The AFRI Foundational and Applied Science Program supports grants in six AFRI priority areas to advance knowledge in both fundamental and applied sciences important to agriculture. The six priority areas are: Plant Health and Production and Plant Products; Animal Health and Production and Animal Products; Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health; Bioenergy, Natural Resources, and Environment; Agriculture Systems and Technology; and Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities. Research-only, extension-only, and integrated research, education and/or extension projects are solicited in this Request for Applications (RFA).
In 2025, applications are sought in the following priority areas:
1. Plant health and production and plant products;
2. Animal health and production and animal products;
3. Food safety, nutrition, and health;
4. Bioenergy, natural resources, and environment;
5. Agriculture systems and technology; and
6. Agriculture economics and rural communities
LETTER OF INTENT DEADLINE: Varies by Program Area
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Varies by Program Area
Plant Health and Production and Plant Products
- 1a. Foundational Knowledge of Agricultural Production Systems Deadline – Sep 11, 2025
- 1b. Foundational Knowledge of Plant Products Application Deadline – Aug 7, 2025
- 1c. Pests and Beneficial Species in Agricultural Production Systems Application Deadline – Sep 18, 2025
- 1d. Physiology of Agricultural Plants Application Deadline – Aug 14, 2025
- 1e. Plant Breeding for Agricultural Production Application Deadline – Sep 4, 2025
- 1f. Pollinator Health: Research and Application Application Deadline – Aug 21, 2025
- 1g. Conventional Plant Breeding for Cultivar Development Deadline -- Aug 28, 2025
Animal Health and Production and Animal Products
- 2a. Animal Reproduction Application Deadline – Aug. 7, 2025
- 2b. Animal Nutrition, Growth and Lactation Application Deadline – Aug 7, 2025
- 2c. Welfare of Agricultural Animals Application Deadline – Aug 7, 2025
- 2d. Diseases of Agricultural Animals Application Deadline – Aug 7, 2025
- 2e. Animal Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics Application Deadline – Aug 7, 2025
Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health
- 3a. Food Safety and Defense Application Deadline – Aug 21, 2025
- 3b. Novel Foods and Innovative Manufacturing Technologies Application Deadline – Sep 11, 2025
- 3c. Diet, Nutrition, and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases Application Deadline – Aug 7, 2025
- 3d. Food and Human Health Application Deadline – Aug 7, 2025
- 3e. Mitigating Antimicrobial Resistance Across the Food Chain Application Deadline – Sep 18, 2025
Bioenergy, Natural Resources, and Environment (BNRE)
- 4a. Soil Health Application Deadline – Sep 11, 2025
- 4b. Water Quantity and Quality Application Deadline – Sep 4, 2025
- 4c. Sustainable Bioeconomy through Biobased Products Application Deadline – Sep 4, 2025
- 4d. Sustainable Agroecosystems Deadline – Sep 11, 2025
- 4e. Environmental Justice for Agriculture and Nutrition Security Deadline -- Sep 18, 2025
Agriculture Systems and Technology (AST)
- 5a. Engineering for Agricultural Production and Processing Deadline – Oct 2, 2025
- 5b. Biorefining and Biomanufacturing Deadline – Oct 9, 2025
- 5c. Nanotechnology for Agricultural and Food Systems Deadline – Aug 21, 2025
- 5d. Engineering for Precision Crop and Water Management Deadline -- Oct 9, 2025
Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities (AERC)
- 6a. Small and Medium-Sized Farms Deadline – Sep 4, 2025
- 6b. Economics, Markets and Trade Deadline – Oct 2, 2025
- 6c. Social Implications of Food and Agricultural Technologies Deadline – Oct 30, 2025
- 6d. Rural Economic Development Deadline – Sep 11, 2025
- 6e. Environmental and Natural Resource Economics Deadline -- Sep 11, 2025
Crosscutting Programs
- 7a. Agricultural Microbiomes in Plant Systems and Natural Resources Deadline – Oct 2, 2025
- 7b. Critical Agricultural Research and Extension (CARE) Deadline – Sep 11, 2025
- 7c. Data Science for Food and Agricultural Systems (DSFAS) Deadline – Nov 13, 2025
- 7d. Inter-Disciplinary Engagement in Animal Systems (IDEAS) Deadlines – Oct 2, 2025
- 7e. Agricultural Biosecurity Deadline -- Sep 18, 2025
- 7f. Regional Partnerships for Extension & Education Deadline -- Sep 4, 2025
- 7g. AFRI Commodity Board Co-funding Topics -- TBA
- 7h. Rapid Response to Extreme Weather Events Across Food and Agricultural Systems (Standard, Strengthening Standard) -- Accepted on a continuous basis after this RFA is published
- 7i. Reducing Food Loss and Waste across the Supply Chain -- July 17, 2025
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 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 HispanicServing Agricultural Colleges and Universities page).
Duplicate or Multiple Submissions – submission of duplicate or predominantly overlapping applications is not allowed. NIFA will disqualify both applications if an applicant submits multiple applications that are duplicative or substantially overlapping to NIFA programs within the same fiscal year.