Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FAS FOOD FOR PROGRESS PROGRAM 26 00
The Food for Progress Program Notice of Funding Opportunity for Fiscal Year 2026 is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS). The program supports agricultural development in developing countries and emerging democracies that are committed to expanding free enterprise in their agricultural sectors. The core mechanism is commodity-based assistance: U.S. agricultural commodities are donated to a partner country, those commodities are typically sold in the local market, and the resulting proceeds are then used to fund agricultural development activities. In practice, this structure is designed to strengthen local agricultural systems while also supporting broader U.S. trade and strategic interests.
The program is grounded in the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1736o(d)), which lays out six specific objectives focused on building market-oriented agricultural economies. These include improving farmers access to private, competitive markets; promoting market pricing for eligible commodities so farmers have real incentives to produce consistently for domestic needs; supporting the establishment of market-determined foreign exchange rates; improving timely access to key production inputs like seed, fertilizer, and pesticides; expanding access to technologies that fit the country s level of agricultural development; and building the facilities and distribution systems needed to handle perishable products. Taken together, these statutory goals are summarized in two higher-level strategic aims: increasing agricultural productivity and expanding trade in agricultural products, whether within the country, across regions, or internationally.
A major theme of the FY 2026 announcement is using agricultural development to accelerate private sector engagement and encourage innovation in emerging markets. The program is framed as advancing America First priorities by focusing investments in strategically selected partner countries that are seeking to improve productivity and expand agricultural trade, while also aiming to support vulnerable communities. The trade expansion emphasis is not limited to local market improvements; it also explicitly ties into opening or strengthening markets for U.S. agricultural goods by helping partner countries modernize their agricultural sectors and trade systems.
This opportunity will be awarded using a Cooperative Agreement, which generally signals that USDA FAS expects substantial involvement during implementation (for example, through coordination, oversight, and technical engagement), rather than a hands-off grant model. The assistance area is Agriculture under CFDA number 10.606. The funding opportunity number is USDA FAS FOOD FOR PROGRESS PROGRAM 26 00.
On funding scale and competitiveness, the notice lists an award ceiling of $35,000,000 and anticipates making about 7 awards. The original application closing date is July 6, 2026, and the opportunity was created on May 21, 2026. With a relatively small number of expected awards and a high ceiling, the program is positioned for larger, multi-component projects that can show measurable impact on productivity, market function, and trade outcomes.
Eligibility is broad, as allowed under the Food for Progress Act of 1985 and implementing definitions at 7 CFR 1499.2. Eligible applicants include the government of an emerging agricultural country, intergovernmental organizations, private voluntary organizations, nonprofit agricultural organizations or cooperatives, nongovernmental organizations, colleges and universities, and other private entities. This range suggests USDA FAS is open to proposals from governments, development implementers, research and academic institutions, and private-sector capable organizations, as long as the proposed work aligns with the program s market-oriented objectives.
For applicants, the notice points to additional required and practical materials in the Related Documents section, including the full announcement, application instructions, instructions for accessing the Food Aid Information System, and weekly responses to questions. Those documents are where the detailed requirements typically live, such as proposal format, budget rules, commodity and monetization requirements, monitoring and evaluation expectations, and any country or sector priorities for FY 2026.Apply for USDA FAS FOOD FOR PROGRESS PROGRAM 26 00
- The Foreign Agricultural Service in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Food for Progress Program Notice of Funding Opportunity Fiscal Year 2026" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.606.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-05-21.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-06. (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 $35,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Food for Progress Program (FY 2026) - Frequently Asked Questions
1) What is the Food for Progress Program FY 2026 funding opportunity?
It is a discretionary government grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS). The program supports agricultural development in developing countries and emerging democracies that are committed to expanding free enterprise in their agricultural sectors.
2) What is the main purpose of this program?
The program is designed to strengthen local agricultural systems by increasing agricultural productivity and expanding trade in agricultural products (within a country, regionally, or internationally). The FY 2026 notice also emphasizes accelerating private sector engagement and encouraging innovation in emerging markets.
3) How does Food for Progress assistance work in practice?
The core mechanism is commodity-based assistance. U.S. agricultural commodities are donated to a partner country, those commodities are typically sold in the local market, and the proceeds from those sales are then used to fund agricultural development activities.
4) What legal authority governs the program?
The program is grounded in the Food Security Act of 1985, specifically 7 U.S.C. 1736o(d).
5) What are the specific statutory objectives the program is meant to advance?
The statute lays out six objectives focused on building market-oriented agricultural economies:
- Improve farmers access to private, competitive markets.
- Promote market pricing for eligible commodities so farmers have incentives to produce consistently for domestic needs.
- Support the establishment of market-determined foreign exchange rates.
- Improve timely access to key production inputs such as seed, fertilizer, and pesticides.
- Expand access to technologies that fit the country s level of agricultural development.
- Build facilities and distribution systems needed to handle perishable products.
6) What broader strategic aims summarize these objectives?
The notice summarizes the statutory goals into two higher-level aims: increasing agricultural productivity and expanding trade in agricultural products.
7) What is different or emphasized in the FY 2026 announcement?
A major theme is using agricultural development to accelerate private sector engagement and encourage innovation in emerging markets. The notice is also framed as advancing America First priorities by focusing investments in strategically selected partner countries, while also aiming to support vulnerable communities.
8) Does the program include a trade expansion focus?
Yes. The trade expansion emphasis includes improving local market performance as well as explicitly tying outcomes to opening or strengthening markets for U.S. agricultural goods by helping partner countries modernize their agricultural sectors and trade systems.
9) What type of award will be used for this opportunity?
Awards will be made using a Cooperative Agreement. This generally indicates USDA FAS expects substantial involvement during implementation (such as coordination, oversight, and technical engagement) rather than a hands-off grant model.
10) What is the assistance area and CFDA number for this program?
The assistance area is Agriculture. The CFDA number is 10.606.
11) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is USDA FAS FOOD FOR PROGRESS PROGRAM 26 00.
12) How much funding is available per award?
The notice lists an award ceiling of $35,000,000.
13) How many awards does USDA FAS expect to make?
USDA FAS anticipates making about 7 awards.
14) When is the application deadline?
The original application closing date is July 6, 2026.
15) When was the opportunity posted or created?
The opportunity was created on May 21, 2026.
16) How competitive is this opportunity expected to be?
Based on the notice, competitiveness is suggested by a relatively small number of anticipated awards (about 7) and a high award ceiling ($35,000,000), positioning the program for larger, multi-component projects.
17) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad under the Food for Progress Act of 1985 and definitions at 7 CFR 1499.2. Eligible applicants include:
- The government of an emerging agricultural country
- Intergovernmental organizations
- Private voluntary organizations
- Nonprofit agricultural organizations or cooperatives
- Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)
- Colleges and universities
- Other private entities
18) Does USDA FAS limit eligibility only to governments or only to nonprofits?
No. The notice indicates eligibility spans governments, intergovernmental organizations, NGOs, private voluntary organizations, nonprofits and cooperatives, colleges and universities, and other private entities, as long as proposals align with the program s market-oriented objectives.
19) What kinds of projects is this program best suited for?
The notice suggests the program is suited for larger, multi-component agricultural development projects that can demonstrate measurable impact on productivity, market function, and trade outcomes, including outcomes related to private sector engagement and innovation.
20) Where can applicants find detailed application requirements and instructions?
The notice points applicants to materials in the Related Documents section, including the full announcement, application instructions, instructions for accessing the Food Aid Information System, and weekly responses to questions. These documents typically contain the detailed requirements such as proposal format, budget rules, commodity and monetization requirements, and monitoring and evaluation expectations.
21) Are there weekly updates or responses to applicant questions?
Yes. The Related Documents section includes weekly responses to questions, according to the notice.
22) What is the Food Aid Information System and why does it matter for applicants?
The notice references instructions for accessing the Food Aid Information System in the Related Documents section. It matters because applicants are directed to those instructions as part of the application process materials referenced by the announcement.
23) Where are details like budget rules, commodity requirements, and monitoring and evaluation expectations described?
The notice indicates these details typically live in the Related Documents, including the full announcement and application instructions (and other supporting materials listed there).
24) Does the notice specify country or sector priorities for FY 2026?
The summary indicates that any country or sector priorities for FY 2026 would typically be found in the detailed materials located in the Related Documents section.
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