USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture; Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Foundational and Applied Science Program

Deadlines: Vary by individual program areas and area priorities, but generally range from Oct. 2 to Nov 6, 2025. For a complete list of program areas and priorities, visit the link below.

Range of Awards: Funding varies by program area and area priority; the general funding range across programs is $10,000 - $10,000,000

About: The AFRI Foundational and Applied Science Program invests in agricultural production research, education, and extension projects for more sustainable, productive, and economically-viable plant and animal production systems. Grants are awarded in six program areas to advance knowledge in both fundamental and applied sciences:

1. Plant health and production and plant products

2. Animal health and production and animal products

3. Food safety, nutrition, and health

4. Bioenergy, natural resources, and environment

5. Agriculture systems and technology

6. Agriculture economics and rural communities

Within each of these program areas are priority areas. For a full list of these areas, visit the link below. 

Please note: If an applied research or integrated project with an applied research component is commodity-specific and not of national scope, the grant recipient is required to match the USDA funds awarded on a dollar-for-dollar basis from non-federal sources with cash and/or in-kind contributions.   

Apply: For a detailed program description and the solicitation, please see USDA NIFA’s AFRI Foundational and Applied Science Program page.

NOTE: If you are interested in applying or have any questions, please contact our Pre-Award Specialists Pia Gabriel at pg12@humboldt.edu, Kaz Wegmuller at kaz.wegmuller@humboldt.edu, or Jocelyne Takatsuno at jt366@humboldt.edu ASAP.