Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Foundational and Applied Science Program 2025

The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Foundational and Applied Science (FAS) Program is a flagship competitive grants program managed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The AFRI-FAS program provides funding for fundamental and applied research, education, and extension projects in food and agricultural sciences. With an anticipated funding pool of $300 million for fiscal year 2026, this initiative supports projects that address some of the most critical issues facing U.S. agriculture across six priority areas and one crosscutting area. These include plant and animal production systems, food safety and nutrition, natural resource stewardship, agricultural technologies, rural community development, and emerging challenges. AFRI-FAS is grounded in legislative authority through Section 2(b) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 3157). The program emphasizes enhancing agricultural productivity and sustainability, supporting domestic markets, training the next generation of agricultural scientists, and ensuring national food and resource security. Within the 2026 cycle, the program prioritizes a transdisciplinary approach, integrating research, education, and extension to produce tangible, science-based outcomes that improve economic viability and sustainability. Grants are available in the form of Standard, Workshop, and Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) grants, including subtypes like New Investigator and Strengthening Standard grants. Funding may also be allocated toward multi-institutional projects, Centers of Excellence, and collaborative initiatives involving commodity boards or international partners. The AFRI-FAS program has a highly structured application and review process. Application deadlines vary by program area priority, ranging from October 2 to November 13, 2025. For certain projects, such as Workshop Grants, a Letter of Intent (LOI) is required and must be submitted at least 195 days prior to the proposed event. Full applications must be received at least 150 days before the workshop. Specific program area priorities span foundational knowledge in plant and animal systems, pollinator health, food safety, bioeconomy innovation, engineering for agriculture, and economics of rural development, among others. Each program area outlines eligible project types and maximum award amounts, which generally range from $50,000 for Workshop Grants to $900,000 for integrated or partnership projects. Grant durations vary by type, typically extending from 12 to 60 months. Applicants must carefully review program area requirements to determine eligibility and suitability. Eligibility is broad but primarily includes U.S.-based institutions of higher education (public and private), nonprofit organizations, for-profit small businesses, tribal entities, state and local governments, and individual researchers. Strengthening Grants and New Investigator awards offer additional support for institutions that serve underrepresented communities or researchers new to federal funding. Projects must focus on commodities and systems relevant to U.S. agriculture, and priority is given to those benefiting small- and medium-sized farms. International collaborations are allowed but must show a clear benefit to domestic agriculture. Evaluation criteria are based on scientific merit, alignment with program priorities, qualifications of the project team, and potential impact on U.S. agricultural systems. Applications must follow the formatting, budget, and data management requirements outlined in the Request for Applications (RFA). A mentoring plan is required for all applications involving education or training components. Applications that exceed specified budget caps or fail to comply with submission guidelines will not be reviewed. All applicants must adhere to ethical conduct standards and NIFA’s administrative and reporting requirements. Peer review panels consisting of scientific and stakeholder representatives evaluate proposals based on standardized scoring rubrics. The AFRI-FAS program is currently open and accepting applications for FY 2026. Deadlines vary across more than 30 program area priorities, with the earliest being October 2, 2025. Given its recurring nature, the program is expected to continue annually, and prospective applicants are encouraged to begin preparing early, especially if submitting letters of intent. For specific inquiries, applicants can contact program area leads via dedicated email addresses (e.g., A1102@usda.gov for Agricultural Production Systems). The official funding opportunity number for this round is USDA-NIFA-AFRI-011134, and all applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by the listed deadlines. Additional resources, such as webinar recordings and template documents, are available on the AFRI RFA Resources page.

Projects must strictly follow budget guidelines; exceeding them leads to disqualification. Selecting the correct program area is essential.