.
Who is expected to benefit from the outcomes of funded projects?
The program description highlights benefits for people connected to food and agriculture value chains, including farming and ranching, input and service industries, processing and manufacturing, logistics and retail, and ultimately consumers.
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