Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 009041
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Education and Workforce Development (EWD) Program is a competitive grant opportunity run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) that is centered on building the future talent pipeline for the food and agricultural sciences. The program is designed to strengthen education, training, and career preparation so the United States can develop and retain the next generation of professionals who will work across research, education, and extension. In practical terms, EWD supports projects that expand hands-on learning opportunities, improve teaching and training approaches, and create structured pathways into agricultural and food-system careers, including pathways for students and early-career scientists.
For the referenced FY 2021 program structure, EWD invites applications across seven focus areas that collectively span the full career pipeline and multiple learning environments. These areas include agricultural workforce training (efforts that build job-ready skills aligned with industry, government, and community needs), professional development (training and upskilling for educators and professionals who support workforce development), agricultural literacy (programs that help broader audiences understand agriculture and food systems), training of undergraduate students in research and extension (often emphasizing experiential learning and mentorship), fellowships for predoctoral candidates, fellowships for postdoctoral scholars, and a newer component aimed at food and agricultural non-formal education (education delivered outside traditional degree programs, such as community-based programs, informal learning settings, or outreach models). The FY 2021 lineup also included a one-time program specifically for evaluating NIFA’s agricultural literacy and workforce development portfolio, reflecting an emphasis on measuring outcomes and improving program effectiveness over time. Applicants are directed to the EWD Request for Applications (RFA) for the detailed priorities, required elements, and deadlines that apply to each area.
Eligibility is a key part of this opportunity and is tied directly to the type of project being proposed, so applicants have to match their submission to the correct project category and meet every requirement stated in the RFA by the deadline. For single-function projects (research-only, education-only, or extension-only), eligibility is broad and can include State Agricultural Experiment Stations; colleges and universities (including junior colleges that offer associate degrees or higher); university research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; federal agencies; national laboratories; private organizations or corporations; and even individuals, as long as they are U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or permanent residents. Collaborative group applications are also allowed, meaning two or more eligible entities can apply together. A notable restriction is that foreign and international organizations are not considered eligible institutions for these awards, even if they may sometimes participate through limited roles.
For Integrated Projects, which combine two or more functions such as research, education, and extension into one coordinated effort, eligibility narrows to specific institution types. Eligible applicants for Integrated Projects include colleges and universities (with a specific definition), 1994 Land-Grant Institutions, and Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities. The RFA’s definition of an eligible college or university for integrated projects emphasizes that the institution must admit students with a secondary school completion credential (or equivalent), be legally authorized to provide education beyond secondary school, offer programs granting at least a bachelor’s degree or higher, operate as a public or nonprofit institution, and be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting body. Research foundations maintained by an eligible college or university may also receive an award, which can be helpful for institutions that route sponsored projects through affiliated foundations.
The opportunity also includes Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants, which are a set of mechanisms within AFRI intended to strengthen the capacity of investigators and institutions or to support targeted needs. The RFA notes that multiple FASE grant types are solicited here, including New Investigator, Strengthening Standard, Strengthening Conference, Seed, Equipment, and Sabbatical Grants, with detailed eligibility and requirements provided in the cited section of the RFA. These mechanisms typically serve different strategic purposes, such as helping new researchers establish momentum, supporting capacity-building at strengthening-eligible institutions, enabling conference convenings, funding early-stage proof-of-concept work, acquiring critical equipment, or supporting professional development through sabbaticals.
Operationally, applicants are expected to align proposals to the program area priorities and deadlines listed in the RFA, because those priorities determine what NIFA is trying to fund in a given cycle and how proposals will be reviewed. The notice also clarifies that award recipients may subcontract with organizations that are not themselves eligible to apply, as long as those partners are necessary to complete the work. At the same time, the eligibility rules are strictly enforced: if an applicant does not meet eligibility criteria by the application deadline, NIFA may exclude the application from consideration or may be legally unable to make an award even if the proposal is reviewed.
From the opportunity listing details, this is a discretionary grant program under CFDA 10.310 (Agriculture), administered by NIFA. The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA AFRI 009041, with an original closing date of March 30, 2023. The listing shows an award ceiling of up to $10,000,000, indicating that some project types or tracks under the EWD umbrella can support large, multi-year, multi-partner efforts depending on the specific program area and the rules in the RFA.Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 009041
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Education and Workforce Development Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.310.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2022-03-22.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-03-30. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $10,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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AFRI Education and Workforce Development (EWD) Program FAQs
1. What is the AFRI Education and Workforce Development (EWD) Program?
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Education and Workforce Development (EWD) Program is a competitive grant opportunity administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It focuses on strengthening education, training, and career preparation to build the future talent pipeline for the food and agricultural sciences across research, education, and extension.
2. What is the main goal of the EWD Program?
The program is designed to help the United States develop and retain the next generation of professionals in food and agricultural sciences by expanding hands-on learning opportunities, improving teaching and training approaches, and creating structured pathways into agricultural and food-system careers, including for students and early-career scientists.
3. Is this a competitive grant?
Yes. EWD is described as a competitive grant opportunity, meaning applications are reviewed and selected based on program priorities and review criteria described in the EWD Request for Applications (RFA).
4. Which federal agency runs this opportunity?
This opportunity is administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under AFRI.
5. What CFDA number is associated with this program?
The listing identifies this as a discretionary grant program under CFDA 10.310 (Agriculture).
6. What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number shown is USDA NIFA AFRI 009041.
7. What was the original closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date shown in the opportunity listing is March 30, 2023.
8. How much funding is available per award?
The listing shows an award ceiling of up to $10,000,000. The exact award size depends on the specific EWD program area, track, and the requirements described in the RFA.
9. What does the EWD Program fund in practical terms?
EWD supports projects that expand experiential and hands-on learning, improve teaching and training models, and create structured pathways into agricultural and food-system careers. It can also support mentorship and career preparation activities aligned with workforce needs.
10. What are the EWD focus areas mentioned for the FY 2021 program structure?
For the referenced FY 2021 structure, EWD invited applications across seven focus areas spanning the career pipeline and multiple learning environments:
- Agricultural workforce training
- Professional development
- Agricultural literacy
- Training of undergraduate students in research and extension
- Fellowships for predoctoral candidates
- Fellowships for postdoctoral scholars
- Food and agricultural non-formal education (education delivered outside traditional degree programs)
11. What is meant by agricultural workforce training under EWD?
Agricultural workforce training refers to efforts that build job-ready skills aligned with industry, government, and community needs.
12. What does EWD mean by professional development?
Professional development refers to training and upskilling for educators and professionals who support workforce development.
13. What does agricultural literacy cover in this program?
Agricultural literacy includes programs that help broader audiences understand agriculture and food systems.
14. What does the undergraduate training focus area support?
The training of undergraduate students in research and extension often emphasizes experiential learning and mentorship connected to research and extension environments.
15. What fellowship opportunities are included in the EWD structure described?
The FY 2021 structure included fellowships for predoctoral candidates and fellowships for postdoctoral scholars as distinct focus areas.
16. What is food and agricultural non-formal education in this context?
Food and agricultural non-formal education refers to education delivered outside traditional degree programs, such as community-based programs, informal learning settings, or outreach models.
17. Was there any evaluation-related component mentioned?
Yes. The FY 2021 lineup also included a one-time program to evaluate NIFA's agricultural literacy and workforce development portfolio, reflecting an emphasis on measuring outcomes and improving effectiveness over time.
18. Where can applicants find the detailed priorities, required elements, and deadlines?
Applicants are directed to the EWD Request for Applications (RFA), which contains the detailed priorities, required elements, and deadlines for each program area.
19. Do eligibility rules depend on the type of project being proposed?
Yes. Eligibility is tied directly to the project type/category. Applicants must match their submission to the correct project category and meet every RFA requirement by the deadline.
20. Who is eligible for single-function projects?
For single-function projects (research-only, education-only, or extension-only), eligibility is broad and can include:
- State Agricultural Experiment Stations
- Colleges and universities (including junior colleges offering associate degrees or higher)
- University research foundations
- Other research institutions and organizations
- Federal agencies
- National laboratories
- Private organizations or corporations
- Individuals (if U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or permanent residents)
21. Can individuals apply?
Yes, individuals may be eligible for single-function projects, provided they are U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or permanent residents, and meet all applicable RFA requirements by the deadline.
22. Can multiple organizations apply together?
Yes. Collaborative group applications are allowed, meaning two or more eligible entities may apply together.
23. Are foreign or international organizations eligible to apply?
No. The opportunity notes that foreign and international organizations are not considered eligible institutions for these awards, even if they may sometimes participate through limited roles.
24. What are Integrated Projects?
Integrated Projects combine two or more functions (such as research, education, and extension) into one coordinated effort. Eligibility for Integrated Projects is more limited than for single-function projects.
25. Who can apply for Integrated Projects?
Eligible applicants for Integrated Projects include:
- Colleges and universities (as defined in the RFA for integrated projects)
- 1994 Land-Grant Institutions
- Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities
26. What requirements must a college or university meet to be eligible for Integrated Projects?
For integrated projects, the RFA definition emphasizes that an eligible college or university must:
- Admit students with a secondary school completion credential (or equivalent)
- Be legally authorized to provide education beyond secondary school
- Offer programs that grant at least a bachelor's degree or higher
- Operate as a public or nonprofit institution
- Be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting body
27. Can a university research foundation receive an award for an Integrated Project?
Yes. Research foundations maintained by an eligible college or university may also receive an award, which can support institutions that route sponsored projects through an affiliated foundation.
28. What are FASE Grants and how do they relate to this opportunity?
Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants are mechanisms within AFRI intended to strengthen capacity of investigators and institutions or support targeted needs. The RFA notes that multiple FASE grant types are solicited under this opportunity.
29. Which FASE grant types are mentioned?
The opportunity description mentions these FASE grant types:
- New Investigator Grants
- Strengthening Standard Grants
- Strengthening Conference Grants
- Seed Grants
- Equipment Grants
- Sabbatical Grants
30. What kinds of needs do the listed FASE mechanisms typically support?
Based on the description, these mechanisms can serve purposes such as helping new researchers build momentum, supporting capacity-building at strengthening-eligible institutions, enabling conference convenings, funding early-stage proof-of-concept work, acquiring critical equipment, or supporting professional development through sabbaticals. Specific eligibility and requirements are provided in the referenced RFA section.
31. How important is it to align a proposal with the RFA priorities and deadlines?
Applicants are expected to align proposals to the program area priorities and deadlines listed in the RFA because those priorities determine what NIFA is trying to fund in a given cycle and how proposals will be reviewed.
32. Can award recipients subcontract with organizations that are not eligible applicants?
Yes. The notice clarifies that award recipients may subcontract with organizations that are not themselves eligible to apply, as long as those partners are necessary to complete the work.
33. What happens if an applicant does not meet eligibility requirements by the deadline?
The eligibility rules are strictly enforced. If an applicant does not meet eligibility criteria by the application deadline, NIFA may exclude the application from consideration or may be legally unable to make an award even if the proposal is reviewed.
34. Does EWD only support traditional degree-program education?
No. In addition to higher-education and fellowship components, the program structure described includes food and agricultural non-formal education, which can include community-based programs, informal learning settings, or outreach models delivered outside traditional degree programs.
35. Does the program cover the full career pipeline?
Yes. The focus areas described span from agricultural literacy and undergraduate experiential learning through predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships, as well as workforce training and professional development activities.
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