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The USDA NIFA SBIR/STTR program funds small business research in agricultural innovation with ten priority topic areas including precision agriculture, crop monitoring, food safety technology, animal health, plant genomics, sustainable forestry, rural broadband, and agricultural AI applications.
Precision agriculture and crop monitoring consistently represent the largest funded topic cluster, including AI-powered technologies for variable-rate application, crop health assessment via remote sensing or ground-based sensors, automated scouting systems, and yield prediction models.
The FY2026 solicitation targets technologies that improve agricultural productivity, food safety, natural resource management, and rural economic development.
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Or search similar grants →According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Open to for-profit small businesses that are at least 51% owned by U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens. Research must address USDA priority areas in agriculture, food, and rural development. Phase II awards are restricted to previous Phase I awardees. Proposals evaluated on scientific and technical merit (40%), commercial potential (30%), and qualifications of research team (30%). Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows phase I awards up to $175,000 for 8 months (SBIR) or 12 months (STTR). Phase II awards up to $600,000 for 24 months. Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) available: up to $6,500 in Phase I and up to $50,000 in Phase II. USDA distributes $40-50 million in SBIR funding annually. Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
The most recent published deadline was July 15, 2026, which has passed. This is an annual program, so a new cycle should follow. Check the funder's website for the next application window.
USDA NIFA SBIR Program for AI-Enabled Agricultural Innovation and Precision Farming is funded by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Start from the official opportunity page linked in this listing — it carries the sponsor's submission instructions.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs - USDA NIFA is sponsored by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The SBIR/STTR programs at USDA NIFA support research and development that leads to commercialization of innovative technologies. Specific topic areas relevant to forest farming and specialty crops include 'Plant Production and Protection - Biology' which supports enhancing crop production, and 'Management of Natural Resources' which aims to commercialize technologies to manage, monitor, improve, and/or protect natural resources while sustaining farm and forest productivity.
AFRI Education and Workforce Development: Food and Agricultural Non-formal Education (FANE) is a grant from USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) supporting non-formal education programs that cultivate interest and skills in food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences. Eligible applicants include universities, community organizations, and nonprofits developing programs such as 4-H, extension education, and hands-on agricultural learning experiences. Grants strengthen the pipeline of future agricultural professionals by engaging youth and adult learners outside traditional classroom settings.
The Department of Defense FY2026 Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP) provides funding for U.S. universities to acquire research equipment and instrumentation in areas important to national defense, including AI and machine learning hardware. The program is administered jointly by the Army Research Office (ARO), Office of Naval Research (ONR), and Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), with approximately $34 million available and 95 awards anticipated. DURIP funds the acquisition of specialized computing hardware for AI/ML research (GPU clusters, TPUs, neuromorphic processors), robotics and autonomous systems testbeds, sensor arrays and data collection systems for machine learning training, high-performance computing infrastructure for defense-relevant AI research, and laboratory equipment for human-AI interaction studies. The program specifically supports equipment that enhances research-related education in DoD-priority disciplines. While general-purpose computing is not eligible, computing equipment directly supporting DoD-relevant AI research programs qualifies. No cost sharing is required.
Vinnova, Sweden's national innovation agency, funds projects developing applied AI solutions for Swedish industry through its Advanced Digitalization Programme. Each project can apply for between 2 and 10 million SEK (approximately $190,000 to $950,000 USD) covering up to 50% of eligible project costs. The total call budget is 60 million SEK. Projects run for 12-24 months and focus on two key areas: Intelligent Edge (AI for real-time application in the sensor chain) and AI-based decision support. All projects must address industrial needs and integrate gender equality and climate change perspectives. Scientific publications must be open access. A parallel call also funds AI and cybersecurity projects at 1-10 million SEK per project with a 50 million SEK total budget.
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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