Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) - Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) - Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program is sponsored by USDA NIFA. Supports innovative programs in higher education, including international education and research.

Higher Education Challenge Grants Program | NIFA The lifecycle of grants and cooperative agreements consists of four phases: Pre-Award, Award, Post-Award, and Close Out. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture is committed to serving its stakeholders, Congress, and the public by using new technologies to advance greater openness.

The Data Gateway enables users to find funding data, metrics, and information about research, education, and Extension projects that have received grant awards from NIFA. This website houses a large volume of supporting materials. In this section, you can search the wide range of documents, videos, and other resources.

Technical Assistance Webinar: The Equipment Grants Program (EGP) The Equipment Grants Program seeks to provide eligible institutions with the opportunity to acquire a shared-use piece of equipment/instrument that supports their research, research training, and extension goals. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture provides leadership and funding for programs that advance agriculture-related sciences.

Higher Education Challenge Grants Program Projects supported by the Higher Education Challenge Grants Program will: (1) address a state, regional, national, or international educational need; (2) involve a creative or non-traditional approach toward addressing that need that can serve as a model to others; (3) encourage and facilitate better working relationships in the university science and education community, as well as between universities and the private sector, to enhance program quality and supplement available resources; and (4) result in benefits that will likely transcend the project duration and USDA support.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to access information related to this grant opportunity, please contact the Information Contact listed on this page no later than ten (10) days before the closing date. If you need a reasonable accommodation for the webinar or event related to this grant opportunity, please contact the event host.

NIFA offers language access services, such as interpretation and translation of vital information, free of charge. If you need interpretation or translation services, please visit NIFA Language Access Services and request service no later than ten (10) days before the closing date.

1862 Land-grant Institutions 1890 Land-grant Institutions 1994 Land-grant Institutions For-profit Organizations Other Than Small Businesses Hispanic-Serving Institutions Other or Additional Information (See below) State Controlled Institutions of Higher Ed More Information on Eligibility a) U.S. public or private, nonprofit colleges/universities offering baccalaureate or 1st professional degree in at least one discipline/area of food & agricultural sciences; b) land-grant colleges/universities (including those in Insular Areas); c) colleges/universities having significant minority enrollments and demonstrable capacity to teach food and agricultural sciences; and d) colleges/universities having demonstrable capacity to teach food and agricultural sciences.

For more Information Contact grantapplicationquestions@usda. gov Funding Opportunity Number Assistance Listing Number Estimated Total Program Funding Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement Page last updated: July 18, 2025 Your feedback is important to us.