Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 011596
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Education and Workforce Development (EWD) funding opportunity from USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is designed to build a strong pipeline of future talent in the food and agricultural sciences. The program centers on preparing the next generation of research, education, and extension professionals by supporting projects that expand learning opportunities, strengthen training pathways, and grow a diverse, skilled workforce across the agricultural and food systems. In practice, the opportunity is meant to help institutions and organizations create or improve programs that develop people, not just produce research findings, with a clear emphasis on education, training, and professional development tied to agriculture and food-related careers.
NIFA is soliciting applications across several EWD program areas. These include professional development for K-14 educational professionals (supporting teachers and other educators who work from kindergarten through the first years of college), non-formal education efforts that spark youth interest in food and agriculture (such as camps, clubs, after-school programs, and other informal learning models), and workforce training programs at community, junior, and technical colleges that prepare learners for in-demand agricultural and food-sector jobs. The opportunity also supports undergraduate training experiences connected to research and extension, as well as fellowship programs for both predoctoral candidates and postdoctoral scholars. In addition, NIFA includes education and workforce development workshop grants, which typically help convene stakeholders, refine training strategies, and build communities of practice around workforce needs and educational innovation.
Eligibility depends on the type of project being proposed, and applicants are expected to follow the eligibility rules laid out in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). For single-function projects (research, education, or extension-only projects), the eligible applicant pool is broad and includes State Agricultural Experiment Stations; 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; and individual applicants who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents. Collaborative applications are also allowed, meaning a group made up of two or more eligible entity types can apply together. However, foreign and international organizations are not considered eligible institutions for these project categories.
For integrated projects (those that combine research, education, and/or extension functions in a coordinated way), eligibility is narrower. Eligible applicants include colleges and universities, 1994 Land-Grant Institutions, and Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities. The NOFO also clarifies what qualifies as a "college" or "university" for integrated project purposes: the institution must admit students who have completed secondary education (or an equivalent), be legally authorized to provide education beyond high school, offer degree programs at the bachelor level or higher, be public or nonprofit, and be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting body. Research foundations maintained by a college or university are also eligible to receive awards under this program, which can be important for institutions that route sponsored programs through affiliated foundations.
The opportunity also references Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants and points applicants to specific NOFO sections for details. Under this particular solicitation, only certain FASE tracks are being requested, including Strengthening Standard, Predoctoral Fellowship Grants, Postdoctoral Fellowship Grants, and Strengthening Workshop. Applicants must align proposals with the Program Area Priorities and meet the deadlines specified in the NOFO. While some entities may not be eligible to apply directly, award recipients are permitted to subcontract to organizations that are not eligible applicants if those partners are necessary to carry out the work, which allows programs to include specialized trainers, community organizations, or industry partners as part of implementation.
Key administrative details from the source listing include that the agency is NIFA and the opportunity is offered as a discretionary grant under CFDA 10.310. The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA AFRI 011596, and the posted closing date is 2026-12-31. The listed award ceiling is $650,000, and NIFA anticipates making around 245 awards, indicating a relatively large national portfolio of awards rather than a small, highly limited competition. Finally, the notice includes a compliance restriction tied to biosafety policy: USDA states it will not accept competitive applications submitted for due dates after June 20, 2025, or R&D contract proposals tied to solicitations issued after that date, if the work involves "dangerous gain-of-function research" as defined in Section 8 of Executive Order 14292. This clause is relevant for applicants whose training or research components could intersect with regulated high-risk biological work, and it signals that such activities may be disallowed under certain timelines and definitions.Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 011596
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Education and Workforce Development" 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 2026-01-20.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-12-31. (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 $650,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 245 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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AFRI Education and Workforce Development (EWD) Grant (USDA NIFA) - FAQs
What is the AFRI Education and Workforce Development (EWD) funding opportunity?
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Education and Workforce Development (EWD) opportunity is a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) discretionary grant program focused on building a strong pipeline of future talent in the food and agricultural sciences. It supports projects that expand learning opportunities, strengthen training pathways, and develop a diverse, skilled workforce across agricultural and food systems.
What is the main purpose of this opportunity?
The program is designed to prepare the next generation of research, education, and extension professionals. In practical terms, it is intended to help institutions and organizations create or improve programs that develop people (education, training, professional development) tied to agriculture and food-related careers, rather than focusing only on producing research findings.
Which agency is offering this grant?
The funding agency is USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
Is this a competitive discretionary grant program?
Yes. The listing describes it as a discretionary grant opportunity.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 10.310.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA AFRI 011596.
What is the posted closing date?
The posted closing date is 2026-12-31.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The listed award ceiling is $650,000.
How many awards does NIFA expect to make?
NIFA anticipates making around 245 awards under this opportunity.
What types of projects or program areas are being solicited under EWD?
NIFA is soliciting applications across several EWD program areas, including:
- Professional development for K-14 educational professionals (teachers and other educators spanning kindergarten through the first years of college)
- Non-formal education efforts that spark youth interest in food and agriculture (for example, camps, clubs, after-school programs, and other informal learning models)
- Workforce training programs at community, junior, and technical colleges for in-demand agriculture and food-sector jobs
- Undergraduate training experiences connected to research and extension
- Fellowship programs for predoctoral candidates
- Fellowship programs for postdoctoral scholars
- Education and workforce development workshop grants (to convene stakeholders, refine training strategies, and build communities of practice)
What does "K-14 educational professionals" mean in this context?
It refers to educators working from kindergarten through the first years of college. The program area focuses on professional development for these educational professionals.
What is meant by "non-formal education" in this opportunity?
Non-formal education refers to informal learning approaches that encourage youth interest in food and agriculture, such as camps, clubs, after-school programs, and similar informal learning models.
What kinds of institutions are emphasized for workforce training programs?
The opportunity specifically includes workforce training programs at community colleges, junior colleges, and technical colleges that prepare learners for in-demand agricultural and food-sector jobs.
Does the opportunity include support for undergraduate training?
Yes. The opportunity supports undergraduate training experiences that connect to research and extension.
Are fellowships included in this solicitation?
Yes. The opportunity includes fellowship programs for both predoctoral candidates and postdoctoral scholars.
What are education and workforce development workshop grants intended to do?
Workshop grants typically support convening stakeholders, refining training strategies, and building communities of practice around workforce needs and educational innovation.
What is the difference between single-function and integrated projects?
Single-function projects are research-only, education-only, or extension-only projects. Integrated projects combine research, education, and/or extension functions in a coordinated way.
Who can apply for single-function projects?
For single-function projects, the eligible applicant pool is described as broad and includes:
- State Agricultural Experiment Stations
- 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
- Individual applicants who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents
Applicants are expected to follow the eligibility rules in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
Are collaborative applications allowed?
Yes. Collaborative applications are allowed, meaning a group made up of two or more eligible entity types can apply together.
Are foreign or international organizations eligible to apply?
No. Foreign and international organizations are not considered eligible institutions for these project categories as described.
Who can apply for integrated projects?
For integrated projects, eligibility is narrower. Eligible applicants include:
- Colleges and universities
- 1994 Land-Grant Institutions
- Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities
Applicants should rely on the NOFO for the detailed eligibility requirements.
What qualifies as a "college" or "university" for integrated project eligibility?
For integrated projects, the NOFO criteria described include that the institution must:
- Admit students who have completed secondary education (or an equivalent)
- Be legally authorized to provide education beyond high school
- Offer degree programs at the bachelor level or higher
- Be public or nonprofit
- Be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting body
Can a university-affiliated research foundation receive an award?
Yes. Research foundations maintained by a college or university are described as eligible to receive awards under this program, which can matter for institutions that route sponsored programs through affiliated foundations.
What is FASE and how does it relate to this solicitation?
The opportunity references Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants and points applicants to specific NOFO sections for details. Under this solicitation, only certain FASE tracks are being requested.
Which FASE grant tracks are requested under this solicitation?
The solicitation indicates that only the following FASE tracks are being requested:
- Strengthening Standard
- Predoctoral Fellowship Grants
- Postdoctoral Fellowship Grants
- Strengthening Workshop
Do applicants have to follow NOFO program priorities and deadlines?
Yes. Applicants must align proposals with the Program Area Priorities and meet the deadlines specified in the NOFO.
If an organization is not eligible to apply directly, can it still participate?
Yes. The information provided states that award recipients are permitted to subcontract to organizations that are not eligible applicants if those partners are necessary to carry out the work. This allows inclusion of specialized trainers, community organizations, or industry partners as part of implementation.
Is there a biosafety-related restriction that could affect eligibility or submission?
Yes. USDA states it will not accept competitive applications submitted for due dates after June 20, 2025, or R&D contract proposals tied to solicitations issued after that date, if the work involves "dangerous gain-of-function research" as defined in Section 8 of Executive Order 14292.
Who should pay special attention to the "dangerous gain-of-function research" restriction?
Applicants whose training or research components could intersect with regulated high-risk biological work should pay close attention to this clause, since it signals that such activities may be disallowed under certain timelines and definitions described in the notice.
Where are the official eligibility rules and detailed requirements defined?
The official eligibility rules, program area priorities, deadlines, and additional details are laid out in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), which applicants are expected to follow.
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