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

You must first apply to the USDA SBIR Phase I. 

Potential USDA SBIR topics include:
- Forests and Related Resources
- Plant Production and Protection - Biology
- Animal Production and Protection
- Conservation of Natural Resources
- Food Science and Nutrition
- Rural Development
- Aquaculture
- Biofuels and Biobased Products
- Small and Mid-Size Farms
- Plant Production and Protection - Engineering

Melinda Coffman

Program Coordinator

Kelly McDonald

Program Specialist

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.

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

Grant

- 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

Trials

Certification

Español

Native Americans

People Of Color

Women

Organic

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.


To receive application materials: 
1. You must download and install a version of Adobe Reader compatible with Grants.gov to access, complete, and submit applications. For basic system requirements and download instructions, see Adobe Software Compatibility. 
2. Grants.gov has a test package that will help you determine whether your current version of Adobe Reader is compatible. 
3. To obtain the application package from Grants.gov, go to Search for Opportunity Package and enter the funding opportunity number where appropriate. 

Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-NIFA-ICGP-007872 

Click “Search.” On the displayed page, click the corresponding link to continue. A Grant Application Package is tied to a particular funding opportunity. You may move forms among different Grant Application Packages, but you may ONLY submit an application to the particular funding opportunity to which the Grant Application Package is associated. 

Contained within the application package is the “NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide.” This guide contains an introduction and general Grants.gov instructions, information 17 about how to use a Grant Application Package in Grants.gov, and instructions on how to complete the application forms.

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 described in subparagraphs(1) through (8).

Marketing

Conservation

Research

Compliance

In accordance with 7 U.S.C. 5925b(c), 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. (See Part IV, B., 6. for details.) 

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.

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

USDA Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR)

Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI)