Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Foundational Program | USDA NIFA AFRI 006351

AFRI Foundational Program (USDA NIFA) Grant FAQs

1) What is the AFRI Foundational Program?

The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Foundational Program is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It is designed to fund foundational research and related activities that strengthen the knowledge base needed to address current and emerging challenges in agriculture and food systems.

2) What is the overall purpose of this funding opportunity?

The program is intended to support work that builds core scientific understanding and produces usable advances over time. The stated intent is to help improve agricultural productivity, sustainability, public health, and rural well-being by supporting foundational research and associated activities.

3) What is the opportunity number and program listing information?

The opportunity is published as USDA NIFA AFRI 006351 under CFDA 10.310.

4) When was this opportunity created and what was the original closing date?

The creation date is April 11, 2017, and the original closing date is June 20, 2018.

5) How is the AFRI Foundational Program organized?

The program is organized around six broad AFRI priority areas. Proposals are expected to clearly align with at least one of these priority areas and respond to specific Program Area Priorities described in the Foundational Program Request for Applications (RFA).

6) What are the six AFRI priority areas?

• Plant Health and Production and Plant Products
• Animal Health and Production and Animal Products
• Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health
• Bioenergy, Natural Resources, and Environment
• Agriculture Systems and Technology
• Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities

7) Do applicants just pick a broad priority area, or is there more required?

Applicants are not only asked to select a general area. They must respond to specific Program Area Priorities and follow the associated deadlines laid out in the Foundational Program RFA. Topic fit, expected outcomes, and submission timing are tied to what the RFA specifies for each program area.

8) What types of projects does AFRI Foundational support?

The opportunity supports multiple project formats, including single-function Research Projects and multi-function Integrated Projects. It also includes Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants, with details and requirements described in the RFA and application instructions.

9) What is a single-function Research Project under this opportunity?

A single-function Research Project focuses primarily on research activities.

10) What is an Integrated Project under this opportunity?

An Integrated Project combines research with other components, commonly education and/or extension, to move knowledge into practice and broaden impact.

11) What are FASE Grants in the context of AFRI Foundational?

Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants are included as a category within this opportunity and are intended to strengthen and broaden participation and capacity in the food and agricultural sciences. Specific details and requirements are set out in the RFA and application instructions.

12) Is eligibility the same for all project types?

No. Eligibility is explicitly tied to the type of project being proposed. The eligibility rules vary depending on whether the proposal is a research project, an integrated project, or a FASE grant.

13) Where are the eligibility requirements described?

The solicitation notes that project types and applicant requirements are described in the application sections beginning in Part II, C. Applicants are expected to follow the relevant eligibility criteria for the project type they are submitting.

14) When must eligibility requirements be met?

Applicants must meet every relevant eligibility criterion by the application deadline. The solicitation emphasizes that eligibility must be satisfied on time.

15) What happens if an applicant does not meet eligibility requirements by the deadline?

If an applicant fails to meet eligibility requirements on time, the proposal can be excluded before review. Even if it is reviewed, NIFA may be unable to make an award.

16) Can an award recipient work with organizations that are not eligible to apply?

Yes. The program allows award recipients to subcontract with organizations that are not themselves eligible to apply, as long as those partners are necessary to carry out the project.

17) How can ineligible organizations participate if they cannot apply directly?

They may participate through subawards or contracts under an eligible lead applicant, where they provide specialized expertise, services, or capabilities needed to complete the project, while the primary applicant structure remains compliant with NIFA rules.

18) Why is alignment with the RFA emphasized in this opportunity?

Because proposals are expected to align with at least one priority area and also respond to specific Program Area Priorities. The solicitation indicates that the topic fit, stated outcomes, and submission timing are all tied directly to what the RFA specifies for each program area, including associated deadlines.

19) What kinds of impacts is this program aiming to support?

Based on the opportunity description, the program aims to build a durable scientific and practical foundation across major agricultural and food domains, supporting advances that can improve agricultural productivity, sustainability, public health, and rural well-being over time.

20) What is the main compliance risk highlighted in the opportunity description?

The main risk emphasized is failing to meet eligibility requirements for the chosen project type by the application deadline, which can result in exclusion before review or prevent an award even if reviewed.