Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Education and Workforce Development Program

The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Education and Workforce Development Program aims to support the development of the next generation of research, education, and extension professionals in the food and agricultural sciences. The program focuses on several areas, including professional development for agricultural literacy, training of undergraduate students in research and extension, fellowships for predoctoral candidates and postdoctoral scholars, and agricultural workforce training. The program also seeks to enhance the sustainability of agricultural systems and support global engagement that advances U.S. agricultural goals. Key aspects of the program include: • Providing funding for fundamental and applied research, education, and extension to address food and agricultural sciences • Supporting the development of non-formal education activities that cultivate interest and build public confidence in the safe and enhanced use of technology in food and agricultural sciences • Offering institutional grants that provide experiential learning for undergraduates in food, agriculture, or allied disciplines • Encouraging applications from minority-serving institutions, small to mid-sized institutions, and Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) states • Allowing collaborations with international partners to contribute to advances in U.S. agriculture