# Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Education and Workforce Development

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/usda-nifa-afri-011596-agriculture-and-food-research-initiative-competitive-grants/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/361169

> National Institute of Food and Agriculture is offering grants of up to $650,000 (at least $10,000) to the applicants described in the notice. It expects to make about 245 awards worth $39.7 million in total. Applications close on December 31, 2026.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | USDA-NIFA-AFRI-011596 |
| Agency | National Institute of Food and Agriculture |
| Status | Open |
| Deadline | December 31, 2026 |
| Award ceiling | $650,000 |
| Award floor | $10,000 |
| Expected awards | 245 |
| Total funding | $39.7 million |
| Cost sharing | required |
| Assistance Listings | 10.310 |

## Who can apply

- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

Eligibility Requirements - Applicants for AFRI must meet all the requirements discussed in this NOFO. Failure to meet the eligibility criteria by the application deadline may result in exclusion from consideration or preclude NIFA from making an award. For those new to Federal financial assistance, NIFA’s About Grants provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand the Federal awards process. 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; andi) any group consisting of two or more entities identified in a) through h).Eligible institutions do not include foreign and international organizations.2. Integrated ProjectsEligible applicants for Integrated Projects include: a) colleges and universities;b) 1994 Land-Grant Institutions; andc) 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: a) 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; b) is legally authorized within such state to provide a program of education beyond secondary education; c) provides an educational program for which a bachelor’s degree or any other higher degree is awarded; d) is a public or other nonprofit institution; and e) 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 GrantsPart II, C.2 contains the eligibility details for Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants. Note that under FASE opportunity, only Strengthening Standard, Predoctoral Fellowship Grants, Postdoctoral Fellowship Grants, and Strengthening Workshop are solicited in this NOFO.Applicants must respond to the Program Area Priorities and deadlines found in Part I, C. 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).USDA will not accept competitive applications for grants and cooperative agreements submitted for due dates after June 20, 2025, and/or research and development (R&D) contract proposals submitted to solicitations issued after June 20, 2025, for dangerous gain-of-function research, as defined in Section 8 of E.O. 14292.

## 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. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) requests applications for the AFRI’s Education and Workforce Development program areas to support: 1. professional development opportunities for K-14 educational professionals; 2. non-formal education that cultivates food and agricultural interest in youth; 3. workforce training at community, junior, and technical colleges; 4. training of undergraduate students in research and extension; 5. fellowships for predoctoral candidates; 6. fellowships for postdoctoral scholars; and 7. education and workforce development workshop grants.

## Questions people ask

### Who can apply for Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Education and Workforce Development?

National Institute of Food and Agriculture accepts 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?

Closes December 31, 2026 (61 days left). Confirm the date and time in the official notice on Grants.gov.

### How much funding is available?

Awards of up to $650,000 each. About $39.7 million in total across about 245 awards.