USDA-NIFA-AFRI-008121: Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Education and Workforce Development Program
Closed
This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Education and Workforce Development (USDA-NIFA-AFRI-011596). Status: Closes December 31, 2026 (54 days left). It is in our archive of National Institute of Food and Agriculture notices from 2021.
National Institute of Food and Agriculture offered grants of up to $1.0 million to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make $45.0 million in total. Applications closed on July 1, 2021.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed January 15, 2021. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award ceiling$1.0 million
- Total funding$45.0 million
- Cost sharingRequired
- Funding typeGrant
Other notices with this title
| Notice | Posted | Deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA-NIFA-AFRI-009041 | March 22, 2022 | Closed March 30, 2023 | Closed |
Key dates
| Posted | January 15, 2021 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | July 1, 2021 |
| Archived by Grants.gov | July 31, 2021 |
Who can apply
This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
A. Eligible Applicants Applications may only be submitted by eligible entities. Failure to meet an eligibility criterion by the application deadline may result in the application being excluded from consideration or, even though an application may be reviewed, will preclude NIFA from making an award. Eligibility is linked to the project type as specified below. 1. Research, Education or Extension Projects Eligible applicants for single-function Research, Education or Extension Projects include: a) State Agricultural Experiment Station; b) colleges and universities (including junior colleges offering associate degrees or higher); c) university research foundations; d) other research institutions and organizations; e) Federal agencies; f) national laboratories; g) private organizations or corporations; h) individuals who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents; and i) any group consisting of two or more entities identified in a) through h). Eligible institutions do not include foreign and international organizations. 2. Integrated Projects Eligible applicants for Integrated Projects include: a) colleges and universities; b) 1994 Land-Grant Institutions; and c) Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities (see NIFA's Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities page). For item a) under Integrated Projects, the terms "college" and "university" mean an educational institution in any state which i) admits as regular students only persons having a certificate of graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the recognized equivalent of such a certificate; ii) is legally authorized within such state to provide a program of education beyond secondary education; iii) provides an educational program for which a bachelor’s degree or any other higher degree is awarded; iv) is a public or other nonprofit institution; and v) is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association. A research foundation maintained by a college or university is eligible to receive an award under this program. 3. Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement Grants Part II, C(2) of this RFA contains the eligibility details for Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants. Note that under FASE program, New Investigator, Strengthening Standard, Strengthening Conference, Seed, Equipment and Sabbatical Grants are solicited in this RFA. Applicants must respond to the program area priorities and deadlines found in Part I, C of this RFA. Grant recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project. Failure to meet an eligibility criterion by the application deadline may result in the application being excluded from consideration or, even though an application may be reviewed, will preclude NIFA from making an award (see Part III, B of this RFA).
Is this a realistic fit?
- Past Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) awards averaged $580,234; this notice allows up to $1.0 million per award.
- Most of the program's money (90% over five years) went to colleges and universities.
- The notice requires cost sharing or matching funds, so you must contribute part of the project cost.
What the grant funds
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Education and Workforce Development (EWD) focuses on developing the next generation of research, education, and extension professionals in the food and agricultural sciences. In FY 2020, EWD invites applications in five areas: professional development for agricultural literacy; training of undergraduate students in research and extension; fellowships for predoctoral candidates; fellowships for postdoctoral scholars, and a brand new program for agricultural workforce training. See EWD Request for Applications for specific details.
Who has won Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) (10.310) awarded $2.1 billion across 3,639 grant awards, an average of $580,234 per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of California, Davis | California | 100 | $85.6 million |
| Purdue University | Indiana | 92 | $76.8 million |
| Iowa State University of Science and Technology | Iowa | 87 | $76.4 million |
| Texas A&m Agrilife Research | Texas | 92 | $76.1 million |
| The Ohio State University | Ohio | 72 | $70.1 million |
Applying now
This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, USDA-NIFA-AFRI-011596, which is open now.
The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.
Questions people ask
Is USDA-NIFA-AFRI-008121 still open?
No. It closed on July 1, 2021. A newer notice is open: USDA-NIFA-AFRI-011596, closes December 31, 2026 (54 days left).
Who can apply for Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Education and Workforce Development Program?
National Institute of Food and Agriculture accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.
What is the deadline for Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Education and Workforce Development Program?
Closed July 1, 2021. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.
How much funding is available?
Awards of up to $1.0 million each. About $45.0 million in total.
Who has won Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were University of California, Davis, Purdue University, Iowa State University of Science and Technology. The program made 3,639 awards worth $2.1 billion in that time.
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