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The USDA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program, administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), funds U.S. small businesses developing high-risk, high-reward agricultural technology.
Eligible AI-relevant topics include precision farming, crop and livestock monitoring, food safety, aquaculture, forestry, sustainable agriculture, and rural economic development, with projects required to link technical innovation to farm-level benefits and positive outcomes for agricultural producers and rural communities. Phase I awards reach up to $125,000 and Phase II awards up to $450,000, all non-dilutive.
USDA distributes roughly $40-50 million in SBIR funding annually, with the FY2026-2027 solicitation expected to open in the summer of 2026 and close in early autumn.
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Or search similar grants →According to the current listing, eligibility includes: For-profit small businesses incorporated and operating in the United States with 500 or fewer employees, an active internal R&D capability, and a clear commercialization roadmap. SAM.gov registration and submission via Grants.gov required. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows phase I awards up to $125,000 (approximately 8 months); Phase II awards up to $450,000 (approximately 24 months), for combined funding up to $575,000. Funding is non-dilutive. Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
USDA SBIR/STTR Program for AgTech Innovation in Precision Agriculture, Food Systems, and AI-Driven Farm Technology is funded by U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA 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.
USDA SBIR/STTR Program for AgTech Innovation in Precision Agriculture, Food Systems, and AI-Driven Farm Technology is sponsored by U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). The USDA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program, administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), funds U. S. small businesses developing high-risk, high-reward agricultural technology.
Children, Youth and Families At-Risk Sustainable Community Projects (CYFAR SCP) is sponsored by U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). This grant strengthens and expands community-based programs serving at-risk children, youth, and families, with the Cooperative Extension System playing a central role. Projects emphasize collaboration across disciplines and a holistic approach to address challenges facing vulnerable youth and families.
The FY2026 Department of Defense Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) program supports basic research in science and engineering at U.S. institutions of higher education, with emphasis on multidisciplinary research where more than one traditional discipline interacts. The Army, Navy, and Air Force basic research offices are seeking applications across 22 topic areas including artificial intelligence and autonomy, information sensing and processing, and systems manipulation. MURI grants typically provide $1.25 million to $1.5 million per year for three years with option to extend two additional years. Approximately $170 million in total funding is available annually across all topics. The program is administered through the Office of Naval Research (ONR), Army Research Office (ARO), and Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR).
The NSF Convergence Accelerator is a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) that funds multidisciplinary teams working to solve national-scale societal challenges through convergence research and innovation. Launched in 2019 under NSF's Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, the program operates in two phases: Phase 1 awards are up to $750,000, with successful teams advancing to larger Phase 2 awards. Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education and nonprofit or for-profit organizations. Track I and Track K focus on specific high-priority topics announced each funding cycle. The next deadline is June 15, 2026. Proposals must comply with updated NSF research security policies effective July 2025.
The USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) 2026 provides $175 million in annual funding for research addressing the needs of the specialty crop industry, with a groundbreaking new $20 million set-aside for mechanization and automation research. For the first time, the SCRI Notice of Funding Opportunity explicitly funds AI-driven automation technologies to help specialty crop growers reduce labor costs, which have been among the most persistent financial pressures in fruit, vegetable, tree nut, and horticulture production. Priority areas include data-driven predictive tools using artificial intelligence, robotics, sensor technologies, precision agriculture, improved mechanization technologies that delay or inhibit ripening, decision support systems, management of quarantine pests, and cybersecurity for agricultural systems. The funding increase was enabled by the Working Families Tax Cuts legislation, more than doubling the previous SCRI budget from $80 million to $175 million per year. Applications are due by 5:00 PM Eastern Time on June 15, 2026. This represents the largest federal investment specifically targeting AI and automation in specialty crop agriculture.
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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