Dear Colleagues,
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture is soliciting proposals for their Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Sustainable Agricultural Systems (SAS) program which provides funding for fundamental and applied research, education, and extension projects in the food and agricultural sciences. The long-term purpose of the SAS is to help transform the U.S. food and agricultural system to increase agricultural production while also reducing its environmental footprint. Achieving these goals will require transdisciplinary approaches to address current and future food and agricultural challenges within the context of the economic, societal, and environmental attributes of sustainability.
Visit the program web page at https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/agriculture-food-research-initiative-sustainable-agricultural-systems for more information on this funding opportunity.
Applications Due: June 6, 2024
Maximum Grant Amount: $10,000,000.
Required Match: Match not required if the applied research or integrated project with an applied research component is not commodity specific or is national in scope, then no match is required.
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service is soliciting proposals for their Local Food Promotion Program, Farmers Market Promotion Program, and Regional Food System Partnerships program.
Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) supports the development, coordination, and expansion of local and regional food business enterprises that engage as intermediaries in indirect producer-to-consumer marketing to increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products. The program focuses on:
• Supporting the processing, aggregation, distribution, and storage of local and regional food products that are marketed locally or regionally, including value-added agricultural products;
• Encouraging the development of value-added agricultural products;
• Assisting with business development plans and feasibility studies;
• Developing marketing strategies for producers of local food and value-added products;
• Facilitating regional food chain coordination and mid-tier value chain development;
• Promoting new business opportunities and marketing strategies to reduce on-farm food waste;
• Responding to changing technology needs in indirect producer-to-consumer marketing; and
• Covering expenses related to cost incurred in obtaining food safety certification and improvements to food safety practices and equipment.
Visit the program web page at https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/lfpp for more information on this funding opportunity.
Applications Due: May 14, 2024
Grant Amount: Planning projects: $25,000 to $100,000; implementation projects: $100,000 to $500,000. Turnkey Marketing/Promotion and Recruitment/Training projects: $50,000 and $100,000.
Required Match: 25% match
Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) funds projects that develop, coordinate, and expand direct producer-to-consumer markets to help increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products. The program focuses on:
• Supporting and promoting domestic direct producer-to-consumer (including direct producer-to-retail, direct producer-to-restaurant, and direct producer-to-institutional marketing) marketing such as farmers markets, roadside stands, agritourism activities, community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs, or online sales;
• Encouraging the development of value-added agricultural products;
• Developing marketing strategies for producers of local food and value-added products;
• Facilitating regional food chain coordination development;
• Promoting new business opportunities and marketing strategies to reduce on-farm food waste;
• Responding to changing technology needs in direct producer-to-consumer marketing; and
• Covering expenses related to costs incurred in obtaining food safety certification and improvements to food safety practices and equipment.
Visit the program web page at https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/fmpp for more information on this funding opportunity.
Applications Due: May 14, 2024
Grant Amount: Capacity Building projects: $50,000 to $250,000; Community Development Training and Technical Assistance projects: $100,000 to $500,000; Turnkey Marketing/Promotion projects and Recruitment/Training projects: $50,000 and $100,000.
Required Match: 25% match
Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP) program:
Eligibility Note: ANR is ineligible to be a lead applicant on a 2024 application as we have an active RFSP award.
RFSP supports partnerships that connect public and private resources to plan and develop local or regional food systems. The RFSP focuses on building and strengthening the viability and resilience of the local or regional food economy. Applicants must partner to promote the development of local or regional food systems. Applicants will coordinate efforts within the partnership to set priorities, connect resources and services, and measure progress towards common goals.
Partnerships receiving a grant may:
• Determine the size and scope of the local or regional food system in which the project's goals, outreach objectives, and eligible activities are to be carried out.
• Coordinate with AMS to receive technical assistance; and
• Conduct outreach and education for potential participation in the partnership agreement and eligible activities.
Visit the program web page at https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/rfsp for more information on this funding opportunity.
Applications Due: May 14, 2024
Grant Amount: $100,000 to $1,000,000
Required Match: 25% cash match
Thank you.
Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)