Institute of Bioenergy, Climate, and Environment

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is a civilian sub-agency that funds agricultural research, education, and extension programs through federal grants to academic and research institutions. NIFA administers approximately $1.42 billion in combined federal grant dollars across 2,982 awards since 2007, with a nearly even split between Formula Grants (1,501 awards, 50 percent) and Project Grants (1,476 awards, 49 percent). A small number of Cooperative Agreements (5 awards, less than 1 percent) round out the assistance-type mix.

Recent grant-making activity has moderated. NIFA awarded 310 grants in 2022, 349 in 2023, 322 in 2024, 239 in 2025, and 68 year-to-date in 2026. The most recent grant award closed September 1, 2026. The grant recipient base is highly fragmented. Over the last five years, the top five recipients by award count account for only 10 percent of recent awards. Michigan State University leads by count (31 awards, $21.5 million federal dollars obligated), followed by The Pennsylvania State University (28 awards, $12.9 million) and Iowa State University of Science and Technology (27 awards, $21.5 million). By federal dollars obligated, Oregon State University ranks first (24 awards, $30 million), followed by Purdue University (18 awards, $28.7 million) and University of Florida (20 awards, $25.4 million). The top five by federal dollars represent only 9 percent of dollars obligated across the portfolio, reflecting a distributed funding model where 442 distinct recipients have received support across the portfolio history. Land-grant universities and regional agricultural research institutions dominate the recent recipient mix, though the award distribution remains broad.

No recent contract awards or open contract opportunities are recorded against NIFA. The agency operates exclusively through grant mechanisms. No recent grant solicitations are identified in available source data; verify current funding opportunities directly through NIFA's grant portal or Federal funding announcements for active notices of funding opportunity targeting agricultural research, education, and extension priorities.