Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA SRGP 009105
The Special Research Grants for Aquaculture Research Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) designed to move the US aquaculture sector toward long-term environmental and economic sustainability. The core aim is to fund practical, science-based research and innovation that tackles real constraints facing aquaculture producers, with the expectation that strong project results can translate into industry growth and better performance over time. In the bigger picture, the program is framed around outcomes that matter at a national scale, including improved profitability for US producers, reduced reliance on imported seafood (and therefore a smaller trade deficit), strengthened domestic food security, new or expanded markets for US grain products used in feeds, more private investment opportunities in aquaculture businesses, and additional jobs in rural and coastal communities where aquaculture activity often concentrates.
Funded projects are expected to directly address major bottlenecks in the US aquaculture industry and align with one or more of four stated priority areas. The first priority is genetics of commercial aquaculture species, which can include work that improves traits like growth rate, feed efficiency, resilience, reproduction, or product quality in species that are already important to US farming. The second priority targets critical disease issues impacting aquaculture species, reflecting how outbreaks, pathogen management, diagnostics, and biosecurity can determine whether farms can operate reliably and profitably. The third priority focuses on the design of environmentally and economically sustainable aquaculture production systems, which can cover production engineering, water and waste management, siting and system performance, and approaches that reduce environmental impacts while keeping costs and operational complexity realistic for producers. The fourth priority is economic research aimed at increasing aquaculture profitability, emphasizing that technical advances need to pencil out financially and that market dynamics, cost structures, adoption barriers, and risk management are central to whether innovations are actually used.
Eligibility is broad and is not limited to universities. Applications may be submitted by state agricultural experiment stations, all colleges and universities, other research institutions and organizations, federal agencies, private organizations or corporations, and individuals, as long as the proposed work involves research, extension, or education activities that support promising breakthroughs in food and agricultural sciences relevant to the United States. The announcement stresses that eligibility requirements in the request for applications (RFA) must be met by the application deadline. Missing an eligibility criterion by the deadline can lead to the application being excluded from consideration, or even if it is reviewed, it can prevent NIFA from making an award. For applicants who have not previously applied for federal financial assistance, NIFA points to its Grants Overview as a recommended starting point to understand the federal awards process and expectations.
Key administrative details included in the source information are as follows: the funding opportunity title is Special Research Grants for Aquaculture Research Program, with Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA SRGP 009105. The agency is the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the instrument type is a grant, and the activity category is agriculture under CFDA 10.200. The listed award ceiling is $300,000. The opportunity was created on 2022-04-20, and the original closing date was 2022-06-03.Apply for USDA NIFA SRGP 009105
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Special Research Grants for Aquaculture Research Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.200.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2022-04-20.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-06-03. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Special Research Grants for Aquaculture Research Program (USDA NIFA) - FAQs
What is the Special Research Grants for Aquaculture Research Program?
It is a discretionary grant opportunity from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) intended to move the US aquaculture sector toward long-term environmental and economic sustainability by funding practical, science-based research and innovation.
What is the main goal of this grant program?
The core aim is to support research and innovation that address real constraints facing aquaculture producers, with the expectation that successful project results can translate into industry growth and improved performance over time.
What national-level outcomes does the program aim to support?
The program is framed around outcomes such as improved profitability for US aquaculture producers, reduced reliance on imported seafood (and a smaller trade deficit), stronger domestic food security, new or expanded markets for US grain products used in feeds, more private investment opportunities in aquaculture businesses, and added jobs in rural and coastal communities where aquaculture activity often concentrates.
What types of projects is NIFA looking to fund through this opportunity?
Funded projects are expected to be practical and science-based and to directly address major bottlenecks in the US aquaculture industry. Projects should align with one or more of the program's stated priority areas.
What are the priority areas for this funding opportunity?
The opportunity identifies four priority areas: (1) genetics of commercial aquaculture species, (2) critical disease issues impacting aquaculture species, (3) design of environmentally and economically sustainable aquaculture production systems, and (4) economic research aimed at increasing aquaculture profitability.
What does the "genetics of commercial aquaculture species" priority include?
This priority can include research that improves traits such as growth rate, feed efficiency, resilience, reproduction, or product quality in species that are already important to US aquaculture farming.
What does the "critical disease issues" priority include?
This priority focuses on disease challenges that affect aquaculture species, including issues related to outbreaks, pathogen management, diagnostics, and biosecurity, which can strongly influence whether farms can operate reliably and profitably.
What does the "sustainable aquaculture production systems" priority include?
This priority covers the design of environmentally and economically sustainable aquaculture production systems, including production engineering, water and waste management, siting and system performance, and approaches that reduce environmental impacts while keeping costs and operational complexity realistic for producers.
What does the "economic research to increase profitability" priority include?
This priority emphasizes economic research tied to increasing aquaculture profitability, recognizing that technical advances must make financial sense. It highlights the importance of market dynamics, cost structures, adoption barriers, and risk management in determining whether innovations are actually used.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and not limited to universities. Eligible applicants may include state agricultural experiment stations, all colleges and universities, other research institutions and organizations, federal agencies, private organizations or corporations, and individuals, as long as the proposed work involves research, extension, or education activities supporting promising breakthroughs in food and agricultural sciences relevant to the United States.
Is this opportunity limited to academic institutions?
No. The eligibility description explicitly notes that applications are not limited to universities and may be submitted by a wide range of organizations and individuals, provided the proposal meets the program's research, extension, or education focus and other eligibility requirements.
What kinds of activities must the proposed work involve?
The proposed work must involve research, extension, or education activities that support promising breakthroughs in food and agricultural sciences relevant to the United States.
What happens if an applicant does not meet eligibility requirements by the deadline?
The announcement stresses that eligibility requirements in the request for applications (RFA) must be met by the application deadline. Missing an eligibility criterion by the deadline can result in the application being excluded from consideration, or, even if reviewed, it can prevent NIFA from making an award.
Where should first-time federal grant applicants start?
For applicants who have not previously applied for federal financial assistance, NIFA points to its Grants Overview as a recommended starting point to understand the federal awards process and expectations.
Which federal agency administers this funding opportunity?
The administering agency is the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
What is the funding opportunity number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NIFA SRGP 009105.
What type of funding instrument is this?
The instrument type is a grant.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is agriculture.
What is the CFDA number listed for this program?
The program is listed under CFDA 10.200.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The listed award ceiling is $300,000.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on 2022-04-20.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was 2022-06-03.
What is the program trying to change in the aquaculture sector over the long term?
The program is designed to help move the US aquaculture sector toward long-term environmental and economic sustainability by backing practical research and innovation that can be adopted by industry and improve performance over time.
How does this program connect aquaculture research to broader economic goals?
By supporting improvements in producer profitability, reducing dependence on imported seafood, strengthening domestic food security, expanding markets for US grain products used in feeds, increasing private investment opportunities, and supporting job creation in rural and coastal communities.
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