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The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is now accepting applications for funding years 2021 and 2022 Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Education and Workforce Development program. Approximately $45 million is available in funding for FY 2021 and approximately $68 million is available in funding for FY 2022. Applications due dates vary depending on program area.

1. Enhancing Agricultural Literacy and Workforce Training
   • Professional Development for Agricultural Literacy
   • Agricultural Workforce Training Grants
2. Developing Pathways
   • Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates
3. Advancing Science
   • Predoctoral Fellowships
   • Postdoctoral Fellowships

• Colleges and universities (including junior colleges offering associate degrees or higher);
• University research foundations;
• Other research institutions and organizations;
• Federal agencies;
• National laboratories;
• Private organizations or corporations;
• Individuals who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents; and
• Any group consisting of two or more entities identified in a) through h).

• Colleges and universities;
• 1994 Land-Grant Institutions; and
• Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities (see NIFA's Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities page).

• Eligible Predoctoral Fellows – The individual predoctoral Project Director (PD) must be a citizen, national, or permanent resident of the United States and, as per CFR 3430.303, have advanced to candidacy, as per institutional requirements, by:
  • Fiscal Year 2021 competition: May 25, 2021
  • Applicants considering applying to the 2022 review cycle should check after February 3, 2022 for updated eligibility requirements for FY 2022.
• Eligible Postdoctoral Fellows – As per CFR 3430.303, all doctoral degree requirements must be satisfied by:
  • Fiscal Year 2021 competition: no earlier than January 1, 2018, and no later than February 18, 2022
  • Applicants considering applying to the 2022 review cycle should check after February 3, 2022 for updated eligibility requirements for FY 2022.

1. Professional Development for Agricultural Literacy budgets must not exceed $500,000/project for project periods of 3-4 years. Funds requested may include, but are not limited to, support participant stipends and travel; costs of continuing education units; provider personnel salaries; software; and curricula.
2. Agricultural Workforce Training budgets must not exceed $500,000/project for project periods of 3-4 years. Funds requested may include but are not limited to: support for participant stipends and travel; costs of course enrollment; provider personnel salaries; software; and curricula.
3. Food and Agricultural Non-formal Education:
   • Food and Agricultural Non-formal Education (FANE) grants must not exceed $750,000 per project for project periods of 3 or 4 years. Funds requested may include but are not limited to support of participant stipends and travel; provider personnel salaries; software; and curricula.
   • Civic Engagement Experience for Youth (CEEY) grants must not exceed $1 million per project for project periods of four or five years. Funds requested may include but are not limited to supporting youth cost of attendance and subsistence (travel, housing, meals); speaker honorariums; provider personnel salaries; event planning supplies; facilitator and staff training; and evaluation. CEEY anticipates making up to one award.
4. Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates (REEU):
   • Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates grants must not exceed $600,000 per project for project periods of 4 years, or $750,000 per project for project periods of 5 years. Project costs for REEU projects must be predominantly for student support, including items such as participant stipends, housing, meals, travel, and laboratory use fees.
   • Education Coordinated Network for Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates (REEU-ECN) grants must not exceed $500,000 per project for project periods of 5 years.
5. Predoctoral Fellowship requests must not exceed $180,000 per project for project periods of up to 3 years. Predoctoral Fellowship Grants are not renewable and are limited to a total of $60,000 per year, for the following:
   • Stipend – up to $35,000 per year;
   • Tuition, fees, fringe benefits, supplies, travel, workshops, and publications – up to $22,000 per year;
   • Institutional allowance (in lieu of indirect costs) – up to $3,000 per year; indirect costs are not permitted on Predoctoral Fellowship Grant awards;
   • With the exception of the stipend, awarded funds in other budget categories may be carried over from year one to other years. The stipend is capped at $35,000 per year and cannot be carried over from year one to the next.
6. Postdoctoral Fellowship requests must not exceed $225,000 per project for project periods of up to 2 years for the following:
   • Funds must be requested primarily for salary or stipend and be properly justified;
   • Other expenditures (e.g., fringe benefits, supplies, travel, workshops, and publications) may not exceed $60,000 per year and must be itemized and properly justified;
   • Institutional allowance (in lieu of indirect costs) – up to $3,000 per year. Indirect costs are not permitted on Postdoctoral Fellowship Grant awards.
7. Agricultural Literacy and Workforce Development Evaluation
   • Agricultural Literacy and Workforce Development Evaluation (ALE) project budgets must not exceed $750,000 per project for project periods of 3 years. ALE anticipates making up to one award.
   • Outcomes in Participant Career Development (OPCD) project budgets must not exceed $600,000 per project for project periods of 4 years. OPCD anticipates making up to one award.

1. The results of the project, while of particular benefit to a specific agricultural commodity, are likely to be applicable to agricultural commodities generally; or
2. The project involves a minor commodity, the project deals with scientifically important research, and the grant recipient is unable to satisfy the matching funds requirement.

The Request for Applications can be found here.

For more information on this grant or how to apply with Morrison’s assistance, please contact the Morrison Grants Team by email at grants@morrisonco.net or call us at 530-893-4764.