General Interest-AFRI (formerly NRI) RFP expected in early January; post until Jan. 15, 2009

> CSREES Announces Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Funding Opportunity

> WASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 2008 – USDA’s Cooperative State Research,

> Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) announced today the addition

> of the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) to its funding

> portfolio as authorized under the 2008 Farm Bill.

The Request for Applications is expected to be released early in 2009 on the CSREES

> and Grants.gov Web sites.

> "AFRI continues CSREES’ commitment to advance fundamental and applied

> sciences in support of agriculture," said Gale Buchanan, USDA Chief

> Scientist and Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics.

> "By combining research, education and extension, CSREES ensures

> science-based knowledge is delivered to the public, allowing them to

> make informed, practical decisions."

>> In FY 2009, CSREES anticipates that $190 million will be available for

> AFRI. However, the enactment of the FY 2009 Appropriations Act may

> impact the overall level of funding for the AFRI program.

> AFRI replaces the former National Research Initiative and the

> Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems programs and

> addresses six priority areas: 1) plant health and production and

> plant products; 2) animal health and production and animal products;

> 3) food safety, nutrition and health; 4) renewable energy, natural

> resources and environment; 5) agriculture systems and technology; and

> 6) agriculture economics and rural communities.

> AFRI will support grants to address key problems of national, regional

> and multi-state importance in sustaining all components of

> agriculture. The flexibility in programming provided by the 2008 Farm

> Bill allows for support of a variety of project types, all of which

> will be reflected in the 2009 AFRI request for applications. These

> include single-function as well as integrated, multi-functional

> research, education and extension projects.

> Applicants and other parties interested in the AFRI funding

> opportunity are encouraged to contact CSREES at (202) 401-5022

> public announcement can be viewed online

> Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and

> extension programs, CSREES focuses on investing in science and solving

> critical issues impacting people's daily lives and the nation's

> future. For more information, visit www.csrees.usda.gov