Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program |
USDA |
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Past Deadline: May 16, 2019. Beginning farmer education for adult and young audiences in the United States can generally be traced back to the advent of the 1862 and 1890 Morrill Land-Grant Acts. But, for the first time, the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Pub .L. No. 110-234, Section 7410) appropriated $75 million for FY 2009 to FY 2012 to develop and offer education, training, outreach and mentoring programs to enhance the sustainability of the next generation of farmers. The Agriculture Act of 2014 provided an additional $20 million per year for 2014 through 2018. The reasons for the renewed interest in beginning farmer and rancher programs are as follows: the rising average age of U.S. farmers; the 8% projected decrease in the number of farmers and ranchers between 2008 and 2018; and the growing recognition that new programs are needed to address the needs of the next generation of beginning farmers and ranchers. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (aka the 2018 Farm Bill) reauthorized the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program and provides mandatory funds for which supports education, mentoring, and technical assistance initiatives for beginning farmers and ranchers.
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ranchers, Farm Bill, outreach, programs food |
$600,000- $50,000 |
National |
Link |
Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) |
USDA |
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he Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) helps the owners of non-industrial private forests restore forest health damaged by natural disasters. The EFRP does this by authorizing payments to owners of private forests to restore disaster damaged forests.
The local FSA County Committee implements EFRP for all disasters with the exceptions of drought and insect infestations. In the case of drought or an insect infestation, the national FSA office authorizes EFRP implementation.
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forest restoration, forest management, private forests, non-industrial forests, natural disasters, forest health |
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National |
Link |
Grants for Rural and Native Alaskan Villages |
USDA |
12/31/2023 |
Applications accepted continuously. Meant to fund water and waste disposal systems in rural Alaskan Villages. Funds must be used for development and construction of water and wastewater systems to correct dire health and sanitation conditions in those villages. Many communities in remote rural Alaska, where villages are accessible by plane or boat only, are essentially inaccessible during the long, hard winters. They lag far behind the lower 48 States in having safe and dependable drinking water and suitable waste disposal systems available. Construction costs are extremely high. This is due in part to the severe weather conditions, which makes laying pipe difficult, if not impossible. These conditions also require the use of insulated pipe, or in areas of permafrost, above ground utilidors, often with heat traced insulated pipe. The vast distances from the transportation hub of Anchorage to a village increases costs substantially as the material must be delivered by barge or air.
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Adaptation, Emergency Management, Water, Health, Natural Resources |
The maximum grant is 75 percent of the project cost. |
Alaska, Coastal |
Link |
Regional Conservation Partnership Program |
USDA |
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Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: April 13, 2022. The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) promotes coordination of Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS) conservation activities with partners that offer value-added contributions to expand our collective ability to address on-farm, watershed, and regional natural resource concerns. Through RCPP, NRCS seeks to co-invest with partners to implement projects that demonstrate innovative solutions to conservation challenges and provide measurable improvements and outcomes tied to the resource concerns they seek to address. This year’s funding includes updates that encourage projects to address climate change, benefit historically underserved farmers, and support urban agriculture.
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Agriculture, Natural Resource Management, Farming, Forestry, Ranching, Watershed, Collaboration |
$250,000-$10,000,000 |
National, International (US Territories) |
Link |
Individual Water & Wastewater Grants |
USDA |
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Applications accepted continuously. The purpose of this grant is to provide water and waste disposal facilities and services to low income rural communities whose residents face significant health risks. Every effort is made to identify and fund the neediest projects. This program is only eligible in states with Colonias, and those are Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas.
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Adaptation, Water, Health, Natural Resources |
Generally, applicants are expected to borrow as much as they can afford to repay, as in the regular loan program. However, water and waste disposal systems can obtain up to 100 percent grants to construct basic drinking water, sanitary sewer, solid waste disposal and storm drainage to serve the residents. |
Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas |
Link |
Emergency Watershed Protection Program |
USDA |
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Applications accepted continuously. The Emergency Watershed Protection Program responds to emergencies created by natural disasters. The program is designed to help people and conserve natural resources by relieving imminent hazards to life and property caused by floods, fires, windstorms, and other natural occurrences. All projects undertaken, with the exception of the purchase of floodplain easements, must have a project sponsor.
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Water, Natural Resources, Adaptation, Disaster, Emergency Management, Health |
Varies |
Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska |
Link |
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program |
USDA |
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Deadline passed as of June 28, 2017. Deadline for 2018 unknown. The Agriculture and Natural Resources Science for Climate Variability and Change Challenge Area RFA focuses on the societal challenge to adapt agroecosystems and natural resource systems to climate variability and change and implement mitigation strategies in those systems. In the Agriculture and Natural Resources Science for Climate Variability and Change Challenge Area RFA, specific program areas are designed to achieve the long-term outcome of reducing the use of energy, nitrogen, reducing GHG emissions from practices, and water in the production of food, feed, fiber, and fuel; reduce GHG emissions from these agroecosystems; and increase carbon sequestration. Project types supported by AFRI within this RFA include multi-function integrated research, education, and/or extension projects and Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants.
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Education, Natural Resources, Research, Adaptation, Mitigation, Land, Health, Energy, Water |
Varies |
Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska, Midwest |
Link |
Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) Grant Program |
USDA - FNS (Food and Nutrition Service) |
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The Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) Grant Program supports projects to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables among low-income consumers participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by providing incentives at the point of purchase. There are three categories of projects: (1) FINI Pilot Projects (awards not to exceed a total of $100,000 over one year); (2) Multi-year, community-based FINI Projects (awards not to exceed a total of $500,000 over no more than four years); and (3) Multi-year, FINI Large-Scale Projects (awards of $500,000 or more over no more than four years).
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Food, nutrition |
See grant guidance |
National |
Link |
Farm to School Grant |
USDA - FNS (Food and Nutrition Service) |
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Deadline passed as of December 8, 2016. Deadline for 2017 unknown. The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is charged with implementing the Farm to School Program. In this funding cycle, USDA anticipates awarding approximately $6 million in grant funding to support efforts that improve access to local foods in schools. Beyond the $5 million in funding provided in the HHFKA, in fiscal year (FY) 2016 USDA anticipates the availability of an additional $1 million, subject to appropriation, in grant funding to support placement of volunteer service members (e.g. AmeriCorps, VISTA, local service corps programs, etc.) in schools throughout the country to build or maintain school gardens, incorporate nutrition education into the schools’ culture, and support school food service personnel in procuring or promoting local and regional products for the school meal program - See link for more.
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Food, nutrition, Agriculture, Education, Schools, Development |
$15,000 to $100,000 |
National |
Link |
Forest Service Wildfire Risk Reduction / Wildfire Response RFA |
USDA Forest Service |
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Deadline Passed 12/20/2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. The U.S. Forest Service supports Moving Toward Shared Stewardship Across Landscapes as part of a conceptual framework for making strategic investments across landscapes to co-manage wildfire risk and achieve positive outcomes at the most appropriate scale. Within this framework, Eastern Region Cohesive Fire Strategy Competitive Request for Applications is designed to support and carry out the goals of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy (NCS) across the Midwestern and Northeastern States as well as meet the intent of the current year budget direction. These national goals are to restore and maintain landscapes, create fire adapted communities, and improve wildfire response.
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shared stewardship, co-management, wildfire management, fire adapted communities, wildfire response |
$25,000-$150,000 |
National |
Link |
Community Wildfire Defense Grant |
USDA Forest Service |
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Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: October 7, 2022. This grant aims to assist at-risk communities and tribes in preparing against and reducing the risks due to wildfire by restoring and maintaining landscapes, creating fire adapted communities, and improving wildfire response. Up to $250K is available for qualifying community wildfire protection plan development or updates. Up to $10M is available for qualifying community wildfire protection plan implementation. Tribes are also welcome to apply to the corresponding state Notices of Funding Opportunity. Learn more and apply here.
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disaster prevention and relief, natural resources, fire adaptation |
Up to $10,000,000 |
National |
Link |
Great Lakes RFA |
USDA Forest Service |
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Deadline Passed 05/11/2018. Deadline Unknown for 2019. The U.S. Forest Service will support projects in the Great Lakes basin that implement the following strategic, priority actions: restore tree canopy lost to infestation by emerald ash borer; create or improve green infrastructure through planting of trees and other vegetation; restore the function of coastal wetland areas through planting of native trees and diverse vegetation.
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habitat restoration, green infrastructure, planting, wetland restoration |
$50,000- $200,000 |
Great Lakes Basin |
Link |
FY 22 National Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program |
USDA Forest Service |
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Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: April 13, 2022. The Forest Service is seeking to create a national innovative messaging for the Urban and Community Forestry Program that raises awareness of the critical and urgent need to plan, grow, and manage our urban forests to benefit all. Learn more and apply here.
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Urban forestry, community forestry, management, innovation |
$100,000 - 500,000. |
National |
Link |
Wood Innovations Funding Opportunity |
USDA Forest Service |
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Deadline Passed. Most recent deadline: March 23, 2023. The Wood Innovations Grant Program, launched in 2015, stimulates, expands, and supports U.S. wood products markets and wood energy markets to support the long-term management of National Forest System and other forest lands. National focus areas include mass timber, renewable wood energy, and technological development that supports hazardous fuel reduction and sustainable forest management Read the funding announcement here.
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wood energy, wood products, hazardous fuels reduction, forest health, forest management, economic health, environmental health |
The maximum for each award is $300,000. |
National |
Link |
Tribal Equity Grants Program |
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture |
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Deadline is Ongoing. The 1994 Land-Grants use Equity to support faculty who develop classes and degree programs that teach science and math to Native Americans. The programs focus on agriculture, natural resources and human sciences. The faculty strive to graduate students who can achieve their life goals. Since many 1994 Land-Grants are two-year schools, some students aspire to advanced degrees. Other students seek training to begin a vocational career in agriculture. Still other students want to earn certifications just to improve their daily lives. Faculty have used Equity funding to help build laboratories, conduct remedial courses, create new degree programs in forestry and provide students stipends so they can complete their education. The goal is to graduate empowered students who can embrace their future with new skills and knowledge.
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math, science, agriculture, natural resources, human sciences, vocational training, education |
Varies |
National |
Link |
Tribal Extension Grant Program |
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture |
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Deadline is Ongoing. The Tribal College Extension grant program allows the 1994 Land-Grants to create extension offices for their reservation communities. Each extension office works with reservation communities to build programs that target local needs. The result is a diversified and targeted outreach. Reservation youth participate in fun activities in a safe environment. Farmers and ranchers gain science-based insights to improve their productivity. Financial literacy training enhances rural reservation economies. The 1994 Land-Grants also provide culture-centered family activities to restore Native languages, traditions and agriculture. Within this grant program are two types of funds: Capacity grants and Special Emphasis. Capacity grants fund an entire Extension office which can have many mission areas and clients. Special Emphasis are targeted, short-term pilot projects that allow Extension educators to explore new ways to better serve their community.
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reservation communities, financial literacy training, education, culture, native languages, traditions, agrculture |
Varies |
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Link |
Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program |
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture |
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The Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program (CFPCGP) has since 1996 promoted self-sufficiency and food security in low-income communities through community food projects (CFP), Planning Projects and Training and Capacity Building projects (TCB).
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Food Security |
$10,000 to $300,000 |
National |
Link |
Funding available to help Oregon landowners mitigate effects of drought |
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) |
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In Oregon, NRCS will focus the funding on cropland, rangeland and forestry conservation practices. For cropland practices, NRCS will assist producers with planting and managing cover crops and implementing emergency soil erosion measures. These practices will help farmers protect the soil from erosion, promote more organic matter in the soil, and aid in better water infiltration.
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Habitat Conservation, resource conservation, Drought |
Up to $2.5 million in funding available to farmers, ranchers and forest landowners to
mitigate the effects of drought in counties that have secured drought declarations from the
Governor’s Office. |
Oregon |
Link |
Water & Waste Disposal Technical Assistance & Training Grants |
USDA Rural Development |
12/31/2023 |
Application Window is from October 1st - December 31st each year. This program helps qualified, private non-profits provide technical assistance and training to (a) identify and evaluate solutions to water and waste problems; (b) assist applicants in preparing applications for water and waste disposal loans/grants; and (c) assist associations in improving operation and maintenance of existing water and waste facilities in eligible rural areas.
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Water, waste disposal, training |
Varies |
National |
Link |
Local Food Promotion Program |
USDA, AMS |
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Deadline Passed for 2018. Deadline Unknown for 2019. The Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) offers grant funds with a 25% match to support the development and expansion of local and regional food business enterprises to increase domestic consumption of, and access to, locally and regionally produced agricultural products, and to develop new market opportunities for farm and ranch operations serving local markets. There are two types of project applications: planning grants and implementation grants. LFPP Planning Grants are used in the planning stages of establishing or expanding a local and regional food business enterprise. LFPP Implementation Grants are used to establish a new local and regional food business enterprise, or to improve or expand an existing local or regional food business enterprise.
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food security, local foods, agriculture, farm and ranch operations, development, food business enterprise |
Planning grants: $25,000 - $100,000 Implementation grants: $100,000 - $500,000 |
National |
Link |
Specialty Crop Multi-State Program |
USDA, AMS |
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Deadline Passed 10/1/2019. Deadline unknown for 2020. The Specialty Crop Multi-State Program (SCMP) offers grants to solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops by funding collaborative, multi-state projects that address the following regional or national level specialty crop issues: food safety; plant pests and disease; research; crop-specific projects addressing common issues; and marketing and promotion.
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crops, food safety, invasive species, disease, research, marketing |
$250,000-$1,000,000 |
National |
Link |
Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) |
USDA, Farm Service Agency |
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Grant deadline unknown for 2016. The Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) provides financial assistance to owners and operators of agricultural and non-industrial private forest land who wish to establish, produce, and deliver biomass feedstocks.
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Agriculture, farmers, Forrestry, Biomass |
$12,500,000 to $22,500,000 |
National |
Link |
Farmers' Market SNAP Support Grants |
USDA, Food Nutrition and Consumer Services |
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Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Under Secretary Kevin Concannonannounced the availability of up to $3.3 million in competitive funding to support the ability of farmers markets to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a form of payment.
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Agriculture, Food, nutrition, farmers |
$15,000 to $250,000 |
National |
Link |
USDA-FS 2021 Agroforestry Outreach Proposals |
USDA, FS |
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Deadline: 5/28/21. The U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) requests proposals to substantially expand and accelerate the availability of science-based information to inform producer decisions on the adoption and design of agroforestry systems. Agroforestry is the intentional integration of trees and shrubs into crop and animal farming systems to create environmental, economic, and social benefits. The agreements awarded under this announcement will support the USDA goal to strengthen the stewardship of private lands through technology and research, and the need by natural resource professionals for information that supports producer adoption of agroforestry. This Request for Proposals supports the efforts of the National Agroforestry Center (NAC) as identified in Section 8502 of the 2018 Farm Bill.
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$35,000 - $100,000 |
National. |
Link |
Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-raised Fish (ELAP) |
USDA, FSA |
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ELAP provides financial assistance to eligible producers of livestock, honeybees and farm-raised fish for losses due to disease, certain adverse weather events or loss conditions, including blizzards and wildfires, as determined by the Secretary. ELAP assistance is provided for losses not covered by other disaster assistance programs authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill and the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, such as losses not covered by the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) and the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP).
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emergency assistance, disaster resources, extreme weather events |
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National |
Link |
Indian Tribal land Acquisition Loan Program |
USDA, FSA |
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FSA's Indian Tribal Land Acquisition Loan Program is a valuable resource to help Tribes become owners of additional property within the reservation to advance and increase current operations, provide financial prospects for Native American Communities, increase agricultural productivity, and save farmland for future generations. Through FSA’s innovative programming, American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments have the ability to create sustainable and community-driven solutions to rural community challenges. This loan program is financed and serviced by the Farm Service Agency. Funding comes from Congressional appropriations as part of the USDA budget.
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agriculture, farmland, sustainable, rural communities |
Varies |
National |
Link |
Highly Fractionated Indian Land Loan Program |
USDA, FSA |
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The Highly Fractionated Indian Land Loan Program helps Tribes, Tribal entities, and Tribal members alleviate the problems caused by fractionated interests on tribal lands. Through land consolidation, current and new agricultural operations can improve and expand access to USDA programs, increase agricultural productivity, and save Tribal farmland for future generations. This loan program is financed through revolving loan funds from the Agency and serviced through the approved intermediary lender, Native American Community Development Corporation Financial Services, Inc.
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land acquisition, farming, land consolidation, agriculture |
Varies |
National |
Link |
Tree Assistance Program (TAP) |
USDA, FSA |
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The 2014 Farm Bill authorized the Tree Assistance Program (TAP) to provide financial assistance to eligible orchardists and nursery tree growers to replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes, and vines lost by natural disasters. TAP is administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). To be considered an eligible loss:
- Eligible trees, bushes, or vines must have suffered more than a 15 percent mortality loss in a stand (adjusted for normal mortality) due to an eligible natural disaster;
- Mortality loss on a stand of eligible trees, bushes, or vines is based on:
- Each eligible disaster event, except for losses due to plant disease; and
- For plant disease, the time period as determined by the FSA for which the stand is infected.
- The loss must not have been preventable through reasonable and available measures;
- The loss must be visible and obvious to the FSA representative; if the loss is no longer visible, FSA may accept other loss evidence and determine whether that other evidence substantiates that an eligible loss due to natural disaster occurred; and
- FSA may require information from a qualified expert to determine extent of loss in the case of plant disease or insect infestation
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natural disasters, rehabilitation, replant, tree health, plant health |
varies |
National |
Link |
National Training, Education, Extension, Outreach, and Technical Assistance Competitive Grant Program: Regional Center Grants to Enhance Food Safety |
USDA, National Institute of Food and Agriculture |
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Unknown if grant is being awarded during FY 2016. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) have joined in a collaborative partnership to administer and manage the National Training, Education, Extension, Outreach, and Technical Assistance Competitive Grants Program: Regional Center Grants to Enhance Food Safety. This program is designed to develop and implement a comprehensive food safety training, education and technical assistance program for those affected by the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The intention of this program is to begin building an infrastructure that will support a national food safety training, education, extension, outreach, and technical assistance system and provide significant opportunities for funding through subcontracts and for partnerships with eligible stakeholder groups, including community-based and non-governmental organizations.
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Development, Infrastructure, Education, Food Safety, Food Security |
Up to $1,150,000 |
National |
Link |
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Food Safety Challenge Area |
USDA, NIFA |
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Deadline passed as of June 21, 2017. Deadline for 2018 unknown.This AFRI Challenge Area promotes and enhances the scientific discipline of food safety, with an overall aim of protecting consumers from microbial and chemical contaminants that may occur during all stages of the food chain, from production to consumption. This requires an understanding of the interdependencies of human, animal, and ecosystem health as it pertains to foodborne pathogens. The long-term outcome for this program is to support the development and deployment of science based knowledge to improve the safety and nutritional quality of food without sacrificing flavor, acceptability, and affordability. In order to achieve this outcome, this program will support multi-function Integrated Research, Education, and/or Extension Projects, and Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants that address the Program Area Priority, Effective Mitigation Strategies for Antimicrobial Resistance (see Food Safety RFA for details).
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Food Safety, Food Security, Community Development, Sustainable Agriculture, infrastructure, distribution, foundation, sustainability |
$0 - $1,200,000 |
National |
Link |