Feed the Future Innovation Labs

Background
The U.S. Department of State's Office of Global Food Security announces an open competition for organizations to submit a Statement of Interest (SOI) to serve as a Management Entity for the Feed the Future Innovation Labs (FtF Innovation Labs). This initiative aims to advance global food security through targeted research that aligns with U.S. policy, specifically focusing on reducing hunger and malnutrition while enhancing agricultural productivity and market pathways for nutritious foods.

The program is part of America First investments in agricultural research, which have historically benefited both the world's poorest regions and the U.S. economy.

Grant Details
The FtF Innovation Labs will focus on two core objectives:
(1) Advancing agricultural science and research to increase productivity and mitigate threats to production systems, thereby supporting food systems that reduce hunger and malnutrition;
(2) Increasing demand for nutritious, safe foods as part of healthy diets while improving market pathways for government and private sector actors.

The Management Entity will implement impact pathways from research to development outcomes through partnerships with various stakeholders including U.S. government programs, national partners, private companies, community-based organizations, and other donors. Research areas include sustainable intensification of agricultural production, livestock health, nutrition, food systems, and food safety.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants are restricted to U.S. colleges and universities defined under Section 296(d) of Title XII of the Foreign Assistance Act. This includes land-grant universities, sea-grant colleges, Native American land-grant colleges, and other institutions with demonstrable capacity in agricultural sciences. Collaborating partners can include various U.S. and non-U.S. entities that are not excluded from U.S. Government awards.

Period of Performance
The performance period is up to 60 months from the anticipated project start date no later than September 30, 2026.

Grant Value
The total available funding for FY 2026 is $64 million, with individual awards ranging from $20 million to $40 million each. Approximately 5-7 awards are anticipated.

Place of Performance
The geographic focus will be on low- to middle-income countries as defined by World Bank classifications.