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 HispanicServing 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 FASE program, New Investigator,
Strengthening Standard, Strengthening Conference, Seed, Equipment and Sabbatical
Grants are solicited in this RFA.
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.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This notice identifies the objectives for Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI)
Foundational and Applied Science program projects, deadlines, funding information, eligibility criteria for projects and applicants, and application forms and associated instructions. AFRI is America’s flagship competitive grants program that provides funding for fundamental and applied research, education, and extension projects in the food and agricultural sciences. In this RFA, NIFA requests applications for the six AFRI priority areas through the Foundational and Applied Science Program for 2024. The goal of this program is to invest in agricultural production research, education, and extension projects for more sustainable, productive, and economically-viable plant and animal production systems. The global agricultural output needs to be expanded significantly to meet the food needs of the population expected in 2050; thus, it is imperative to develop innovative, safe, and sustainable management strategies for livestock (including poultry and aquaculture species), crops, and critical underlying resources.
Applications that address climate change, food and nutrition security, expanding markets for producers, indigenous traditional ecological knowledge, and equity for underserved producers are welcome. Also welcome are applications that incorporate virtual learning options, where appropriate and practical for integrated programs.
In 2024, applications are sought in the following priority areas:
1. Plant health and production and plant products;
2. Animal health and production and animal products;
3. Food safety, nutrition, and health;
4. Bioenergy, natural resources, and environment;
5. Agriculture systems and technology; and
6. Agriculture economics and rural communities
The amount available for programs included in the FY 2024 AFRI Foundational and Applied
Science (FAS) RFA is approximately $300,000,000. Funding from FY 2025 appropriations will
be used for the programs solicited in this RFA. The amount available to support the AFRI
program is anticipated to be approximately $407,000,000, of which $300 million will be used to support AFRI FAS programs.
This RFA solicits Standard Grants, Conference Grants, Coordinated Agricultural Project Grants, and Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants, whereas project types solicited in this RFA are Research, Extension, Education and Integrated Research, Education and/or Extension projects. Grant types and project types solicited vary by program area priority and not all grant types are solicited within each program area priority. See Part I § C (Program Area Descriptions) for grant and project types solicited by each specific program area priority, and Part II § C for a description of each individual grant type and project type.
Letter of intent required for Conference Grants: The LOI must be submitted a minimum of 195 days before the conference begins.
Conference Grant LOIs may be submitted at any time throughout the year.