Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 010693
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Education and Workforce Development (EWD) grant opportunity, offered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), is a discretionary federal grant program designed to build the next generation of talent in the food and agricultural sciences. The core purpose is workforce pipeline development, meaning it supports projects that prepare people to become future research, education, and extension professionals who can serve agriculture, food systems, and related community needs. In practical terms, the program is aimed at strengthening education and training pathways from early exposure and career exploration all the way through advanced research training.
NIFA is soliciting applications across several EWD program areas that span K-14 through postdoctoral stages. The opportunity supports professional development for K-14 educational professionals (such as training that helps teachers and educators improve agriculture- and food-related instruction), non-formal education efforts that spark and sustain youth interest in food and agriculture (often outside traditional classrooms, such as camps, clubs, or community-based learning), workforce training at community, junior, and technical colleges (including skill-based training aligned with industry and regional workforce needs), and structured training for undergraduate students that connects them to research and extension experiences. It also includes fellowship support targeted specifically to predoctoral candidates and postdoctoral scholars, recognizing that advanced training and mentoring are essential for developing future scientific and extension leadership.
Eligibility depends on the type of project being proposed, and applicants must meet all eligibility requirements by the application deadline or risk being excluded from consideration or being ineligible for an award even if the proposal is reviewed. For single-function projects (research-only, education-only, or extension-only), the eligible applicant pool is broad and includes State Agricultural Experiment Stations; colleges and universities (including junior colleges offering associate degrees or higher); university research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; federal agencies; national laboratories; private organizations or corporations; and individuals who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents. Partnerships are also allowed, meaning a group consisting of two or more eligible entities can apply together. A key restriction is that foreign and international organizations are not eligible institutions under this category.
For Integrated Projects (projects that combine two or more functions such as research, education, and extension in a coordinated way), eligibility is narrower and focuses on higher education institutions and certain designated institution types. Eligible applicants include colleges and universities, 1994 Land-Grant Institutions, and Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities. The program also defines what qualifies as a college or university for this purpose: the institution must admit students who have completed secondary education (or equivalent), be legally authorized to provide postsecondary education, offer programs leading to a bachelors degree or higher, be public or other nonprofit, and be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting body. University-affiliated research foundations are also eligible to receive awards, which can be important for campuses that route sponsored funding through separate foundation entities.
The opportunity also references Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants, which are a set of mechanisms within AFRI intended to strengthen capacity and broaden participation. Under this solicitation, FASE includes options such as New Investigator grants, Strengthening Standard grants, Strengthening Conference grants, Seed grants, Equipment grants, and Sabbatical grants, with detailed eligibility rules provided elsewhere in the full request for applications (RFA). Applicants are expected to align proposals with the specific program area priorities and meet the applicable deadlines described in the RFA.
Operationally, NIFA allows award recipients to subcontract with organizations that are not themselves eligible to apply, as long as those partners are necessary to carry out the proposed work. This is helpful for projects that require specialized services, community partners, or industry participation that might not fit AFRI eligibility categories. The main caution is that the prime applicant must be eligible and must satisfy all eligibility criteria at the time of submission.
Key administrative facts from the posted opportunity include the Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA AFRI 010693 and CFDA (now Assistance Listing) number 10.310, with an original closing date of 2024-12-05. The award ceiling is listed as $750,000, and NIFA anticipates making about 245 awards. The opportunity was created on 2024-03-15, and it is categorized under Agriculture with a grant funding instrument.Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 010693
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Education and Workforce Development" 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 2024-03-15.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-12-05. (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 $750,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 245 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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