Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)

https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/360205

AFRI Grant Coordination Team

This competitive grant program, administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), supports both foundational and applied research, education, and extension in agriculture. The program targets six core priority areas:

- Plant Health & Production and Plant Products

- Animal Health & Production and Animal Products

- Food Safety, Nutrition, & Health

- Bioenergy, Natural Resources, & Environment

- Agriculture Systems & Technology

- Agricultural Economics & Rural Communities 


This program funds a diversity of project types—research-only, extension-only, education-only, and integrated efforts—across standard, conference, and Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) grants. 




This competitive grant program, administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), supports both foundational and applied research, education, and extension in agriculture. The program targets six core priority areas:
- Plant Health & Production and Plant Products
- Animal Health & Production and Animal Products
- Food Safety, Nutrition, & Health
- Bioenergy, Natural Resources, & Environment
- Agriculture Systems & Technology
- Agricultural Economics & Rural Communities 

This program funds a diversity of project types—research-only, extension-only, education-only, and integrated efforts—across standard, conference, and Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) grants. 


Eligibility varies by project type:
- Research/Education/Extension (single-function):
    - State agricultural experiment stations
    - Colleges and universities (including 2-year institutions)
    - University research foundations
    - Federal agencies
    - National labs
    - Private organizations or corporations
    - U.S. individuals (citizens, nationals, or permanent residents)

Integrated Projects (combining functions):
- Colleges and universities (as defined under eligibility)
- 1994 Land-Grant Institutions
- Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities

Other Eligible Entities (depending on category):
- 1862 and 1890 Land-Grant Institutions
- Tribal Organizations (non-federally recognized)
- Nonprofits (501(c)(3) and others)
- Small businesses
- Other entities as defined in the RFA





A lump sum of money for a specific purpose that does not need to be paid back.

Grant

Public Health

Compliance

Alternative Energy

See specific funding project type for more detailed information on terms of this grant. 


Apply for this grant online at grants.gov. 

Registration on grants.gov is required and can take some time.

Tammi Neville

The Small Business Administration (SBA), through the SBIR/STTR Policy Directive, provides policy guidance for these programs. A main purpose of the legislation is to stimulate technological innovation and increase private sector commercialization among small business concerns and enable them to undertake and to obtain the benefits of research and development in order to maintain and strengthen the competitive free enterprise system and the national economy. The goal of Phase II is&#x2004;to continue research and development while increasing the focus on commercialization. The STTR program aims to foster technology transfer through formal cooperative R&D between small businesses and nonprofit research institutions. The USDA SBIR/STTR programs Assistance Listing 10.212, is therefore in a unique position to meet both the goals of USDA and the purpose of the SBIR/STTR legislation by transforming scientific discovery and innovation both social and economic benefit, and by emphasizing private sector commercialization.



The Small Business Administration (SBA), through the SBIR/STTR Policy Directive, provides policy guidance for these programs. A main purpose of the legislation is to stimulate technological innovation and increase private sector commercialization among small business concerns and enable them to undertake and to obtain the benefits of research and development in order to maintain and strengthen the competitive free enterprise system and the national economy. The goal of Phase II is to continue research and development while increasing the focus on commercialization. The STTR program aims to foster technology transfer through formal cooperative R&D between small businesses and nonprofit research institutions. The USDA SBIR/STTR programs Assistance Listing 10.212, is therefore in a unique position to meet both the goals of USDA and the purpose of the SBIR/STTR legislation by transforming scientific discovery and innovation both social and economic benefit, and by emphasizing private sector commercialization.

Only previous Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs Phase I winners are eligible to apply for Phase II support through this RFA.

- Technical and Business Assistance (TABA)
- SBIR Brochure
- SBIR Phase I Panel Review Instructions 
- SBIR Phase 2 Technical Proposal Review Instructions 
- SBIR Phase 2 Commercialization Review Instructions 
- Current Research Information System
- U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Capital Access
- SBA's Tech-Net
- United States Department of Agriculture
- Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer Programs (SBIR/STTR)

Certification

Trials

Español

Native Americans

People Of Color

Women

Certified Organic

Socially Disadvantaged

Historically Underserved

SBIR Phase II grants range from $600,000 to $650,000, with a duration of up to 24 months, and are only open to previous Phase I awardees. Proposals are reviewed through a confidential peer review process using outside experts from nonprofit organizations, and all applicants receive verbatim copies of reviews. For this NOFO, total program funding is estimated at $24,750,000, approximately 50 percent of applications are funded, and there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

Rachel Seman Varner

The Open Data Framework program will build a framework needed to create a neutral and secure data repository and cooperative where producers, universities and nonprofit entities can store and share data in ways that will foster agricultural innovation and will support technological progress, production efﬁciencies, and environmental stewardship. 



Applications may only be submitted by entities such as State agricultural experiment stations; colleges and universities; university research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; Federal agencies; national laboratories; private organizations, foundations, or corporations; individuals; or any group consisting of two or more of the above entities.

NIFA's program page publishes this as a single-award opportunity:

- Estimated Total Program Funding: $923,325
- Range of Awards: $923,325 - $923,325 — the full pool goes to one award, so there is no competitive award band to plan around.
- Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No Match Required.

No project period (in years), indirect-cost cap, or anticipated number of awards is published on the program page; those are in the NOFO (USDA-NIFA-OTHER-011816, Assistance Listing 10.233).

Worth knowing before you spend time on it: this is an institutional data-infrastructure grant. Eligible applicants are experiment stations, colleges and universities, research foundations and institutions, federal agencies, national laboratories, private organizations/foundations/corporations, individuals, or groups of these. It is not a producer payment, cost-share, or on-farm incentive.

Apply for this grant online on grants.gov.
Search for Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-NIFA-D113A-32483

To apply for grants on grants.gov you must be registered which is a process that can take multiple weeks, so we recommend you begin the process as soon as possible. You can register at grants.gov here.

Grants.gov Customer support

Mathieu Ngouajio

The Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) seeks to solve critical organic agriculture issues, priorities, or problems through the integration of research, education, and extension activities. The purpose of this program is to fund projects that will enhance the ability of producers and processors who have already adopted organic standards to grow and market high quality organic agricultural products. Priority concerns&#x2004;include biological, physical, and social sciences, including economics. The OREI is particularly interested in projects that emphasize research, education and outreach that assist farmers and ranchers with whole farm planning by delivering practical research-based information. Projects should plan to deliver applied production information to producers. Fieldwork must be done on certified organic land or on land in transition to organic certification, as appropriate to project goals and objectives. Refer to the [USDA National Organic Program](http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop) for organic production standards. 



The Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) seeks to solve critical organic agriculture issues, priorities, or problems through the integration of research, education, and extension activities. The purpose of this program is to fund projects that will enhance the ability of producers and processors who have already adopted organic standards to grow and market high quality organic agricultural products. Priority concerns include biological, physical, and social sciences, including economics. The OREI is particularly interested in projects that emphasize research, education and outreach that assist farmers and ranchers with whole farm planning by delivering practical research-based information. Projects should plan to deliver applied production information to producers. Fieldwork must be done on certified organic land or on land in transition to organic certification, as appropriate to project goals and objectives. Refer to the USDA National Organic Program for organic production standards. 

Applications may only be submitted by the following entities:
1. State agricultural experiment stations;
2. Colleges and universities; 
3. University research foundations; 
4. Other research institutions and organizations; 
5. Federal agencies; 
6. National laboratories; 
7. Private organizations, foundations, or corporations; 
8. Individuals who are United States citizens or nationals; or 
9. A group consisting of two or more of the entities above

Marketing

Conservation

Research

If an OREI program grant provides a particular benefit to a specific agricultural commodity, the grant recipient is required to match the USDA funds awarded on a dollar-for-dollar basis from non-Federal sources with cash and/or in-kind contributions. 
NIFA may waive the matching funds requirement for a grant if NIFA determines that: (1) the results of the project, while of particular benefit to a specific agricultural commodity, are likely to be applicable to agricultural commodities generally; or (2) the project involves a minor commodity, the project deals with scientifically important research, and the grant recipient is unable to satisfy the matching funds requirement.

Jessica Shade

The purpose of this grant program is to support potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) research programs that focus on varietal development and testing and potato varieties for commercial production. As used herein, varietal development and testing is research using conventional breeding and/or biotechnological genetics to develop improved potato varieties. Aspects of evaluation, screening and testing must support variety development.



Applications may only be submitted by state agricultural experiment stations, land-grant colleges and universities, research foundations established by land-grant colleges and universities, colleges and universities receiving funds under the Act of October 10, 1962, as amended (16 USC 582a et seq.), and accredited schools or colleges of veterinary medicine.

Potatoes

Potato Seeds

Processing Potatoes

Russet Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes

Vegetables

Specialty Crops

Research grant to institutions, no match required. Note up front: individual producers cannot apply — eligibility is limited to state agricultural experiment stations, land-grant colleges and universities and their research foundations, certain forestry institutions, and accredited schools or colleges of veterinary medicine.

For the most recent posted cycle (funding opportunity USDA-NIFA-SRGP-011275, posted July 24, 2025, closed August 14, 2025), NIFA publishes:
• "Range of Awards: $500,000 - $1,500,000"
• "Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No Match Required"
• "Estimated Total Program Funding: $3,703,050"
• "Percent of Applications Funded: 66%"

So realistically two to seven awards per cycle, and roughly two in three applications get funded — unusually good odds for a federal research program.

Project period, payment schedule and reporting terms are set in the NOFO rather than on the program page, and NIFA cautions that "Dates may vary. Please see NOFO for exact details" — so confirm the award range against the current NOFO before budgeting a proposal.

USDA Grant Application Questions

Edwin Lewis

The purpose of the RCDG program is to enable nonprofit institutions to establish and operate centers&#x2004;for rural cooperative development (Center). The primary objective of the program is to improve the economic condition of rural areas by helping nonprofit organizations who in turn provide technical assistance to start, expand, or improve cooperatives and mutually owned businesses in rural areas.

 

The goals of a Center funded under this subsection shall be to facilitate the creation of jobs in rural areas through the development of new rural cooperatives, value added processing, and rural businesses.



The purpose of the RCDG program is to enable nonprofit institutions to establish and operate centers for rural cooperative development (Center). The primary objective of the program is to improve the economic condition of rural areas by helping nonprofit organizations who in turn provide technical assistance to start, expand, or improve cooperatives and mutually owned businesses in rural areas.
 
The goals of a Center funded under this subsection shall be to facilitate the creation of jobs in rural areas through the development of new rural cooperatives, value added processing, and rural businesses.

Read this first: farmers cannot apply. "Applications will only be accepted from nonprofit institutions," which use the award to run a rural cooperative development Center. A farmer or co-op benefits as a free client of a funded Center, not as an applicant.

FY2026 notice (USDA-NIFA-OP-012058, assistance listing 10.771) publishes:
• "Range of Awards $200,000 - $1,000,000"
• "Estimated Total Program Funding $5,000,000"
• "Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: Matching Requirement (See NOFO for Details)"

The match percentage is stated inside the NOFO document itself, not on the summary page, and it could not be retrieved at the time of this check — budget on the assumption that a match IS required and read the NOFO for the exact share before you commit. No award period length is published on the summary page either.

What a funded Center must do with the money: "provide technical assistance to start, expand, or improve cooperatives and mutually owned businesses in rural areas," with the goal of "the creation of jobs in rural areas through the development of new rural cooperatives, value added processing, and rural businesses."

Eligibility detail: a "nonprofit institution" here includes accredited institutions of higher education, and applicants must satisfy 7 CFR 4284.520(a) while avoiding the disqualifiers in 7 CFR 4284.520(b).

FY2026 applications closed July 24, 2026 (posted July 7, 2026). Program contact: Edwin Lewis.

Applicants must apply to this NOFO electronically; no other method or response is accepted. The electronic application for this NOFO and additional resources are available on Grants.gov and Grants 101. Table 2 provides instructions on how to obtain an electronic application. Part III of the NIFA Grants Application Guide contains detailed information regarding the Grants.gov registration process. The NIFA Grants Application Guide is contained in the specific funding opportunity package or a sample of the guide can be found here. When applying for a NIFA award, it is important to reference the version of the guide that is included in the specific funding opportunity application package. 

Pre Application:
The NIFA Grants Application Guide is part of the corresponding application package for this NOFO. The NOFO overrides the NIFA Grants Application Guide if there is a discrepancy between the two documents. NIFA will accept subsequent submissions to an application until the application deadline. However, applicants that do not meet the application requirements, to include partial applications, risk being excluded from NIFA’s review. NIFA will assign a 16 proposal number to all applications that meet the requirements of this NOFO. Applicants must refer to the proposal number when corresponding with NIFA. 

Thomas (Tom) Bewick

The purpose of the SCRI program is to address the critical needs of the specialty crops industries (as defined in Appendix III) by awarding grants to support research&#x2004;and extension that address key challenges of national, regional, and multi-state importance in sustaining all components of food and agriculture, including conventional and organic food production systems. The program recognizes that for some specialty crops that are grown in a limited number of states, the multi-state nature of projects can be difficult to address. Except for Research and Extension Planning Projects, the SCRI program only considers projects that integrate research and extension activities. Applicants are strongly encouraged to propose a unique approach to solving problems facing the specialty crop industry using a systems approach.


SCRI addresses USDA Research and Development Priority 1: Increasing Profitability of Farmers and Ranchers by creating a special emphasis on the development of automation, artificial intelligence, mechanization, and sensors (AAIMS) to reduce the amount of labor needed to propagate, plant, grow, and harvest specialty crops. NIFA intends to award no less than $20 million to projects that work directly with specialty crop growers, shippers, and processors to address these areas.



The purpose of the SCRI program is to address the critical needs of the specialty crops industries (as defined in Appendix III) by awarding grants to support research and extension that address key challenges of national, regional, and multi-state importance in sustaining all components of food and agriculture, including conventional and organic food production systems. The program recognizes that for some specialty crops that are grown in a limited number of states, the multi-state nature of projects can be difficult to address. Except for Research and Extension Planning Projects, the SCRI program only considers projects that integrate research and extension activities. Applicants are strongly encouraged to propose a unique approach to solving problems facing the specialty crop industry using a systems approach.

SCRI addresses USDA Research and Development Priority 1: Increasing Profitability of Farmers and Ranchers by creating a special emphasis on the development of automation, artificial intelligence, mechanization, and sensors (AAIMS) to reduce the amount of labor needed to propagate, plant, grow, and harvest specialty crops. NIFA intends to award no less than $20 million to projects that work directly with specialty crop growers, shippers, and processors to address these areas.

Eligible Applicants Pre-applications may only be submitted by federal agencies, national laboratories, colleges and universities, research institutions and organizations, private organizations or corporations, State Agricultural Experiment Stations, individuals, or groups consisting of two or more of these entities. For those new to federal financial assistance, a grants overview page is available on the NIFA website. This page includes information about free Grants 101 Training and other resources that are highly recommended for those seeking an understanding of federal awards. 

Cost Sharing or Matching Match Required: Applicants must provide matching contributions on a dollar-for-dollar basis for all Federal funds awarded under this program. 

Aloe Leaves

Blackberries

Fruits

Honey

Horticulture

Mamey Sapote

Maple Syrup

Mustard Greens

Parsnips

Passion Fruit

Pineapples

Plantains

Pummelos

Raspberries

Rutabagas

Tree Nuts

Abiu

Achachairu

Antidesma

Apples

Apricots

Bananas

Barbados Cherry

Blueberries

Breadfruit

Cacao

Caimito

Calabaza Melon

Canary Melon

Canary Seed

Caneberries

Canistel

Cantaloupes

Casaba Melon

Cherries

Chinese Bitter Melon

Chokeberry

Citron

Citron Melon

Coconuts

Cranberries

Crenshaw Melon

Custard Apple

Dates

Dragon Fruit

Durian

Elderberries

Figs

Genip

Goji

Gooseberries

Grapefruit

Grapes

Guava

Guavaberry

Honeyberries

Honeydew

Huckleberries

Israel Melons

Jack Fruit

Jujube

Juneberries

Kiwiberry

Kiwifruit

Korean Golden Melon

Kumquats

Langsat

Lemons

Limequats

Limes

Longan

Loquats

Lychee

Mangos

Mangosteen

Mayhaw Berries

Mesple

Mulberries

Nectarines

Oranges

Papaya

Passion Fruits

Pawpaw

Peaches

Pears

Pineapple

Plantain

Plumcots

Plums

Pomegranates

Prunes

Pummelo

Raisins

Rambutan

Sapodilla

Sapote

Schizandra Berries

Soursop

Sprite Melon

Star Fruit

Star Gooseberry

Strawberries

Sugar Apple

Tangelos

Tangerines

Tangors

Wampee

Watermelon

Wax Jamboo Fruit

Winter Melon

Apiary

Anise

Basil

Cassava

Chia

Cinnamon

Ground Cherry

Wine

Cilantro

Boston Lettuce

Green Leaf Lettuce

Iceberg Lettuce

Lolla Rossa Lettuce

Oak Leaf Lettuce

Red Leaf Lettuce

Romaine Lettuce

Dry Onions

Green Onions

Bell Peppers

Zucchini

Turnip Top

- Specialty Crop Research Initiative Call for Funding
- Crop Protection and Pest Management Program
- Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI)

Large competitive research-and-extension grant, and a matching program — budget for the match before you start.

- Range of Awards: $50,000 - $10,000,000 per project (NIFA program page).
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $175,000,000.
- Match: the program page itself only says "Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: Please see detailed information in the NOFO." The NOFO language captured in this record's eligibility text states: "Match Required: Applicants must provide matching contributions on a dollar-for-dollar basis for all Federal funds awarded under this program." Confirm the current cycle's NOFO before relying on it — SCRI's match has been statutory but the page defers to the NOFO.
- No project duration, indirect-cost cap, or number of anticipated awards is published on the program page.
- Opportunity number USDA-NIFA-SCRI-011676; Assistance Listing 10.309.

Eligibility is institutional (federal agencies, national laboratories, colleges and universities, research institutions, private organizations or corporations, State Agricultural Experiment Stations, individuals, or groups of these), and except for Research and Extension Planning Projects, proposals must integrate research and extension. This is not a producer payment — a specialty crop grower would normally participate as a partner or study site on a university-led project rather than apply alone.

Prepare your application and apply on Grants.gov. Find the application by searching for funding opportunity number USDA-NIFA-OP-009221.
To apply for grants on grants.gov you must be registered which is a process that can take multiple weeks, so we recommend you begin the process as soon as possible. You can register at grants.gov here.

The Urban, Indoor, and other Emerging Agricultural Production Research, Education&#x2004;and Extension Initiative (UIE) is a NIFA competitive grant program implemented in 2022 to support research, education and extension activities that facilitate development of urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural production systems. The UIE emphasizes activities on several segments of the value chain, including production, harvesting, transportation aggregation, packaging, distribution, and marketing needs.


The UIE program seeks applications that address all of the following:

- Explain the magnitude of the most urgent and critical needs or problems for urban, indoor, or emerging agriculture and how they will be addressed in the grant;

- Focus on opportunities to develop and strengthen:

    - income or employment, 

    - enhanced quality of life and access to safe nutritious food for urban and Native American communities,

    - estimated or actual economic return for UIE food production systems, 

    - private industry investment, 

    - site selection and reduce barriers to land access;

- Describe a meaningful approach for blending research and extension expertise and other outreach and implementation approaches throughout the project to address principal objectives;

- Provide evidence that the project is aligned to stakeholder-provided priorities listed above;

- Present expected solutions or improvements and how these will be assessed and measured;

- Address the potential costs of a proposed solution and describe how it can be scaled to be sustainable in the short term and long term; and

- Explain how the project will strengthen urban, indoor, or other emerging agricultural and food-production systems and how results will be adopted or applied at a local, regional, or national level. 



The Urban, Indoor, and other Emerging Agricultural Production Research, Education and Extension Initiative (UIE) is a NIFA competitive grant program implemented in 2022 to support research, education and extension activities that facilitate development of urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural production systems. The UIE emphasizes activities on several segments of the value chain, including production, harvesting, transportation aggregation, packaging, distribution, and marketing needs.

The UIE program seeks applications that address all of the following:
- Explain the magnitude of the most urgent and critical needs or problems for urban, indoor, or emerging agriculture and how they will be addressed in the grant;
- Focus on opportunities to develop and strengthen:
    - income or employment, 
    - enhanced quality of life and access to safe nutritious food for urban and Native American communities,
    - estimated or actual economic return for UIE food production systems, 
    - private industry investment, 
    - site selection and reduce barriers to land access;
- Describe a meaningful approach for blending research and extension expertise and other outreach and implementation approaches throughout the project to address principal objectives;
- Provide evidence that the project is aligned to stakeholder-provided priorities listed above;
- Present expected solutions or improvements and how these will be assessed and measured;
- Address the potential costs of a proposed solution and describe how it can be scaled to be sustainable in the short term and long term; and
- Explain how the project will strengthen urban, indoor, or other emerging agricultural and food-production systems and how results will be adopted or applied at a local, regional, or national level. 

Applications may only be submitted by the following entities:
- State agricultural experiment stations; 
- Colleges and universities; 
- University research foundations; 
- Other research institutions and organizations; 
- Federal agencies; 
- National laboratories; 
- Private organizations, foundations, or corporations;
- Individuals; or 
- Any group consisting of two or more of the entities described above

The UIE program has NO matching requirement. NIFA will not factor matching resources into the review process as an evaluation criterion. 

List of National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Funding Opportunities