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Urban, Indoor, and Emerging Agriculture Program is a grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) that funds research, education, and extension activities related to urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural production systems. The program supports competitive grants advancing knowledge and technology in controlled environment agriculture, rooftop growing, vertical farming, and community food production.
Projects address challenges facing non-traditional growing environments and expand the science base for sustainable urban food systems. Eligible applicants include universities and research institutions. Award amounts vary by program cycle; applicants should consult NIFA's funding portal for current opportunities.
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Urban, Indoor, and Emerging Agriculture | 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.
Urban, Indoor, and Emerging Agriculture The Urban, Indoor, and other Emerging Agricultural Production Research, Education, and Extension Initiative (UIE) is a NIFA competitive grant program implemented in 2022 to support research, education, and extension activities that facilitate development of urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural production systems.
The UIE emphasizes activities on several segments of the value chain, including production, harvesting, transportation aggregation, packaging, distribution, and marketing needs. Input on the most urgent program priorities was obtained through public input solicited in Federal Register Notice 2020-08402 and consultation with the Federal Advisory Committee (FAC) for Urban Agriculture.
Access the most recent UIE Request for Proposals (RFP) Other Urban, Indoor, and Emerging Agriculture Programs In addition to the Urban, Indoor, and other Emerging Agricultural Production Research, Education and Extension Initiative (UIE), NIFA invests in urban and indoor agriculture research, extension, and education through multiple authorities and funded programs. These include formula (Hatch and Smith-Lever) and competitive programs.
Links to these programs are provided below. If you are providing stakeholder input to this new initiative please consider what NIFA currently supports when providing comment on most urgent unmet research, education, and extension needs.
Examples of current NIFA competitive programs that support urban agriculture: Beginning Farmers and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) BFRDP is a competitive grant program that funds projects that provide education, mentoring, and technical assistance to people entering farming and those in the first 10 years of managing a farming operation (beginning farmers, or BFRs), where “farming” includes farming, ranching, and nonindustrial private forestry.
Sustainable Agricultural Research and Education (SARE) The SARE program provides technical assistance as well as regional grant funding for research and education projects in sustainable agriculture, including urban agriculture.
Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) SCRI program works to solve the needs of the various specialty crop industries through the promotion of collaboration, open communication, exchange of information, and development of resources that accelerate the application of scientific discovery and technology.
SCRI supports the integration of research and extension activities that use systems-based, trans-disciplinary approaches within five focus areas.
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Foundational and Applied Science Program AFRI-Foundational Knowledge of Agricultural Production Systems (A1102): The program was launched in 2016 and supports integrated research/education/extension projects and conference projects in all production systems, including Urban Agriculture. Awards range from $50,000 to $500,000.
AFRI-Foundational Knowledge of Agricultural Systems and Technology (A1521): The program supports integrated research/education/extension projects and conference projects in Engineering for Agricultural Production Systems. Applications must have a significant engineering component. Awards range from $50,000 to $500,000.
AFRI-AERC Small and Medium-Sized Farms (A1601): The Agricultural Economics and Rural Communities program area of the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI-AERC) program on Small and Medium-Sized Farms (A1601) funds integrated research/education/extension projects that benefit small and medium-sized farms and ranches.
Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program (CFPCGP) Supports the development of projects with a one-time infusion of federal dollars to make such projects self-sustaining. CFPs should be designed to create community-based food projects with objectives, activities, and outcomes that are in alignment with CFPCGP primary goals.
Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) The purpose of this program is to fund projects that will enhance the ability of producers and processors who have already adopted organic standards to grow and market high quality organic agricultural products. Priority concerns include biological, physical, and social sciences, including economics.
Other USDA Urban and Community Agriculture Programs: NIFA is also part of USDA’s Urban and Community Agriculture Working Group, which consists of 14 USDA agencies and various offices within the Office of the Secretary. The working group supports efforts that study, support and strengthen local and regional food systems, and urban and community agricultural systems.
USDA has an Urban Agriculture Tool Kit that lays out potential operational elements for urban farmers, and identifies technical, financial, and Federal resources and programs that can support a variety of activities related to urban farming. There is an Urban Agriculture Grants and Engagement Opportunities page listing deadlines to apply for funding from grant programs.
Competitive Grant Programs Urban, Indoor, and Emerging Agriculture Program Urban, Indoor, and Emerging Agriculture Page last updated: July 7, 2025 Your feedback is important to us.
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Universities and research institutions. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates Varies Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is rolling deadlines or periodic funding windows. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
Yes — AI tools like Granted can help research funders, draft proposal sections, and check compliance. However, always review and customize AI-generated content to reflect your organization's unique strengths and the specific requirements of the solicitation.
Review timelines vary by funder. Federal agencies typically take 3-6 months from submission to award notification. Foundation grants may be faster, often 1-3 months. Check the program's timeline in the official solicitation for specific dates.
Many federal programs offer multi-year funding or allow competitive renewals. Check the official solicitation for continuation and renewal policies. Non-competing continuation applications are common for multi-year awards.
Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer Programs (SBIR/STTR) is sponsored by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The USDA SBIR/STTR programs focus on transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial potential and/or societal benefit, particularly in agriculturally-related manufacturing and alternative and renewable energy technologies. These programs support small businesses in the creation of innovative, disruptive technologies and enable the application of research advancements from conception into the market.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) / Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs (Phase I) is sponsored by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The USDA SBIR/STTR programs focus on transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial potential and/or societal benefit in agriculturally-related areas. This can include app development for agricultural technology, rural development, and smart farming. Phase I aims to demonstrate technical feasibility.
Research Grants is sponsored by The Leakey Foundation. The Leakey Foundation Research Grants support both PhD dissertation research and post-PhD research across multiple disciplines related to human origins, evolution, and behavior. They prioritize funding for exploratory phases of promising new research projects and innovative, multidisciplinary approaches that expand the boundaries of current understanding. Relevant disciplines include archaeology, biological anthropology, paleoanthropology, primate behavioral ecology, genetics, geology, anatomy, morphology, paleobotany, and paleoclimatology. Current funding focus areas include the paleoanthropology of the Miocene, Pliocene, and Pleistocene; primates (evolution, behavior, morphology, ecology, endocrinology, genetics, isotope studies); and modern hunter-gatherer groups.
Fire Science Innovations through Research and Education (FIRE) program is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). This program invites innovative multidisciplinary and multisector investigations focused on convergent research and education activities in wildland fire. It supports research that can inform risk management and response, adaptation, and resilience across infrastructures, communities, cultures, and natural environments. Relevant topics include developing novel materials and methods for retrofitting existing buildings and remediating buildings following wildfire and smoke events.