NIFA’s Sustainable Agricultural Systems Grant for U.S. Food and Agriculture Transformation

1. 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
i) 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;
ii) is legally authorized within such state to provide a program of education beyond secondary education;
iii) provides an educational program for which a bachelor’s degree or any other higher degree is awarded;
iv) is a public or other nonprofit institution; and
v) 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.

2. Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement Grants
Part II § C.2 of this RFA contains the eligibility details for Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants. Note that under FASE program, Strengthening Coordinated Agricultural Project and Strengthening Standard Grants are solicited in this RFA.

Applicants must respond to the program area priorities and deadlines found in Part I § C of this RFA. 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).

Applications to the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative – Sustainable Agricultural Systems (SAS) Request for Applications (RFA) must focus on approaches that promote transformational changes in the U.S. food and agriculture system. NIFA seeks creative and visionary applications that take a systems approach for projects are expected to significantly improve the supply of affordable, safe, nutritious, and accessible agricultural products, while fostering economic development and rural prosperity in America. These approaches must demonstrate current needs and anticipate future social, cultural, behavioral, economic, health, and environmental impacts. Additionally, the outcomes of the work being proposed should result in societal benefits, including promotion of rural prosperity and enhancement of quality of life for all those involved in food and agricultural value chains from production to utilization and consumption. See AFRI SAS RFA for details.