The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is seeking applications for Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Competitive Grants Program - Sustainable Agricultural Systems (SAS) to support research, education, and extension work by awarding grants to solve key problems of local, regional, national, and global importance in sustaining conventional, organic, and urban agricultural systems.

NIFA seeks creative and visionary applications that take a systems approach and that will significantly improve the supply of abundant, affordable, safe, nutritious, and accessible food, while providing sustainable opportunities for expansion of the bioeconomy through novel animal, crop, and forest products and supporting technologies. These approaches must demonstrate current and future social, behavioral, economic, health, and environmental impacts.

Additionally, the outcomes of the work being proposed must result in societal benefits, including promotion of rural prosperity and enhancement of quality of life for those involved in food and agricultural value chains from production to utilization and consumption.

Program Goals

This AFRI RFA aligns with the following six USDA Strategic Goals:

• Strategic Goal 2: Maximize the ability of American agricultural producers to prosper by feeding and clothing the world;
• Strategic Goal 3: Promote American agricultural products and exports;
• Strategic Goal 4: Facilitate rural prosperity and economic development;
• Strategic Goal 5: Strengthen the stewardship of private lands through technology and research;
• Strategic Goal 6: Ensure productive and sustainable use of our National Forest System Lands;
• Strategic Goal 7: Provide all Americans access to a safe, nutritious, and secure food supply.

Priority Areas

• Sustainable Agricultural Systems
• Sustainable Agricultural Systems Program Evaluation

Funding Information

• The amount available for new grants in this FY 2021 SAS RFA is approximately $150 million, for awards of up to approximately $10 million each.

Eligibility Criteria

• 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.
  • Research, Education or Extension Projects: Eligible applicants for single-function Research, Education or Extension Projects include:
    • State Agricultural Experiment Station;
    • colleges and universities (including junior colleges offering associate degrees or higher);
    • university research foundations;
    • other research institutions and organizations;
    • Federal agencies;
    • national laboratories;
    • private organizations or corporations;
    • individuals who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents; and
    • any group consisting of two or more entities identified above.
  • Eligible institutions do not include foreign and international organizations.
  • Integrated Projects: Eligible applicants for Integrated Projects include:
    • colleges and universities;
    • 1994 Land-Grant Institutions; and
    • Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities
  • 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, Strengthening Coordinated Agricultural Project and Strengthening Standard Grants are solicited in this RFA.

For more information, visit USDA-NIFA.