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

Read the RFA carefully, and apply online at this link.

Thomas (Tom) Bewick

The purpose of the SCRI program is to address the critical needs of the specialty crop industry 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. Projects must address at least one of five focus areas:

- Research in plant breeding, genetics, genomics, and other methods to improve crop characteristics

- Efforts to identify and address threats from pests and diseases, including threats to specialty crop pollinators

- Efforts to improve production efficiency, handling and processing, productivity, and profitability over the long term (including specialty crop policy and marketing)

- New innovations and technology, including improved mechanization and technologies that delay or inhibit ripening

- Methods to prevent, detect, monitor, control, and respond to potential food safety hazards in the production efficiency, handling and processing of specialty crops



The purpose of the SCRI program is to address the critical needs of the specialty crop industry 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. Projects must address at least one of five focus areas:
- Research in plant breeding, genetics, genomics, and other methods to improve crop characteristics
- Efforts to identify and address threats from pests and diseases, including threats to specialty crop pollinators
- Efforts to improve production efficiency, handling and processing, productivity, and profitability over the long term (including specialty crop policy and marketing)
- New innovations and technology, including improved mechanization and technologies that delay or inhibit ripening
- Methods to prevent, detect, monitor, control, and respond to potential food safety hazards in the production efficiency, handling and processing of specialty crops

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.

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

Grant

Specialty Crops

Aloe Leaves

Blackberries

Fruits

Honey

Horticulture

Mamey Sapote

Maple Syrup

Mustard Greens

Parsnips

Passion Fruit

Pineapples

Plantains

Pummelos

Raspberries

Rutabagas

Tree Nuts

Vegetables

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

Bees

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

Potato Seeds

Processing Potatoes

Russet Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes

Zucchini

Turnip Top

- View RFA
- Apply for Grant
- NIFA Application Guide

Trials

Certified Organic

Certification

Marketing

Conservation

Research

Compliance

There is no matching requirement for the FY2023 SCRI program.

Apply for this grant online on grants.gov.
Search for Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-NIFA-ICGP-008621 

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 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

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.

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 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

Trade Relief

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

Apply for this grant online at grants.gov. Search for 'USDA-NIFA-SBIR'

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

Melinda Coffman

Program Coordinator

Tammi Neville

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers competitively awarded grants to qualified small businesses to support high quality research related to important scientific problems and opportunities in agriculture that could lead to significant public benefits. The program stimulates technological innovations in the private sector and strengthens the role of federal research and development in support of small businesses. The SBIR program also fosters and encourages participation by women-owned and socially or economically disadvantaged small businesses.


The objectives of the SBIR Program are to:

- Stimulate technological innovations in the private sector;

- Strengthen the role of small businesses in meeting Federal research and development needs;

- Increase private sector commercialization of innovations derived from USDA-supported research and development efforts; and,

- Foster and encourage participation by women-owned and socially and economically disadvantaged small business firms in technological innovations.



The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers competitively awarded grants to qualified small businesses to support high quality research related to important scientific problems and opportunities in agriculture that could lead to significant public benefits. The program stimulates technological innovations in the private sector and strengthens the role of federal research and development in support of small businesses. The SBIR program also fosters and encourages participation by women-owned and socially or economically disadvantaged small businesses.

The objectives of the SBIR Program are to:
- Stimulate technological innovations in the private sector;
- Strengthen the role of small businesses in meeting Federal research and development needs;
- Increase private sector commercialization of innovations derived from USDA-supported research and development efforts; and,
- Foster and encourage participation by women-owned and socially and economically disadvantaged small business firms in technological innovations.

Small businesses and small proprietorships that are in business for profit are eligible to submit applications to this program. Each organization submitting a proposal must qualify as a small business concern for research or research and development purposes. See RFA for additional information.

- 2022 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

Español

Women

Native Americans

People Of Color

Socially Disadvantaged

SBIR Phase I grants are limited to $100,000 and duration of 8 months and are open to any small business concern that meets the SBIR eligibility requirements. 
SBIR Phase II grants are limited to $600,000 and duration of 24 months and are only open to previous Phase I awardees. SBIR program funds are allocated in proportion to the number of proposals received over 10 broad topic areas. Proposals are reviewed through a confidential peer review process using outside experts from nonprofit organizations. All applicants receive verbatim copies of reviews.

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