FY24-AFRI-SAS-RFA-P.pdf

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative

Sustainable Agricultural Systems

FUNDING YEAR: Fiscal Year (FY) 2024

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Thursday, June 6, 2024

ANTICIPATED PROGRAM FUNDING: $80,000,000

AVERAGE INDIVIDUAL AWARD

RANGE:

$50,000 – 10,000,0000

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: USDA-NIFA-AFRI-010653

ASSISTANCE LISTING NUMBER: 10.310

INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

National Institute of Food and Agriculture United States Department of Agriculture

Assistance Listing Number (ALN): The Agriculture and Food and Research Initiative Sustainable Agricultural Systems RFA is listed in the Assistance Listings under number 10.310.

Table 1: Key Dates and Deadlines Task Description Deadline

Letter of Intent: Not Required for FY2024 Application: 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time, June 6, 2024

Applicant Comments: Within six months from the issuance of this notice (NIFA may not consider comments received after the sixth month)

Advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA). The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) recognizes research, education, and extension efforts will have the greatest impacts when programs are grounded in DEIA. NIFA is committed to enhancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility of programs and encourages individuals, institutions, and organizations from underserved communities to apply to funding opportunities as lead, co-lead, or subaward recipient(s), and to engage as leaders in the peer panel review process to support the development of strong networks and collaborations. NIFA encourages applications that engage diverse communities and have broad impacts through research, education, extension, and integrated activities to address current and future challenges.

Stakeholder Input. NIFA seeks comments on all Request for Applications (RFAs) so it can deliver programs efficiently, effectively, with integrity, and with a focus on customer service.

NIFA considers comments to the extent possible when developing RFAs, and uses comments to help meet the requirements of Section 103(c)(2) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7613(c)(2)). Applicants may submit written comments to Policy@usda.gov (email is for comments only). Please use the following subject line:

Response to the AFRI Sustainable Agricultural Systems RFA.

Centers of Excellence. Applicants are encouraged to visit the NIFA’s Centers of Excellence (COE) webpage for information on the COE designation process, including COE criteria, and a list of programs offering COE opportunities. A recording of COE outreach and COE implementation webinars are also available.

https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/agricultural-research-extension-and-education-reform-act-1998 https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/agricultural-research-extension-and-education-reform-act-1998 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:7%20section:7613%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section7613)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true mailto:Policy@usda.gov https://nifa.usda.gov/centers-excellence https://nifa.usda.gov/centers-excellence

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This RFA is being released prior to the passage of a full appropriations act for FY 2024.

Enactment of a continuing resolution, appropriations act, or other authorizing legislation may affect the availability or level of funding for this program. The amount available for new grants in this FY 2024 AFRI SAS RFA is approximately $80 million, for awards of up to $10 million each.

The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) is USDA’s flagship competitive grant program that provides funding for fundamental and applied research, education, and extension projects in the food and agricultural sciences. Within AFRI, the long-term purpose of the Sustainable Agricultural Systems (SAS) Request for Applications (RFA) 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.

There is an increasing need to foster holistic and systems approaches to mitigate the climate crisis; improve agricultural productivity; ensure a healthy, safe, and affordable supply of food;

invigorate and realize the promise of the bioeconomy; and promote the development of a skilled agricultural workforce. Solving agricultural challenges will require a convergence of science, technology, workforce availability, and policy. Advances in sciences, technology, data sciences and artificial intelligence, knowledge of infrastructure, and collaborative approaches offer unprecedented opportunities for meeting the challenges of the growing population.

Transformation of our nation’s agricultural systems can ensure continued productivity while conserving natural resources and minimizing environmental degradation and the carbon footprint of agriculture. Transforming agricultural systems requires an investment in human capital to catalyze resilient, sustainable food and agricultural systems.

For FY 2024, applications in response to the AFRI SAS RFA must focus on systems approaches that significantly improve the supply of climate-smart, sustainable, safe, healthy, and accessible food and other agricultural products while fostering economic revitalization in America. These creative approaches must address current needs of resilient and robust food systems and anticipate future social, economic, health, and environmental impacts. Additionally, the outcomes of the proposed work should result in societal benefits, including improved rural prosperity and enhanced quality of life for those involved in food and agricultural value chains from production to use and consumption. The specific goals addressed in this RFA include:

Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry (CSAF), Strengthening the Bioeconomy, and Nutrition Security.

The AFRI SAS RFA solicits proposals for Coordinated Agricultural Project and Strengthening Coordinated Agricultural Project (Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement/FASE) Grants.

See Part I § C for grant and project types solicited and Part II § C for a detailed description of each individual grant type and project type.

This notice identifies the objectives for AFRI SAS projects, deadlines, funding information, eligibility criteria for projects and applicants, and application forms and associated instructions.

NEW in 2024:

• A Mentoring Plan is now required in all applications that include undergraduate students, graduate students of postdoctoral scholars.

• Letter of Intent (LOI) is not required in FY2024.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Legislative Authority B. Purpose and Priorities C. Program Area Description

PART II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. Available Funding B. Application Restrictions C. Project and Grant Types D. Ethical Conduct of Funded Projects

PART III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligibility Requirements B. Request for Determination of Status C. Cost Sharing or Matching D. Centers of Excellence

PART IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION

A. Letter of Intent B. Method of Application C. Content and Form of the Application D. Funding Restrictions

PART V. APPLICATION REVIEW REQUIREMENTS

A. NIFA’s Evaluation Process B. Evaluation Criteria C. Centers of Excellence D. Organizational Management Information E. Application Disposition

PART VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION

A. General B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements C. Expected Program Outputs and Reporting Requirements

PART VII. OTHER INFORMATION

A. Use of Funds and Changes in Budget B. Confidential Aspects of Applications and Awards C. Regulatory Information D. Limited English Proficiency

APPENDIX I: AGENCY CONTACT

APPENDIX II: GLOSSARY OF TERMS

APPENDIX III: DEFINITIONS

APPENDIX IV: OTHER AFRI RESOURCES

KEY INFORMATION

Table 1: Key Dates and Deadlines Table 2: Program Key Information Table 3: Steps to Obtain Application Materials Table 4: Help and Resources Table 5: Key Application Instructions

PART I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Legislative Authority Section 2(b) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (hereafter referred to as the Act) (7 U.S.C. 3157), as amended, authorizes the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), a competitive grant program to provide funding for fundamental and applied research, education, and extension to address food and agricultural sciences in the following six 2018 Farm Bill 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.

To the maximum extent practicable, NIFA, in coordination with the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics (REE), will make grants for high priority research, education, and extension, taking into consideration, when available, the determinations made by the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board (NAREEEAB) pursuant to the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C.

3157). The Secretary delegates the authority to the Under Secretary in 7 CFR 2.21, and the Under Secretary delegates that authority to NIFA.

B. Purpose and Priorities The purpose of AFRI is to invest in research, education, and extension work by awarding grants to solve key problems of local, regional, national, and global importance in sustaining conventional, organic, and urban agricultural systems. The projects supported by AFRI address topics such as farm/ranch production efficiency, profitability and sustainability; bioenergy and bio-based products; forestry; aquaculture; rural communities and entrepreneurship; human nutrition; biotic and abiotic constraints on food production; food safety; reducing food waste and food loss; physical and social sciences; family and consumer sciences and rural human ecology;

development of circular economies, and genetic improvement of plants and animals. Through this support, AFRI advances knowledge in both fundamental and applied sciences important to agriculture and forestry. Additionally, AFRI supports work in education and extension activities that deliver science-based knowledge to end users, allowing them to make informed, practical decisions. The AFRI Sustainable Agricultural Systems (SAS) RFA provides funding for integrated research, education, and extension projects.

Food and agricultural systems are under the constraints of a growing global population, natural resource availability, climate change, and complex demands of ensuring food and nutrition security and food safety in a global economy. Addressing these constraints requires integration of research, education, and extension programs using regenerative approaches that increase agricultural and natural resource sustainability. The term ''sustainable agriculture'' (7 U.S.C.

3103) means a combined system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will, over the long-term, achieve the following goals: 1) satisfy human food and fiber needs; 2) enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:7%20section:3157%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section3157)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:7%20section:3157%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section3157)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:7%20section:3157%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section3157)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-A/part-2/subpart-C/section-2.21 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:7%20section:3103%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section3103)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:7%20section:3103%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section3103)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true agricultural economy depends; 3) make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls; 4) sustain the economic viability of farm operations; and 5) enhance the quality of life for farmers and society. AFRI encourages projects addressing enhancement of sustainability of agricultural systems.

Stakeholder Input The AFRI Stakeholder Feedback page has information on AFRI-related stakeholder input.

Background AFRI is NIFA’s flagship competitive grants program for food and agricultural sciences. The AFRI initiative is implemented through funding offered through the AFRI Foundational and Applied Science, Sustainable Agricultural Systems, and Education and Workforce Development Requests for Applications for addressing critical societal issues.

This AFRI RFA will support projects that significantly advance foundational and applied sciences for the following USDA priorities:

1. Addressing climate change via climate smart agriculture and forestry;

2. Advancing racial justice, equity, and opportunity;

3. Creating more and better market opportunities; and

4. Tackling food and nutrition insecurity.

The AFRI SAS RFA is aligned with the following USDA Strategic Plan FY 2022-2026 Goals:

1. Strategic Goal 1: Combat Climate Change to Support America’s Working Lands, Natural

Resources and Communities;

2. Strategic Goal 2: Ensure American’s Agricultural System is Equitable, Resilient, and

Prosperous;

3. Strategic Goal 3: Foster an Equitable and Competitive Marketplace for All Agricultural

Producers;

4. Strategic Goal 4: Provide All American’s Safe, Nutritious Food;

5. Strategic Goal 5: Expand Opportunities for Economic Development and Improve Quality of Life in Rural and Tribal Communities.

The AFRI SAS RFA is aligned with the following USDA Science and Research Strategy, 2023– 2026 priorities:

1. Priority 1: Accelerating Innovative Technologies & Practices

2. Priority 2: Driving Climate-Smart Solutions

3. Priority 3: Bolstering Nutrition Security & Health

Global Engagement. NIFA supports global engagement that address the USDA Strategic Plan goals and USDA Science and Research Strategy priorities that are emphasized in this RFA.

NIFA recognizes that collaboration with international partners may be necessary to attain the agency's goals for U.S. agriculture, develop Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry practices, support national development of the bioeconomy, promote global competence of our nation’s future agricultural workforce, and promote safe and nutritious food security in a growing world.

Therefore, although application to this RFA is limited to eligible U.S. institutions, applicants may collaborate with international partners, to include subcontracts to international partners or https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/afri-stakeholder-feedback https://www.usda.gov/ https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/usda-fy-2022-2026-strategic-plan.pdf https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/usda-science-research-strategy.pdf https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/usda-science-research-strategy.pdf other institutions. Applications must clearly demonstrate benefits to the United States (see AFRI International Partnerships).

Traditional Ecological Knowledge is considered an acceptable topic of research, education, and extension for projects funded by this RFA, in pursuit of the aforementioned priorities, goals, and objectives.

For a program informational webinar please visit the NIFA calendar for dates, event registration, and link. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any of the informational webinars listed, please contact the event host listed no later than 10 days prior to the event.

https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/afri-international-partnerships https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/afri-international-partnerships https://nifa.usda.gov/calendar

Table 2: Program Key Information Title Description

Program Code: A9201 Program Code Name: Sustainable Agricultural Systems

ALN: 10.310

Project Type: Integrated Projects only (must include Research, Education, and Extension components within project) Grant Type: Coordinated Agricultural Project and FASE (Strengthening

Coordinated Agricultural Project) Grants only Letter of Intent Deadline Not Required for FY2024

Application Deadline Thursday, June 6, 2024 Grant Duration: Up to 60 Months

Anticipated # of Awards: 8 Maximum Award Amount: $10,000,000

Program Area Priority Contact(s):

Dr. Amy Ganguli Dr. Lydia Kaume Dr. Steve Smith AFRI-SAS@usda.gov

C. Program Area Description

The purpose of the AFRI Sustainable Agricultural Systems (SAS) program area is to promote a sustainable supply of accessible, healthy, safe, and affordable, food and other agricultural products, while enhancing rural economic development, employment and economic opportunities, and improving the long-term health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities. Sustainability is core to this program. Sustainable Agriculture as defined in 7 U.S.C. 3103 is: “an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will over the long-term: satisfy human food and fiber needs, enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agriculture economy depends, make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls, sustain the economic viability of farm operations, and enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole.”

This program uses this definition, and the three pillars of sustainability - economic, environmental, and social considerations as the framework.

The SAS program area will fund projects that significantly advance previously established foundational and applied sciences for the following USDA priority outcomes:

1. Food and Nutrition Security: Enhance the contributions of food and agriculture to improve the health of the nation through resilient local and regional food systems, adoption, and application of new or existing technologies, tools, education, and other resources to ensure all Americans have consistent and equitable access to healthy, safe, affordable foods essential to optional health and well-being.

2. Strengthening the Bioeconomy: Develop sources of clean energy and high-value biobased products from agricultural and forestry feedstocks to foster economic development and prosperity, with an emphasis toward generating benefits to underserved communities.

mailto:AFRI-SAS@usda.gov https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:7%20section:3103%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section3103)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:7%20section:3103%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section3103)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true

3. Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry (CSAF): Improve mitigation, adaptation, and resilience of agricultural and forestry production systems to climate change.

This RFA is soliciting visionary integrated research, extension, and education projects that use transdisciplinary, systems approaches to promote the blending of science, technology, and societal considerations to solve challenges to current and future food and agricultural systems.

Agricultural systems are inclusive of local and regional supply chains from production to consumption of food and other agricultural products, and from traditional open-field farms, ranches, and managed forests to controlled production in built environments across the rural-urban continuum. Consideration must be given to how new strategies or other technical interventions may alter existing systems and the future implications of unintended effects.

Applicants must demonstrate that the changes resulting from the proposed efforts will enhance the viability of the food and agricultural value chain.

Projects must use a systems approach that apply rapidly advancing science and technologies to ensure the economic, environmental, equitable, and social goals of sustainable agriculture. SAS projects must enhance the availability of a skilled workforce through development and deployment of formal and non-formal learning activities to train the current and next generation of the food and agriculture workforce. This includes training or retraining current and future farmers, workers, students, youth, and scientists who must be equipped to find and implement solutions to global food and agricultural challenges. Educational activities should include broad types of learning and engagement (e.g., hands-on learning, experiential, and other newer methods of teaching and disseminating information, including virtual options, as appropriate), emphasizing development of interpersonal and team skills. Partnering with 4-H and other positive youth development programs and experts/practitioners to achieve project goals, where appropriate, is welcome.

Extension and other outreach activities should produce significant behavioral changes leading to impacts such as sustainable production and consumption practices and improving public health and well-being. Stakeholder communities must be engaged in project activities directly affecting them, (e.g., the design, approach, implementation, and feedback loops). Involvement of underserved communities is highly recommended.

Projects must plan to employ meaningful performance metrics that measure progress during the grant period toward the long-term goals described below. These metrics can include how the proposed system and its components contribute to productivity and profitability, reduced environmental footprint, enhanced natural resources, food safety and quality, food and nutrition security, human health and well-being, a skilled workforce, more sustainable jobs in the food and agricultural sector, or discernable benefits to underserved communities.

Applications must address one or more of the following long-term goals:

1. Food and Nutrition Security: Enhance the importance of food and agriculture to health of the nation through resilient local and regional food systems, adoption, and application of new or existing technologies, tools, education, and other resources to ensure consistent and equitable access to healthy, safe, affordable foods essential to optimal health and well-being. This goal emphasizes local and regional food systems including applications with strategies to develop shorter food supply chains for nutritious foods that are equitable, culturally appropriate, and compatible with community needs. Underserved communities such as communities of color, lower-income populations, and rural and remote populations suffer the greatest disparities in food and nutrition insecurity. Food insecurity often coexists with diet-related chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancers. Inequitable impacts of climate change also coexist with food insecurity. Addressing food and nutrition insecurity is interrelated with challenges and opportunities with food production systems and addressing food loss and waste issues in food systems. Projects should be designed to address social determinants of health through integrated research, education, and extension/outreach activities, including 4-H or other forms of positive youth development programs and to address food and nutrition security among underserved populations. The most effective solutions will address the interrelated challenges across both food and nutrition security and climate change and work towards transforming national and global food systems. Projects addressing this goal must develop, implement, or enhance understanding of at least one of the following:

a) Local and Regional Food Systems: Build resilient local and regional food systems that foster and support agricultural innovation that ensures America’s agricultural system is safe, equitable, health, affordable, sustainable, and prosperous. Design culturally and contextually appropriate approaches to reduce food loss and waste and food supply chain disruption with an emphasis on mitigating the effects of climate and other disasters on food systems and fostering resilient food systems, especially in disaster-prone areas.

b) Nutrition-Sensitive Climate-Smart Agriculture: Promote productive, profitable, and nutrition-sensitive climate-smart production practices that increase returns on investment for farmers/producers and mitigate economic losses and reduce food loss and waste, particularly among underserved farmers. Promote production of nutrient-dense crops known to prevent diet-related chronic diseases while ensuring more sustainable production in terms of soil health, nutrient density, and crop resilience to climate variabilities.

c) Nutrition Security and Diet-Related Health Disparities: Develop innovative approaches to address equitable upstream social determinants of health with an emphasis on fostering connections with sustainable agricultural systems that integrate robust partnerships and efforts led by or with strong representation from underserved communities.

2. Strengthening the Bioeconomy: Foster economic development and prosperity in rural America by developing and advancing production of clean, renewable, and sustainable energy and biobased products from forests and agriculture. The development and implementation of a sustainable and resilient circular bioeconomy is limited, especially among underserved communities, by access to economically viable technologies, infrastructure susceptibility to climate shocks, and increasing costs for transportation and https://www.nifa.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-security https://www.nifa.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-security https://www.nifa.usda.gov/topics/climate-change https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2022/06/01/usda-announces-framework-shoring-food-supply-chain-and-transforming https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2022/06/01/usda-announces-framework-shoring-food-supply-chain-and-transforming energy. New or improved production systems need to be developed to create cost-competitive and sustainable biobased products and supply chains that strengthen the American rural economy. For example, circular principles can generate economic gains while alleviating pressure on the environment through recycling materials and capturing value (e.g., zero-waste, carbon neutral) along the supply chain. Assessments of system circularity should examine feedstock production, storage, transportation, manufacturing processes, economic viability, labor supply and training, environmental impacts, and effects on communities, particularly underserved or overburdened communities.

Biobased products should be manufactured from agricultural byproducts and coproducts (e.g., underutilized livestock, forest, or fishery byproducts) or emerging purpose-grown crops and have a reduced or mitigative capacity in environmental impact based on life cycle and other environmental analyses. Projects should focus on engaging communities to develop new or improved production and distribution systems that are inclusive of promoting economic equity, lowering environmental impacts, and the development of more effective formal and non-formal education/training methods and programs to strengthen the workforce pipeline for the bioeconomy. Projects supporting this goal must address at least one of the following:

a) Sustainable Bioenergy and Biobased Products: Develop new and/or improved approaches for the production and manufacturing of clean energy (particularly sustainable aviation fuels) or sustainable biobased products (e.g., domestically sourced natural rubber, wood/lignocellulosic bioproducts.) Proposals should include a description of the cost savings relative to products currently on the market (including product specifications and pricing) and environmental benefits of the approach (such as greenhouse gas emission reductions, waste management benefits, and/or other relevant benefits).

b) Resilience and Robustness of Bioeconomies: Develop innovative approaches that increase the adaptability of bioeconomies to climate shocks (including biological, environmental, and supply chain). Innovations in community-based local and regional collaborations are appropriate for this topic. Funded projects may entail use of modeling or assessment techniques to determine short- and long-term sustainability benchmarks, impacts, and outcomes of new or improved production systems compared to existing energy and bioproduct production systems. Models and analytic tools should be capable of estimating the value and impact of products and byproducts at each point, from manufacture to disposal, in local and regional contexts.

c) Regional Resource Hub (RRH) Partnerships: USDA-NIFA is collaborating with the U.S. Department of Energy Clean Fuels and Products Shot™ Regional Resource Hubs to advance development and commercialization of low-carbon bioenergy and biobased products. RRHs support research, development, and deployment of purpose grown energy crops that will contribute to no less than 85% reduction in carbon intensity in biobased products, including sustainable aviation fuels, compared to fossil-based counterparts. SAS projects selected under this focus area will gain access to regional and national models to further advance their individual goals and objectives and will contribute field trial results, including carbon intensity metrics, to https://regionalbiomassresourcehub.inl.gov/ the RRH network to serve as a reference for stakeholders across the bioeconomy.

Applicants interested in partnering with RRHs should include a letter of support from a RRH host organization.

3. Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry (CSAF): Improve mitigation, adaptation, and resilience of agricultural and forestry production systems to climate change.

Agricultural, rangeland, aquaculture, and forestry systems are increasingly threatened by climate change and extreme weather events while being relied upon to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and sequester carbon. Climate-smart agriculture and forestry systems must be developed to tackle these challenges. Socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable CSAF must overcome diminishing natural resources, reduce inequities experienced by underserved and overburdened communities, reduce loss of natural habitats and biodiversity, support sustainable agricultural intensification, and meet accelerating demands for food and other agricultural products. Effective CSAF approaches will consider regenerative principles, improvements to climate models and measurements, technological advancements, availability of a skilled workforce, socioeconomic opportunities and barriers to adoption of CSAF systems. Innovations should consider profitability, production, and the sustainable use of the natural resource base. Projects supporting this goal must also develop, implement, or enhance understanding of one or more of the following:

a) Greenhouse Gas Mitigation: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 50% of current rates by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions from agriculture and forestry by 2050.

Reducing greenhouse gases that have relatively short atmospheric residence times (such as methane), increasing carbon sequestration, and reducing risk of wildfires are important priorities to address.

b) Markets and Socioeconomics: Improve market opportunities for CSAF.

Opportunities exist to create CSAF supply chains and products, develop carbon and other ecosystem service markets, and reduce food loss and waste. Improving greenhouse gas measurements and climate modeling will underpin efficient markets.

c) Regionally Appropriate Climate Adaptation and Resilience: Develop resilient agricultural, rangeland, aquaculture, or forestry systems that can adapt to climate change while considering incremental climate changes and extreme weather events.

Enhanced prediction of climate-related stressors; advancing appropriate management, tools, and technologies; and translating climate knowledge for stakeholders are essential for CSAF systems.

Descriptions and examples of the three goals given above are meant to be guidance for project development, rather than being prescriptive. The project teams are expected to define the scope of their systems, system components, and detailed metrics that are directed at achieving one or more of the three goals in this RFA.

Program Area Additional Information:

1. Requests exceeding budgetary guidelines will not be reviewed. Unless otherwise stated, grants are issued for a period of up to 5 years and are not renewable after completion of the performance period.

2. Letter of Intent (LOI) submission is not required for FY2024.

3. Competitive proposals will present a clear explanation of the system(s) chosen that will be selected and the associated problems that will be addressed through research, extension, or education. Proposals will explain the scope of the systems as well as the full extent of expected impacts. Applicants may choose to address at least one or more than one of the emphasis areas described in this Program Area Priority. A range of appropriate outcomes and impacts is expected for these projects.

4. Improved assessment tools for monitoring conditions and evaluating the effects of adaptive management practices on increased resilience at different scales are also needed to support effective decision-making. Potential adaptive management practices may have multiple economic, ecological, or social effects on both urban and rural populations and may require new approaches to developing interdisciplinary educational curricula or extension programs to achieve optimum workforce development and adoption by stakeholders.

5. Projects should enhance access and interest in food and agricultural education for communities, especially those underrepresented in food, agriculture, natural resources and human sciences (FANH). Projects should develop tools, techniques, and/or formal and non-formal education practices that can be adopted and implemented by education professionals in the classroom, at home or by extension specialists, or other non-formal education professionals (e.g., 4-H). Projects should enhance economic prosperity by training or retraining the agricultural workforce to meet local and regional employment needs and opportunities.

6. Projects must provide a clear description of how transdisciplinary approaches will be deployed to achieve the goals of the project as defined in Appendix III. Proposals must demonstrate transdisciplinary linkages necessary to address the complex challenges in developing sustainable agricultural systems.

7. Projects focusing on plant or animal species or foods that are important to underserved communities, farmers, or ranchers, small- or medium-sized farms or ranches and can provide measurable benefits to these communities are highly encouraged.

8. NIFA highly encourages projects that incorporate Traditional Ecological Knowledge if consistent with the long-term goals described below.

9. All applications must adhere to the requirements beginning in Part IV.

a) A Management Plan (Part IV § C.3.f “Field 12. Other Attachments” for additional information) must include project governance, a stakeholder advisory board, involvement of an external evaluator, and progress reporting. The plan must clearly articulate with an organizational chart how the project will be governed. A well thought-out strategy must be put in place to enhance coordination, collaboration, communication, data sharing and reporting among members of the project team and stakeholder groups. The management plan must include an advisory group of principal stakeholders, partners, and professionals to assess and evaluate the quality, expected measurable outcomes, and potential impacts for the proposed research, education and extension. An external evaluator must be employed, with a specified amount of funding set aside for evaluation support. Success in meeting objectives must be demonstrated through proposed project metrics. Reporting requirements must include a description of key achievements including the publicly available and compatible technologies, information, and data products.

b) A Data Management Plan (see Part IV § C.3.f. “Field 12. Other Attachments” for additional information) must include making data publicly available with persistent identifiers or compatible with other open databases and sources. Machine readable data management plans produced using tools such as the DMP Tool are strongly recommended. A reasonable budget allocation for data management is allowed as a direct cost.

c) A Logic Model (see Part IV, C. 3. f. “Field 12. Other Attachments” for additional information) must include elements detailing the activities, outputs, and outcomes of the proposed project. The logic model planning process is a tool that should be used to develop a project before writing the application. This information may be provided as a narrative or formatted into a logic model chart. For more information and resources, see Integrated Programs’ Logic Model Planning Process located on the NIFA website.

d) NEW: A Mentoring Plan is required for all projects that include undergraduate students, graduate students, or postdoctoral scholars (see Part IV, C. 3. f. “Field 12.

Other Attachments” for additional information).

10. Applications from and collaborations with small to mid-sized institutions, minority-serving institutions, and/or institutions within the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) states are welcome.

11. Successful projects will integrate all three functions of the agricultural knowledge systems (i.e., Research, Education, and Extension) within a project focused on a problem or challenge. Each application should be planned, developed, and written in a manner that reflects the input and expertise of the entire integrated project team. Each integrated activity should be represented by one or more objectives within the application, with no more than two-thirds of a project’s budget being allocated to any single function.

12. Educational activities should develop human capital skilled for the sustainable agricultural systems of the future and must meet the definition described in Appendix III of this RFA as well as the guidelines for education described for integrated project types (see “AFRI Project Types” in the attachments list on the AFRI RFA Resources page). In addition, educational components should make use of innovative approaches such as stackable credential frameworks, novel experiential learning opportunities, on-the-job training, development of leadership skills (e.g., critical thinking, problem solving, communication), online educational resources, mobile apps, or educational games. Investigators are strongly encouraged to engage a diverse population of education professionals and students in these activities, including underserved and nontraditional students.

Applications strengthening community college level education are encouraged.

13. Projects including curriculum development must be led by or include key personnel with curriculum development credentials or have demonstrated expertise in curriculum development to ensure materials produced comply with the most appropriate pedagogy, teaching standards, and other applicable institutional, state, and national accreditation requirements.

https://dmptool.org/ https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/integrated-programs-logic-model-planning-process https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/afri-request-applications-resources

14. Extension activities must meet the definition described in Appendix III of this RFA and the guidelines for extension described for integrated project types (see “AFRI Project Types” in the attachments list on the AFRI RFA Resources page). In addition, extension components must include:

a) Approaches that consider the factors that impact decision making (e.g., assess individual, stakeholder group, or community needs; develop strategies that incentivize changes in practices to manage lands, crops and/or systems; promote adoption of new technologies and other interventions based on knowledge of user preferences); and

b) Innovative approaches to disseminate project results and/or best management practices.

c) Extension activities may include positive youth development programs such as 4-H.

15. A high degree of engagement is expected among researchers, education, extension or other engagement personnel, and relevant stakeholders, from inception through implementation of the project.

16. Applications must:

a) Clearly identify the systems addressed in the project and provide justification for why that system, its scope, and components, were selected. Where possible, each application must describe the prioritization process used to determine which systems and components to investigate in terms of the food and agricultural production practices, supply chain components, consumption end uses, and impacts on people.

b) Describe a meaningful approach for blending research, education, and extension expertise and other extension and implementation approaches throughout the project to address principal objectives.

c) Provide evidence that the project is aligned with AFRI priorities established by the Farm Bill, as listed in Part I § A of this RFA.

d) Describe expected solutions or improvements and how these will be assessed and measured in their project.

e) Address the potential costs of proposed solutions identified in the proposal and describe how solutions can be scaled to be used in the short- and long-term based on technical, economic, and social feasibility.

f) Explain how the project will strengthen agricultural and food production systems and how results will be adopted or applied at a local, regional, or national level.

g) Provide outcomes from previous AFRI awards – If the PD on the current application has previously received an AFRI award from NIFA and is listed as the PD on a prior award with start date(s) within 5 years prior to the submission deadline for this program, (excluding Conference and Equipment Grants), provide the following in the project Narrative. (1) Award number(s), (2) Significant outcome from each award (maximum of 300 words per award). During the proposal review process, the diversity of agricultural systems and long-term goals included may be taken into consideration when making final award decisions.

17. Applicants are encouraged to consult the definitions and examples of the food and agricultural systems in the National Academy of Sciences report on “A Framework for Assessing Effects of the Food System.”

https://www.nap.edu/catalog/18846/a-framework-for-assessing-effects-of-the-food-system https://www.nap.edu/catalog/18846/a-framework-for-assessing-effects-of-the-food-system

PART II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. Available Funding This RFA is being released prior to the passage of a full appropriations act for FY 2024.

Enactment of a continuing resolution, appropriations act, or other authorizing legislation may affect the availability or level of funding for this program. The amount available for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Sustainable Agricultural Systems (SAS) RFA in FY 2024 is approximately $80,000,000 for integrated projects. USDA is not committed to fund any application or to make a specific number of awards.

The Automated Standard Application for Payments, operated by the Department of Treasury, Bureau of Fiscal Service, is the designated payment system for awards resulting from this RFA.

B. Application Restrictions NIFA will evaluate applications using the criteria described in Part V of this RFA. Application for FY 2024 is limited to the following application types:

1. New application: New applications will be evaluated using the criteria described in Part V of this RFA and are subject to the due dates herein (see Appendix III for definition).

2. Resubmitted application: Resubmitted applications must include a response to the previous review and are subject to the same criteria and due dates herein. Resubmitted applicants must enter the NIFA-assigned proposal number of the previously submitted application in the Federal Field (Field 4) on the application form (see Appendix III for definition).

C. Project and Grant Types The following describes the types of projects or grants that are eligible for funding:

1. Project Types. Applicants must propose the AFRI project types specified within the relevant program area descriptions in Part I § C of this RFA. Only project types specifically solicited under each program area or program area priority described in Part I § C of this RFA will be considered for review. A detailed description of the project types available across AFRI is located on the AFRI RFA Resources page (“AFRI Project Types” in the attachments list).

2. Grant Types. Applicants must select the appropriate AFRI grant type specified within the relevant Program Area Descriptions in Part I § C of this RFA. Only grant types specifically solicited under each program area or program area priority described in Part I § C of this RFA will be considered for review. A detailed description of the grant types (Standard Grants, Coordinated Agricultural Projects, Conference Grants, Collaborative Grants, and FASE Grants) available across AFRI is located on the AFRI RFA Resources page (“AFRI Grant Types” in the attachments list).

D. Ethical Conduct of Funded Projects In accordance with sections 2, 3, and 8 of 2 CFR Part 422, institutions that conduct USDA-funded extramural research must foster an atmosphere conducive to research integrity, bear primary responsibility for prevention and detection of research misconduct, and maintain and effectively communicate and train their staff regarding policies and procedures. In the event an application to NIFA results in an award, the Authorized Representative (AR) assures, through acceptance of the award that the institution will comply with the above requirements. Award recipients must, upon request, make available to NIFA the policies, procedures, and https://www.fiscal.treasury.gov/fsservices/gov/pmt/asap/asap_home.htm https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/afri-request-applications-resources https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=3f96ab05cf1fc2d2713e5e46755e7696&mc=true&node=pt2.1.422&rgn=div5#se2.1.422_12 documentation to support the conduct of the training. See NIFA’s guidelines on Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research for further information.

https://nifa.usda.gov/responsible-and-ethical-conduct-research https://nifa.usda.gov/responsible-and-ethical-conduct-research

PART III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligibility Requirements Applicants for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Sustainable Agricultural Systems (SAS) RFA must meet all the requirements discussed in this RFA. Failure to meet the eligibility criteria by the application deadline may result in exclusion from consideration or, preclude NIFA from making an award. For those new to Federal financial assistance, NIFA’s Grants Overview provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand the Federal awards process.

1. Integrated Projects 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 Hispanic-Serving

Agricultural Colleges and Universities page).

For item a) under Integrated Projects, the terms "college" and "university" mean an educational institution in any state which

i) admits as regular students only persons having a certificate of graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the recognized equivalent of such a certificate;

ii) is legally authorized within such state to provide a program of education beyond secondary education;

iii) provides an educational program for which a bachelor’s degree or any other higher degree is awarded;

iv) is a public or other nonprofit institution; and

v) is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association.

A research foundation maintained by a college or university is eligible to receive an award under this program.

2. Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement Grants

Part II § C.2 of this RFA contains the eligibility details for Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants. Note that under FASE program, Strengthening Coordinated Agricultural Project and Strengthening Standard Grants are solicited in this RFA.

Applicants must respond to the program area priorities and deadlines found in Part I § C of this RFA. Grant recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project. Failure to meet an eligibility criterion by the application deadline may result in the application being excluded from consideration or, even though an application may be reviewed, will preclude NIFA from making an award (see Part III § B).

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.