Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Sustainable Agricultural Systems

Background
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) is USDA’s flagship competitive grant program that provides funding for fundamental and applied research, education, and extension projects in the food and agricultural sciences. The long-term purpose of the Sustainable Agricultural Systems (SAS) Request for Applications (RFA) is to help transform the U.S. food and agricultural system to increase agricultural production while also reducing its environmental footprint. The specific goals addressed in this RFA include Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry (CSAF), Strengthening the Bioeconomy, and Nutrition Security.

Grant Details
The AFRI SAS RFA solicits proposals for Coordinated Agricultural Project and Strengthening Coordinated Agricultural Project (Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement/FASE) Grants. Projects must use a systems approach that recognizes and uses the convergence of rapidly advancing science and technology to address complex challenges in developing sustainable agricultural systems.

The projects are expected to significantly advance foundational and applied sciences for addressing critical societal issues. The RFA provides funding for integrated research, education, and extension projects that promote convergence of science and technology to solve challenges to current and future food and agricultural production systems.

Eligibility Requirements
Letter of Intent (LOI) submission is required by an integrated project eligible institution. Competitive proposals will present a clear explanation of the system(s) chosen that will be selected and the associated problems that will be addressed through research, extension, or education.

Applications from small to mid-sized institutions, minority-serving institutions, and/or institutions within EPSCoR states are encouraged.

Period of Performance
The AFRI SAS RFA covers one grant review cycle in FY 2022 using funding from the FY 2022 budget. The grant duration is up to 60 months.

Grant Value
The amount available for new grants in this FY 2022 AFRI SAS RFA is approximately $80 million, for awards of up to $10 million each.

Place of Performance
Projects must enhance access and interest in food and agricultural education for communities, especially those underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

Funded projects are expected to develop tools, techniques, and/or formal and non-formal education practices that can be adopted and implemented by education professionals in the classroom, at home or by extension specialists.