Urban, Indoor, and other Emerging Agricultural Production Research, Education, and Extension Initiative

The Urban, Indoor, and other Emerging Agricultural Production Research, Education, and Extension Initiative is a federal funding opportunity administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The program is authorized under the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 and is designed to support integrated projects that advance agricultural production systems in urban, indoor, and other emerging environments. The initiative reflects USDA priorities focused on strengthening domestic food systems, improving productivity, and addressing challenges faced by producers in high-density and controlled-environment settings. The primary purpose of this program is to fund research, education, and extension activities that address critical challenges across the agricultural value chain, including production, harvesting, aggregation, distribution, and market development. Projects must align with fiscal year priorities that emphasize identifying horticultural, social, and economic factors that contribute to successful agricultural production in urban and indoor systems. Applications are expected to demonstrate stakeholder engagement, particularly with local community organizations, and show how proposed work addresses pressing needs identified through public and stakeholder input. Funding for the program is approximately four million dollars across fiscal years 2026 and 2027, with individual awards typically ranging from fifty thousand dollars to five hundred thousand dollars. The program supports two primary grant types: standard grants for integrated projects and workshop grants focused on convening stakeholders and producing actionable outputs. Projects must include at least two of the three core components of the agricultural knowledge system—research, education, and extension—with a required research component. Funding is subject to restrictions such as a cap on indirect costs and limits on budget allocation across project components. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and includes institutions of higher education, research organizations, federal agencies, private organizations, individuals, and collaborative groups composed of multiple eligible entities. Applicants are required to include local community organizations as part of the project team, and proposals involving multiple partners are given priority consideration. There is no mandatory cost-sharing or matching requirement, although voluntary contributions are encouraged and may strengthen applications. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov using the designated funding opportunity number. The submission process requires completion of standard federal forms, a detailed project narrative, executive summary, budget documentation, and supporting appendices such as data management plans and letters of support. Strict formatting and content requirements apply, and incomplete or noncompliant applications may be excluded from review. Applicants must ensure proper registration in Grants.gov and coordinate with an authorized representative prior to submission. The evaluation process consists of an initial administrative screening followed by a scientific peer review conducted by a panel of experts. Applications are assessed based on criteria including project design and outcomes, rationale and significance, objectives and approach, institutional capacity, and budget justification. Emphasis is placed on measurable outcomes, stakeholder engagement, feasibility, and alignment with USDA research priorities. Final funding decisions are made by NIFA based on review results and program priorities. The application deadline for this funding cycle is July 27, 2026 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. Awards are expected to support projects lasting between 24 and 36 months, with funding decisions typically occurring after the peer review process is completed. The program is expected to recur annually, subject to appropriations, and applicants may submit comments or feedback to the agency within six months of the notice issuance. Programmatic inquiries can be directed to the agency via email, and additional administrative support is available through designated contact channels.

Prioritize stakeholder engagement and clearly measurable outcomes; ensure integration of research, education, and extension; align closely with USDA priority areas; include strong collaboration with community organizations