Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Strengthening Agricultural Systems

The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative – Strengthening Agricultural Systems (AFRI-SAS) is a competitive grant program administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It is authorized under Section 2(b) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act. The AFRI-SAS program represents a flagship federal investment in U.S. food and agricultural sciences, supporting fundamental and applied research, education, and extension activities. The primary aim of the AFRI-SAS program is to transform U.S. food and agricultural systems to increase productivity while enhancing the economic prosperity of farmers and rural communities. This initiative is designed to address some of the most critical challenges faced by American producers, including ensuring food security, supporting a safe and healthy food supply, combating invasive pests and diseases, promoting soil health, improving human health through precision nutrition, and expanding domestic markets. Projects funded under this opportunity must align with the USDA Secretary’s research and development priorities. The FY 2026 AFRI-SAS Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) emphasizes systems-based, transdisciplinary approaches that fully integrate research, education, and extension components to maximize long-term sustainability, innovation, and benefit to farmers and society. For FY 2026, NIFA expects to make approximately $140 million available through this opportunity, supporting 10 to 12 awards. Two specific grant types are solicited under this NOFO: Coordinated Agricultural Projects (CAP) and Strengthening CAP Grants, both of which require fully integrated projects. Individual awards must request between $2.5 million and $10 million, with project durations of up to five years. Applications are required to address at least one of the following sub-priorities: new uses and expanding markets for agricultural and forestry products, solutions to pests and diseases of plants or animals, or combating food and diet-related chronic diseases. Applicants must utilize a framework of four pillars: planning for longevity, systems science approach, full integration, and transdisciplinary collaboration. Eligibility is open to colleges and universities, 1994 Land-grant Institutions, and Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities. Institutions eligible for the Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) program’s Strengthening Grants may also apply. Cost-sharing is required for commodity-specific applied research projects not of national scope; in such cases, the match must be dollar-for-dollar from non-federal sources. Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov, using the funding opportunity number USDA-NIFA-AFRI-011677. The application must include a project summary, narrative, bibliography, logic model, management and mentoring plans, and a data management plan, among other components. A Letter of Intent is strongly encouraged by February 26, 2026, to help NIFA plan its review process. Two application deadlines are available: March 26, 2026, for the A9201 Strengthening Agricultural Systems program code, and April 23, 2026, for the A9231 Artificial Intelligence for K-12 Food and Agricultural Sciences priority. Applications will be evaluated based on merit by a peer review panel, and proposals will be ranked according to published evaluation criteria. Applicants may also request Center of Excellence (COE) designation, which may be used as a tiebreaker in funding decisions. Award notices are expected before the end of the federal fiscal year (September 30, 2026). Award recipients will be required to participate in project director meetings throughout the period of performance. All funded projects must follow federal requirements regarding ethical research conduct, data management, indirect cost limitations (not to exceed 30% of total federal funds awarded), and use of funds. Renovation of physical facilities is not an allowable cost. This NOFO is a recurring opportunity, issued annually under the AFRI program, and future cycles are expected to follow a similar structure and timeline.

Align with USDA research priorities; Integrate all three pillars (research, education, extension); Engage stakeholders early and through implementation.