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SBIR Phase I Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) is sponsored by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) NIFA. The USDA SBIR program offers competitively awarded grants to qualified small businesses for high-quality research related to important scientific problems and opportunities in agriculture. While not exclusively AI-focused, AI applications within agriculture, food science, and rural development could be relevant.
Phase I grants support initial R&D efforts.
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Program Information | 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.
Veterinary Services Grant Program Technical Assistance Webinar NIFA staff will hold a Technical Assistance Webinar to discuss the Veterinary Services Grant Program (VSGP) Notice of Funding Opportunity. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture provides leadership and funding for programs that advance agriculture-related sciences.
USDA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs offer competitively awarded grants to qualified small businesses to support high quality research related to important scientific problems and opportunities in agriculture that could lead to significant public benefits. Phase I Request for Applications Grants are limited to $175,000 for all topic areas except 8. 6 and 8.
12, where the grants are limited to $125,000. Project duration is 8 months for SBIR and 12 months for STTR. Phase I is open to any small business concern that meets the SBIR/STTR eligibility requirements.
Support for Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) : Phase I applicants are eligible to receive up to $6,500 in TABA funds. Phase II Request for Applications Grants are limited to $600,000 and duration is 24 months. Phase II awards are only open to previous Phase I awardees.
Support for Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) : Phase II applicants are eligible to receive up to $50,000 in TABA funds.
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According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Any small business concern that meets the SBIR/STTR eligibility requirements. Applicants are eligible for up to $6,500 in Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) funds. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows up to $175,000. Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
This listing does not include a published deadline, but it is an annual program. Check the official notice for the current cycle's exact dates.
SBIR Phase I Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) is funded by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) NIFA. Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Yes — this listing is flagged as national in scope, so applicants across the U.S. may apply, subject to the sponsor's other eligibility criteria.
Applications go through the funder's official portal — the Apply Now link on this page goes there directly.
Past winners and funding trends for this program
Brown Girl Jane x SheaMoisture Grant is a grant from SheaMoisture and Brown Girl Jane that funds Black and woman-owned beauty and wellness businesses in the United States. Part of SheaMoisture's broader commitment to addressing racial inequality through its $1 million annual giving fund, this program specifically supports founders at the intersection of Black and women-owned entrepreneurship in the beauty and wellness sector. Applicants must be based in the U.S. and have operated their business for at least one year. Grants range from $10,000 to $25,000. Check the SheaMoisture Fund website for the current open cycle, as deadlines vary by cohort.
Support Adoption Grant Program is sponsored by Texas Office of the Attorney General. This program provides critical resources for pregnant women considering adoption and support for children awaiting placement with adoptive parents. Purpose areas include material needs for pregnant women, needs of children awaiting placement, training and advertising related to adoption, and pre- and post-adoption counseling.
USDA NIFA's Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program offers $4.8M in FY2026 with a July 16 deadline — planning grants to $50K and project grants to $400K over four years. The catch is a 1:1 match that screens out most applicants. Here is how to build the match, choose your track, and write a self-reliance story that scores.
Read articleWhile headlines chase AI and defense money, USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture runs a tight summer competitive cycle — Equipment Grants (June 25), Agricultural Genome to Phenome (June 29), New Beginning for Tribal Students (July 2), and Crop Protection and Pest Management (July 6). Here is how the four programs fit together, who is eligible, and why the land-grant system has a structural edge.
Read articleSecretary Rollins and NIFA opened the FY26 Research Facilities Act Program on June 15 with a four-tier award structure scaling from $100K planning grants to $30M facility complexes. The dollar-for-dollar cash match, the one-project-per-institution rule, and the 32-day application window are reshaping how land-grants will prioritize their long-deferred capital backlog.
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