FY25-AFRI-SAS-RFA-P.pdf

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative

Sustainable Agricultural Systems

FUNDING YEAR: Fiscal Year (FY) 2025

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Thursday, May 15, 2025

ANTICIPATED PROGRAM FUNDING: $70,000,000

AVERAGE INDIVIDUAL AWARD

RANGE:

$2,500,000 – 10,000,0000

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: USDA-NIFA-AFRI-011335

ASSISTANCE LISTING NUMBER: 10.310

ANNOUNCEMENT

National Institute of Food and Agriculture United States Department of Agriculture

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

Table 1: Key Dates and Deadlines Task Description Deadline

Notification of Intent: 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time, March 27, 2025 Application: 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time, May 15, 2025

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 DEIA 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 review panel 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 RFAs to 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.

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 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 2025.

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 2025 Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Sustainable Agricultural Systems (SAS) Request for Applications (RFA) is approximately $70 million, for awards ranging from a minimum request of $2.5 million up to a maximum of $10 million each.

The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative 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 SAS 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; reduce food loss and waste; ensure a healthy, safe and affordable supply of food; invigorate and realize the bioeconomy; and promote 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 U.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 2025, 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:

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

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 2025:

1. Prospective applicants are requested to email a Notification of Intent to submit an application by 5 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday, March 27, 2025, to “AFRI- SAS@usda.gov”. This notification is not required and does not enter into the review of a subsequent application. The information it contains will be used by program staff to plan the review process. It will not be used to screen for project appropriateness or applicant eligibility, nor will feedback be offered (See Part IV for additional details).

2. Previous AFRI award outcomes will be required if the PD on the current application has previously received an AFRI award from NIFA (excluding Conference and Equipment Grants) and is listed as the PD on the prior award(s) with start date(s) within 5 years prior to the submission deadline for this program. Provide the following in the Project Narrative: 1) award number(s) and 2) significant outcome(s) from each award (maximum of 300 words per award).

3. During the application review process, the diversity of agricultural systems and long-term goals included in this RFA may be taken into consideration when making final award decisions.

4. Mentoring plan instructions have been revised from last year. For additional important details, see the “FY 2025 Sustainable Agricultural Systems (SAS) RFA Additional Information for Part IV, C” on the AFRI RFA Resources webpage.

mailto:AFRI-SAS@usda.gov mailto:AFRI-SAS@usda.gov https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/programs/agriculture-food-research-initiative/afri-request-applications-resources

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ANNOUNCEMENT

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

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. Notification of Intent to Submit an Application 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. SAS Evaluation Criteria C. Organizational Management Information D. 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 biobased products; forestry; aquaculture; rural communities and entrepreneurship; human nutrition; biotic and abiotic constraints on food production; food safety; reducing food loss and waste; 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) Request for Applications (RFA) provides funding for integrated research, education, and extension projects.

Food and agricultural systems are becoming increasingly constrained by a growing global population, limited 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 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 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 upon which the 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.

Background AFRI is NIFA’s flagship competitive grants program for food and agricultural sciences. These funds are allocated to support single function and integrated projects and programs that address critical societal issues through the AFRI Foundational and Applied Science, Sustainable Agricultural Systems, and Education and Workforce Development RFAs.

This AFRI SAS RFA will support the following USDA priorities:

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

2. Advancing justice, equity, and opportunity for rural underserved communities and communities with environmental justice concerns;

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 addresses 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; promote safe and nutritious food security in a growing world; and reduce food loss and waste by 50% by 2030. 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 other institutions. Applications must clearly demonstrate benefits to the United States (see AFRI International Partnerships).

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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/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 Notification of Intent Deadline Thursday, March 27, 2025

Application Deadline Thursday, May 15, 2025 Grant Duration: Up to 60 Months

Anticipated # of Awards: 7 to 10 Minimum Award Amount $2,500,000

Maximum Award Amount: $10,000,000 Program Area Priority

Contact(s):

Dr. Lydia Kaume Dr. Bisoondat “Mac” Macoon Dr. William “Bill” Goldner Dr. Ashley Mueller AFRI-SAS@usda.gov

C. Program Area Description

The purpose of the AFRI SAS program area is to enable a sustainable supply of accessible, healthy, safe, and affordable food and other agricultural products, while reducing food loss and waste, enhancing rural economic development, employment, and economic opportunities, and improving the long-term health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities.

Applicants may propose CAP projects with minimum budget of $2,500,000 and maximum budget of $10,000,000.

The following are integral components of a SAS project.

1. Sustainability: 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 its framework.

2. Full Integration: This program solicits 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. Applicants must carefully review the general characteristics of all grant types and project types. Applicants must also review the NIFA definitions of 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

Research, Education, and Extension found in the documents labeled “AFRI Grant Types” and “AFRI Project Types” in the attachments list on AFRI RFA Resources page. Key points to consider:

a. 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.

b. Stakeholder communities must be engaged in project activities directly affecting them, (e.g., the design, approach, implementation, evaluation, and feedback loops).

c. Involvement of underserved communities is highly recommended.

d. Projects including curriculum development must be led by or include key personnel with curriculum development credentials or who 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.

e. Educational activities should develop human capital skilled for the sustainable agricultural systems of the future and must meet the NIFA definition of education. 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 should engage a diverse population of education professionals and students in these activities, including underserved and nontraditional students.

Applications strengthening community college level education are welcome.

f. Extension activities must meet the NIFA definition of extension. In addition, extension components must include 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 innovatively disseminate project results and/or best management practices.

g. 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 of research, education, or extension.

3. Systems Approach: Projects must use a systems approach that applies rapidly advancing science and technologies to ensure the economic, environmental, equitable, and social goals of sustainable agriculture. 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. Applications must:

a. Present a clear scope and explanation of the system(s) chosen; the associated problems to be addressed through research, extension, and education; and expected impacts to be attained. Provide justification for why the system(s), scope, and components, were selected. Describe the prioritization process used to determine which system(s) and components require investigation in terms of the food and https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/programs/agriculture-food-research-initiative/afri-request-applications-resources agricultural production practices, supply chain components, consumption, end uses, and impacts on people and communities.

b. Describe how new strategies or other technical interventions may alter existing systems and the future implications of unintended effects.

c. Demonstrate that the changes resulting from the proposed efforts will enhance the viability of the food and agricultural value chain.

d. Describe expected solutions or improvements and how these will be assessed and measured.

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

f. Applications must also 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.

4. Transdisciplinary: Applications must include a clear description of how transdisciplinary approaches will be deployed to achieve the goals of the project as defined in Appendix III.

Applications must demonstrate transdisciplinary linkages necessary to address the complex challenges in developing sustainable agricultural systems. A high degree of engagement is expected among researchers, educators, extension staff or other engagement personnel, and relevant stakeholders, from inception through implementation of the project.

5. Workforce Integration: 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, foresters, engineers, data managers, 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.

6. Metrics: 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.

7. SAS Long-term Goals and Subgoals: Applicants must explicitly link their project goals and objectives to at least ONE of the long-term goals and subgoals described below. Applicants should include the goal and subgoal in the project summary/abstract.

SAS LONG-TERM GOALS & SUBGOALS

The SAS program area will fund projects that significantly advance previously established foundational and applied sciences for the following USDA priority outcomes, and address one or more of the following long-term goals and subgoals:

1. STRENGTHENING THE BIOECONOMY: This goal focuses on developing or enhancing systems to produce sources of biofuels, biomaterials, biobased chemical intermediates, 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. The development and implementation of a sustainable and resilient bioeconomy is limited, especially among underserved communities, by access to economically viable technologies, infrastructure susceptibility to climate shocks, and increasing costs for transportation and 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, economic gains may be generated while alleviating pressure on the environment through recycling materials and capturing value (e.g., zero-waste, carbon neutral) along the supply chain. Assessments of the system(s) economic, environmental, and social sustainability should examine system elements including feedstock production, storage, transportation, preprocessing, processing, labor supply and training, and effects on communities, particularly underserved or overburdened communities. Applications should identify opportunities to use agricultural, forest, and food unfit for human and animal consumption or residuals for the production of biofuels and biobased products and materials. Utilization of sustainable emerging purpose-grown biomass feedstock crops (e.g., lignocellulosic and intermediate oilseed crops) is also encouraged.

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 addressing this goal must also address at least one of the following subgoals:

a. Sustainable Bioenergy and Biobased Products: Develop new and/or improved systems for the production and manufacturing of biofuels (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, or other relevant benefits, including tangible benefits to communities with environmental justice concerns).

b. Resilience and Robustness of Bioeconomies: Develop innovative systems that increase resiliency to climate change impacts affecting supply chains. Assessment of local and regional community assets and potential innovative collaborations are encouraged. 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 Biomass Resource Hub (RBRH) Initiative: USDA-NIFA is collaborating with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Regional Biomass Resource Hubs Initiative (RBRH) to advance development and commercialization of low-carbon intensity biomass, bioenergy and biobased products. The RBRH supports research, development, and deployment of purpose grown energy crops that will contribute to decarbonizing the fuel and chemical industry through alternative sources of carbon to advance cost-effective technologies with a minimum of 85% less greenhouse gas emissions by 2035. SAS projects selected under this subgoal will gain access to regional and national data and collaboration to further advance their individual goals and objectives and will contribute field trial results, including carbon intensity metrics, to the RBRH network to serve as a reference for stakeholders across the bioeconomy. Applicants interested in partnering with the RBRH should include a letter of support from the RBRH host organization. Letters of support may be requested at rbrh@inl.gov.

2. FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY: This goal focuses on increasing 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, and affordable foods essential to optimal health and well-being and reduction in food loss and waste.

Overcoming challenges associated with food and nutrition security requires a thorough examination of the intersections of climate change, national, local, and regional food systems, and nutrition security with an eye to ensuring the quality and safety of food while reducing food loss and waste. Effective food and nutrition security projects will address the concerns of populations of special interest that have a disproportionate risk of food insecurity, diet-related diseases, and climate change impacts. Populations include but are not limited to tribal communities, communities of color, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual (LGBTQIA+) communities, individuals with disabilities, Veterans, rural and remote communities, and insular areas.

Additionally, this goal supports efforts to ensure food produced in the United States is not lost or wasted at any point along the food supply chain. Currently, an estimated 30%-40% of food produced in the United States is lost or wasted, contributing to excess methane emissions among other negative impacts. Reducing food loss and waste would improve food https://regionalbiomassresourcehub.inl.gov/ https://regionalbiomassresourcehub.inl.gov/ mailto:rbrh@inl.gov and nutrition security, increase farmer income and rural prosperity, reduce pressure on natural resources, and achieve greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.

a. Reducing Food Loss and Waste (FLW): Support one or more of the four objectives outlined in the National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics; and develop coordinated science-based solutions and resources to reduce food loss and waste and improve nutrition security. Projects are to consider new or improved innovative technologies and solutions to food loss and waste across the entire food supply chain, including production, processing, transportation, retail, etc.

Projects may also prioritize novel or improved food recovery models that ensure food safety across the food supply chain. Projects may improve capacity and commercialization of innovations designed to prevent food loss and waste, and improve understanding of food loss and waste volumes, drivers, and climate impacts, such as CO2 and methane emissions.

b. Food and Nutrition Security: Maximize impacts or scale proven nutrition interventions and/or programs with the goal to improve human health, prevent and/or control diet-related chronic diseases along the life cycle (i.e., pregnancy, birth, lactation, early childhood, children, teenagers, young adults, adults to older adults).

Proposals should include evidence based and culturally and contextually inclusive approaches (e.g., extension Policy Systems and Environmental (PSE) change interventions, precision/personalized nutrition, etc.). Food systems may include those focused on early childhood, K-12 schools, colleges, partnerships of schools with community and health systems, and senior/older adult communities.

c. Strengthening Local and Regional Food Systems (LRFS): Improve or develop innovative solutions within local and regional food systems to increase resiliency to withstand supply shocks and support long-term sustainability of community economic engines. Projects may focus on systems approaches to strengthen food safety in LRFS. Projects should boost partnerships across the food system from farm to fork, increase community engagement, prevent food loss and waste, and support farms and food businesses. Applicants are encouraged to seek collaboration with relevant USDA Regional Food Business Centers for localized assistance to access local and regional supply chains, including linking producers to wholesalers and distributors. “Local and regional foods” are foods produced and sold within a certain distance or geographic boundary to consumers (See Definitions).

3. CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY (CSAF): This long-term goal aims to 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 also being relied upon to mitigate https://www.usda.gov/foodlossandwaste/national-strategy https://www.usda.gov/foodlossandwaste/national-strategy 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. Agricultural and forestry systems must demonstrate environmental sustainability, including but not limited to soil health, nutrient management, minimalization of greenhouse gas emissions, and resilience to climate variabilities. In addition, food production systems should ensure optimal nutrient density/composition. 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.

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. 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 system(s), system components, and detailed metrics that are directed at achieving one or more of the three long-term goals in this RFA.

Program Area Additional Information

1. Requests exceeding budgetary guidelines will not be reviewed.

2. Unless otherwise stated, grants are issued for a period of up to 5 years and are not renewable after completion of the performance period.

3. 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.

4. Review additional application requirements from the document titled AFRI-SAS-RFA- Additional-Information-for-Part-IV-C on the AFRI RFA Resources page.

5. Applicants must address at least one or more of the three long-term goal areas described previously in this RFA. Goal areas for this RFA are, Strengthening the Bioeconomy;

Food and Nutrition Security; and Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry (CSAF).

6. Projects must provide evidence that the project is aligned with the goal area and the AFRI priorities established by the Farm Bill, as listed in Part I § A of this RFA.

7. NEW: Applicants are requested to email a Notification of Intent to submit an application by 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on March 27, 2025.

8. NIFA welcomes projects that incorporate traditional ecological knowledge.

9. 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 welcome.

10. 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.”

11. Coordination and collaboration with USDA Nutrition Hub awardees is encouraged. Learn more on NIFA’s Food and Nutrition Security Topic Page.

12. NIFA welcomes applicants to consider educational components of integrated projects that

(1) address training or retraining workforce for careers as nutrition educators, to support Food and Nutrition programs particularly in historically underserved populations or (2) develop evidence-based program interventions and materials responsive to local and regional workforce needs while addressing barriers to career pathways including access to equipment, technology, broadband, instructors, mentors, childcare, eldercare, and transportation.

13. NIFA encourages proposals that connect with or inform Federal programs that support food and nutrition security, such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutrition education, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed), the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), etc., and elevating MyPlate for Educators.

14. Applications focusing on integrated projects that improve women’s health outcomes are welcome.

15. Leveraging artificial intelligence and data science methods not limited to data visualization, machine learning, natural language processing, or predictive decision making is welcome.

16. A Data Management Plan is required and must include making data publicly available with persistent identifiers or compatible with other open databases and sources. A reasonable budget allocation for data management is allowed as a direct cost.

https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/programs/agriculture-food-research-initiative/afri-request-applications-resources 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 https://www.nifa.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-security

PART II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. Available Funding This RFA is being released prior to the passage of a full appropriations act for FY 2025.

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 2025 is approximately $70,000,000 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 2025 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 Integrated Projects only (must include Research, Education, and Extension components within project) as described in Part I § C of this RFA. 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. For this RFA which are, Coordinated Agricultural Project and FASE (Strengthening Coordinated Agricultural Project) Grants only. This is specified within the relevant Program Area Descriptions in Part I § C of this RFA. 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 https://www.fiscal.treasury.gov/fsservices/gov/pmt/asap/asap_home.htm bookmark://_Legislative_Authority/ 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 recipients must, upon request, make available to NIFA the policies, procedures, and 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" means an educational institution in the United States that:

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 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. For those new to Federal financial assistance, NIFA’s Grants Overview provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/grants-overview https://nifa.usda.gov/hispanic-serving-agricultural-colleges-and-universities-hsacu https://nifa.usda.gov/hispanic-serving-agricultural-colleges-and-universities-hsacu https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/grants-overview the Federal awards process.

B. Request for Determination of Status

1. Minority–Serving Institution If an institution is applying for a Strengthening Grant (see Part II § C. 2) and wants the Secretary to consider a group, beyond one included in the minority definition (See Appendix III, then documentation (see below) must be submitted as part of the requestor’s full application package (Part IV. C.) by the applicable program area or program area priority deadline.