The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA), is the flagship competitive grants program supporting fundamental and applied research, education, and extension in the food and agricultural sciences. Within AFRI, the Foundational and Applied Science (FAS) program is designed to support projects that advance the productivity, sustainability, and economic viability of U.S. agricultural systems. For FY26, approximately $300 million is allocated to support a variety of grant types and research areas.
Program Code A1102, titled "Foundational Knowledge of Agricultural Production Systems," aims to support plant-focused research that addresses critical system dynamics within a broad range of agricultural production systems—from conventional open-field farms to highly controlled environments such as hydroponics and vertical farming. Projects must focus on process-limiting factors and employ experimental manipulations, technological interventions, or modeling to generate innovative solutions that can improve productivity, profitability, and human capital in agriculture.
Applicants are encouraged to investigate topics such as plant-soil-microbe interactions, cropping system diversification, and data-driven synthesis to understand agricultural system behavior. The program specifically welcomes research on plant products including food, fiber, industrial crops, and seaweeds. Studies focusing on small- to medium-sized farms, and those incorporating integrated crop management, soil health, pest control, automation, and labor safety, are highly encouraged. However, projects involving livestock are not eligible under this program code.
Eligible grant types include Standard, Workshop, and various Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) grants, such as Strengthening Standard, New Investigator, and Seed Grants. Project durations range from 12 to 60 months depending on the grant type. Maximum award amounts vary, with $650,000 for Research Projects and $750,000 for Integrated Projects. A Letter of Intent is only required for Workshop Grants, with submission due at least 195 days before the event. Full applications for FY26 are due by December 4, 2025.
The application review process evaluates the scientific merit, relevance to U.S. agriculture, and integration of education or extension activities if applicable. Projects that demonstrate strong foundational contributions, particularly those that could lead to broader transdisciplinary work, are encouraged to build toward future applications under the AFRI Sustainable Agricultural Systems program. For questions, applicants may contact the program area via A1102@usda.gov. Awards may cover a project duration of up to five years and are expected to begin after award notification, typically issued several months after submission deadlines. The program is issued annually, with future cycles anticipated to follow similar timelines.
Ensure fit with program priority; proposals must focus on plants only; cross-reference program area if studying microbes or pests.
