National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Competitive Grant for Agriculture and Food Workforce Development

Eligibility is linked to the project type as specified below.
1. Research, Education, or Extension Projects
Eligible applicants for single-function Research, Education or Extension Projects include:
a) State Agricultural Experiment Station;
b) colleges and universities (including junior colleges offering associate degrees or higher);
c) university research foundations;
d) other research institutions and organizations;
e) Federal agencies;
f) national laboratories;
g) private organizations or corporations;
h) individuals who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents; and
i) any group consisting of two or more entities identified in a) through h).

Eligible institutions do not include foreign and international organizations.

2. Integrated Projects
Eligible applicants for Integrated Projects include:
a) colleges and universities;
b) 1994 Land-Grant Institutions; and
c) Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities (see NIFA’s Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities page).

For item a) under Integrated Projects, the terms “college” and “university” mean an educational institution in any state which:
a) admits as regular students only persons having a certificate of graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the recognized equivalent of such a certificate;
b) is legally authorized within such state to provide a program of education beyond secondary education;
c) provides an educational program for which a bachelor’s degree or any other higher degree is awarded;
d) is a public or other nonprofit institution; and
e) is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association.

A research foundation maintained by a college or university is eligible to receive an award under this program.

3. Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement Grants
Part II C.2 contains the eligibility details for Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants. Note that under FASE program, New Investigator, Strengthening Standard, Strengthening Conference, Seed, Equipment and Sabbatical Grants are solicited in this RFA.

Applicants must respond to the program area priorities and deadlines found in Part I C. Grant recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project. 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 (see Part III B).

The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative – Education and Workforce Development (EWD) focuses on developing the next generation of research, education, and extension professionals in the food and agricultural sciences. In 2023, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) requests applications for the AFRI’s Education and Workforce Development program areas to support:

1.   professional development opportunities for K-14 educational professionals;

2.   non-formal education that cultivates food and agricultural interest in youth;

3.   workforce training at community, junior, and technical colleges;

4.   training of undergraduate students in research and extension;

5.   fellowships for predoctoral candidates and postdoctoral scholars.