Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 009002
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Sustainable Agricultural Systems (SAS) grant opportunity, administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), supports ambitious, systems-based projects intended to drive transformational change across the U.S. food and agriculture system. The core idea is to move beyond narrow, single-discipline solutions and instead fund integrated efforts that can meaningfully improve how food and agricultural products are produced, moved through value chains, and ultimately made available to people. Competitive applications are expected to show how their proposed approach will increase the supply of agricultural products that are affordable, safe, nutritious, and accessible, while also strengthening economic development and rural prosperity. Strong proposals do not just address immediate technical challenges; they also demonstrate awareness of current needs and provide a credible picture of how the work anticipates longer-term social, cultural, behavioral, economic, health, and environmental impacts.
A key theme of the SAS program is measurable societal benefit. Projects should be designed so the outcomes improve quality of life for the people and communities involved across the entire food and agriculture value chain, from production through utilization and consumption. In practice, that means applications should connect research outcomes to real-world adoption and impact, including how innovations or systems changes could bolster rural prosperity, improve resilience, and deliver benefits to consumers and communities, not only to producers or specific industry segments. NIFA explicitly signals interest in creative and visionary ideas, but those ideas must be grounded in a coherent systems approach that links activities to outcomes and explains why the proposed work can produce significant, durable improvements.
Eligibility is tightly tied to the specific project types described in the SAS Request for Applications (RFA), and applicants are expected to follow all requirements in that document. For Integrated Projects, eligible applicants include colleges and universities, 1994 Land-Grant Institutions, and Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities. The RFA clarifies what counts as a college or university for eligibility purposes: the institution must admit students with a secondary-school credential (or equivalent), be legally authorized to offer education beyond secondary school, award bachelor’s degrees or higher, be public or other nonprofit, and be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association. Importantly, a research foundation maintained by a college or university may also be eligible to receive an award under this program, which can matter for institutions that route sponsored projects through affiliated foundations.
The opportunity also includes Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grant options, with eligibility and rules provided in the RFA’s FASE section. Under this solicitation, NIFA indicates that Strengthening Coordinated Agricultural Project and Strengthening Standard Grants are included, which generally signals an emphasis on building capacity and competitiveness in eligible institutions or project teams, depending on the specific FASE mechanism. Applicants must align their proposals to the program area priorities and meet the deadlines listed in the RFA. Even if a prime applicant must meet eligibility requirements, funded projects may subcontract work to organizations that are not themselves eligible to apply, as long as those partners are necessary to carry out the project’s scope. NIFA emphasizes that failing to meet eligibility requirements by the application deadline can lead to the application being excluded from consideration, or prevent an award from being made even if the application is reviewed, so compliance with eligibility and formatting requirements is a practical make-or-break issue.
From the opportunity listing, the award instrument is a discretionary grant under CFDA (now Assistance Listing) 10.310, with an award ceiling shown as $10,000,000. The posting lists the original closing date as 2022-07-28 and identifies the opportunity number as USDA NIFA AFRI 009002. Applicants considering similar future cycles should treat these dates as specific to that posting year and rely on the current SAS RFA for the active deadlines, priorities, and any updated funding parameters.Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 009002
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Sustainable Agricultural Systems" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.310.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2022-03-08.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-07-28. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $10,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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AFRI Sustainable Agricultural Systems (SAS) Grant FAQs
What is the AFRI Sustainable Agricultural Systems (SAS) grant?
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Sustainable Agricultural Systems (SAS) grant is a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) funding opportunity that supports ambitious, systems-based projects intended to drive transformational change across the U.S. food and agriculture system.
What does "systems-based" mean in the context of SAS?
In this program, "systems-based" means moving beyond narrow, single-discipline solutions and proposing integrated efforts that improve how food and agricultural products are produced, moved through value chains, and ultimately made available to people. Competitive applications are expected to connect activities to outcomes in a coherent way and explain why the approach can produce significant, durable improvements.
What kinds of outcomes is NIFA looking for from SAS projects?
SAS projects are expected to increase the supply of agricultural products that are affordable, safe, nutritious, and accessible. Proposals should also strengthen economic development and rural prosperity and present a credible picture of longer-term social, cultural, behavioral, economic, health, and environmental impacts.
Who administers this grant opportunity?
The SAS grant opportunity is administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under AFRI.
What is a key theme of the SAS program?
A key theme is measurable societal benefit. Projects should be designed so outcomes improve quality of life for people and communities across the entire food and agriculture value chain, from production through utilization and consumption.
How should applicants demonstrate "measurable societal benefit"?
Applications should connect research outcomes to real-world adoption and impact, including how innovations or systems changes could bolster rural prosperity, improve resilience, and deliver benefits to consumers and communities (not only to producers or a single industry segment).
Does NIFA prioritize creative or unconventional ideas?
NIFA explicitly signals interest in creative and visionary ideas, but those ideas must be grounded in a coherent systems approach that links activities to outcomes and explains why the work can deliver significant, durable improvements.
Where do I find the official requirements for the SAS program?
Eligibility, project types, deadlines, and required application elements are tied to the Sustainable Agricultural Systems Request for Applications (RFA). Applicants are expected to follow all requirements in that RFA.
Who is eligible to apply for Integrated Projects under this SAS opportunity?
For Integrated Projects, eligible applicants include colleges and universities, 1994 Land-Grant Institutions, and Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities, as described in the SAS RFA.
How does the RFA define an eligible "college or university"?
The RFA indicates that, for eligibility purposes, a college or university must: (1) admit students with a secondary-school credential (or equivalent), (2) be legally authorized to provide education beyond secondary school, (3) award bachelor’s degrees or higher, (4) be public or other nonprofit, and (5) be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association.
Can a university-affiliated research foundation apply or receive the award?
Yes. The RFA notes that a research foundation maintained by a college or university may be eligible to receive an award under this program, which can be important for institutions that route sponsored projects through an affiliated foundation.
Are there FASE (Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement) options under this solicitation?
Yes. The opportunity includes Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grant options, with eligibility and rules provided in the RFA’s FASE section.
Which FASE mechanisms are specifically mentioned?
NIFA indicates that Strengthening Coordinated Agricultural Project and Strengthening Standard Grants are included under this solicitation, generally signaling an emphasis on building capacity and competitiveness (subject to the specific mechanism’s rules in the RFA).
Do applicants need to align proposals to specific priorities?
Yes. Applicants must align proposals to the program area priorities and meet the deadlines listed in the SAS RFA.
Can ineligible organizations participate in a funded project?
Yes. Even if the prime applicant must meet eligibility requirements, funded projects may subcontract work to organizations that are not themselves eligible to apply, as long as those partners are necessary to carry out the project’s scope.
What happens if an applicant fails to meet eligibility requirements by the deadline?
NIFA emphasizes that failing to meet eligibility requirements by the application deadline can result in the application being excluded from consideration, or prevent an award from being made even if the application is reviewed.
Is compliance with formatting and RFA instructions important?
Yes. The opportunity description highlights that compliance with eligibility and formatting requirements is a practical make-or-break issue, and applicants are expected to follow the SAS RFA requirements.
What type of award instrument is used for this opportunity?
The listing describes the award instrument as a discretionary grant.
What is the Assistance Listing (formerly CFDA) number for this program?
The Assistance Listing (formerly CFDA) number shown is 10.310.
What is the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?
The opportunity listing shows an award ceiling of $10,000,000.
What is the opportunity number associated with this posting?
The opportunity number identified in the listing is USDA NIFA AFRI 009002.
What was the original closing date listed in the posting?
The posting lists the original closing date as 2022-07-28.
Are the listed dates and funding details applicable to future cycles?
Applicants considering similar future cycles should treat the listed dates as specific to that posting year and rely on the current SAS RFA for active deadlines, priorities, and any updated funding parameters.
What parts of the food and agriculture system should a SAS project consider?
Projects are expected to address impacts across the value chain, from production through utilization and consumption, including how products move through value chains and how resulting changes affect communities and consumers.
Does the program emphasize impacts beyond immediate technical challenges?
Yes. Strong proposals should not only address immediate technical challenges, but also show awareness of current needs and anticipate longer-term social, cultural, behavioral, economic, health, and environmental impacts.
Is the SAS program focused only on producer benefits?
No. The program emphasizes benefits across the entire value chain and calls for outcomes that improve quality of life for people and communities, including consumers, not only producers or specific industry segments.
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| Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program – Organic Transitions Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 009001 Funding Number: USDA NIFA ICGP 009001 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $750,000 |
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| Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Education and Workforce Development Program Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 009041 Funding Number: USDA NIFA AFRI 009041 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
| Tribal Colleges Extension Program - Capacity Applications Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 009062 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 009062 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $984,000 |
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| Wild Cervid Chronic Wasting Disease Management and Response Activities 2022 Cooperative Agreements Apply for USDA APHIS 10028 WSNWRC00 22 0011 Funding Number: USDA APHIS 10028 WSNWRC00 22 0011 Agency: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| FY 22 Conservation Innovation Grants State Program Apply for USDA NRCS AR CIG 22 NOFO0001181 Funding Number: USDA NRCS AR CIG 22 NOFO0001181 Agency: Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| USDA APHIS Tribal Nations Wild Cervid Chronic Wasting Disease Opportunities 2022 Cooperative Agreements Apply for USDA APHIS 10028 WSNWRC00 22 0014 Funding Number: USDA APHIS 10028 WSNWRC00 22 0014 Agency: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| APS-OAA-21-00001 Addendum USAID/Nepal Apply for 72036722APS00002 Funding Number: 72036722APS00002 Agency: Nepal USAID-Kathmandu Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Alfalfa Seed and Alfalfa Forage Systems Apply for USDA NIFA OP 009108 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 009108 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $900,000 |
| Higher Education Challenge Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA CGP 009106 Funding Number: USDA NIFA CGP 009106 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| National Plant Diagnostic Network for the Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative Apply for USDA NIFA ES 009109 Funding Number: USDA NIFA ES 009109 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $700,000 |
| Smith-Lever Special Needs Competitive Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 009104 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 009104 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Special Research Grants for Aquaculture Research Program Apply for USDA NIFA SRGP 009105 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SRGP 009105 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Enhancing Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans Competitive Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA OP 009110 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 009110 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Tribal Colleges Extension Program: Special Emphasis Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 009121 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 009121 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Organic Cost Share Programs Apply for USDA FSA SND AMA 22 NOFO0001214 Funding Number: USDA FSA SND AMA 22 NOFO0001214 Agency: Farm Service Agency Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $244,150 |
| Organic Cost Share Programs Apply for USDA FSA SND NOCCSP 22 NOFO0001215 Funding Number: USDA FSA SND NOCCSP 22 NOFO0001215 Agency: Farm Service Agency Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $1,437,800 |
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