Find Nonprofit and Small Business Grants

Advance Search

Only Available for Paid Subscribers
Clear Filters
Search Filters

Grants to USA Qualifying IHEs to Improve National Expertise in Sciences Related to Food and Agriculture

Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship (NNF) Grants Program


Agency
Federal

GrantWatch ID#
176221

Funding Source
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
CFDA Number: 10.210
Funding or PIN Number: USDA-NIFA-HEP-009754
Array ( )

Geographic Focus
All USA

Important Dates
Deadline: 06/08/23 5:00 PM ET Save

Grant Description
Grants to USA qualifying IHEs for programs to improve national expertise in sciences related to food and agriculture. Applicants must contact program staff and complete required registrations prior to applying. Funding is intended to support graduate students studying in the following areas of interest: food science, forest resources, animal and plant production, agricultural education and communication, agricultural management and economics, human nutrition and human sciences, agricultural biosecurity, climate-smart agriculture, and data science.

The purpose of the Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship (NNF) Grants Program is to provide funding to support graduate student training and completion of master’s and/or doctoral degree programs in identified national need areas within the food and agricultural sciences. The overarching goals and objectives of these graduate fellowships are to encourage outstanding students to pursue and complete graduate degrees in the areas of food and agricultural sciences designated by NIFA as national needs. Awards made by the NNF program are specifically intended to support traineeship programs that engage outstanding students to pursue and complete their degrees in areas where there is a national need for the development of scientific and professional expertise in the food and agricultural sciences. NNF awards invest in graduate training and relevant international experiential learning for diverse individuals who demonstrate their potential to successfully complete graduate degree programs in disciplines relevant to the mission of the USDA.

Indigenous 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.

NIFA is soliciting NNF applications in the following areas:

  1. Graduate Fellowships to support the training for and completion of master’s and doctoral degree programs in the food and agricultural sciences; and
  2. Special International Study or Thesis/Dissertation Research Travel Allowances (IRTA) for NEW eligible master’s and doctoral USDA Fellows.

Working collaboratively with eligible institutions, the objectives of the NNF program are to:

  1. Support the training of NEW students at the master’s and doctoral levels, in order to fill nationally identified expertise shortage areas in the food and agricultural sciences.
  2. Increase the number, quality, and diversity of students in the food, agricultural and related sciences by recruiting outstanding students, particularly those from traditionally underrepresented groups to enter and complete graduate training in these areas.
  3. Ensure that the National Needs Fellows build science competencies through research and extension activities, and experience and engagement in an international setting within the Targeted Expertise Shortage Area (TESA) in the food and agricultural sciences through the IRTA awards.

For additional program details, see https://www.nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2023-04/FY23-NNF-RFA-508-F.pdf#page=7.

Project and Grant Types: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2023-04/FY23-NNF-RFA-508-F.pdf#page=11



Recipient

Eligibility
  • Others (see text field entitled "Additional Eligibility Criteria" for clarification)

Additional Eligibility Criteria
Only the following are eligible to apply: Land-grant institutions, colleges and universities having significant minority enrollments and a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of food and agricultural sciences; and other colleges and universities having a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of food, and agricultural sciences. Research foundations maintained by an eligible college or university are eligible to submit graduate training proposals under this RFA.

Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project.

Information about student eligibility can be found at
https://www.nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2023-04/FY23-NNF-RFA-508-F.pdf#page=9.

Ineligible
Individuals are not eligible to apply.

Post-doctoral Fellowships will not be awarded under this grant announcement.

Duplicate or multiple submissions are not allowed. NIFA will disqualify both applications if an applicant submits duplicate or multiple submissions.

Funding Restrictions: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2023-04/FY23-NNF-RFA-508-F.pdf#page=28

Pre-Proposal Conference
Technical Assistance Webinar: Monday May 2, 2023 - 1:00 pm EDT

The technical assistance webinar related to this FY 2023 funding opportunity is now scheduled. Please see details about the webinar, including the registration link, date, and time, via the technical assistance webinar button: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/technical-assistance-national-needs-graduate-postgraduate-fellowship-grants-program-funding. The recording and supporting documents will also be posted after the event.

Pre-Application Information
Application Deadline: 5:00 P.M. Eastern, June 8, 2023

Applicants must apply to this RFA electronically via Grants.gov; no other method or response is accepted. New Users to Grants.gov must register early with Grants.gov prior to submitting an application.

Contact an AR prior to starting an application to assess the organization’s readiness to submit an electronic application.

View this opportunity on Grants.gov: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=347348

For a list of relevant application documents, go to the Package tab (press Preview) on the Grants.gov link above.

View the webinar from May 2, 2023: https://youtu.be/b0dyuB5tnAk

Additional Funding Information

Estimated Total Program Funding:

$3,100,000

Number of Grants
14 per year

Estimated Size of Grant
Maximum Award Amount: Approximately $262,500

A single application may propose funding under any single TESA for any of the Award Categories listed below, either singly or in any combination, up to a maximum of $262,500 per application. Applicants may not request partial fellowships.

i. Standard Grant: Category No. 1 -- Master’s Level Training: Funding at $41,000 for each Fellow. This consists of a student stipend of $18,500 per year for two years, plus $2,000 per year cost-of-education allowance ($4,000 maximum).

ii. Standard Grant: Category No. 2 -- Doctoral Level Training: Funding at $79,500 for each Fellow. This consists of a student stipend of $24,500 per year for three years, plus $2,000 per year cost-of education allowance ($6,000 maximum).

iii. Standard Grant: Category No. 3 -- Special International Study or Thesis/Dissertation Research Travel Allowances (IRTA): One-time award of up to $4,500 for each eligible new (i.e., to be recruited) USDA National Needs Master’s Fellow and/or a one-time award of up to $8,000 for each eligible new (i.e., to be recruited) USDA National Needs Doctoral Fellow.

Term of Contract
Grant Duration: Approximately 60 Months

Contact Information
Program Contacts:

Dr. Ray A. Ali
NNF@usda.gov
816-926-1453

Dr. Erika B. Kraus
NNF@usda.gov
816-908-3176

U.S. Postal Mailing Address:
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture
P.O. Box 419205, MS 10000
Kansas City, MO 64141-6205

Grants.gov Support:
Grants.gov Online Support - https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html
Telephone support: 800-518-4726 Toll-Free or 606-545-5035
Email support: support@grants.gov
Self-service customer-based support:
Grants.gov iPortal: https://grants-portal.psc.gov/Welcome.aspx?pt=Grants

NIFA Support:
Email: grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov

Grant News
Live Chat Chat Now