OpenGrants Daily Funding Report Weekend Edition

The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR)

The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) was established by the Agricultural Act of 2014, known as the Farm Bill.

The premise of FFAR’s formation was that increased investment in cutting edge research and development, through public-private partnerships, would be critical to nourishing a growing global population. The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research was created to support food and agriculture research, foster collaboration, and advance and complement the mission of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

After the Farm Bill was signed into law, Secretary Vilsack and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) began building the Foundation from the ground up.

On July 15, 2014, the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research was officially incorporated.

Notes on FFAR Funding

  • FFAR builds public-private partnerships to fund innovative food and agriculture science that transforms food systems to benefit farmers, consumers and the environment.
  • FFAR issues a Request for Application (RFA) to solicit ideas from the broadest group of researchers. Some of FFAR’s programs issue RFAs annually and others are a one-time opportunity. The highest quality proposals in terms of technical merit and impact are selected for funding through a rigorous scientific review process
  • FFAR offers prize competitions to inspire excellence in food and agriculture science or to solve an imminent problem. Prizes are awarded to individuals or organizations who meet the prize criteria and solve the food and agriculture challenge.
  • When FFAR knows of a specific individual or organization that is well- suited to conduct the necessary research, a research proposal may be directly solicited from that organization. The proposal is subject to the same rigorous scientific review process and matching funding requirement as other proposals.
  • Food and agriculture research can be financially risky. FFAR establishes precompetitive consortia to address common problems recognized across the industry, where solutions are beneficial to all. Consortia participants jointly determine research priorities, pool resources and knowledge, and share research results, which also become public.

Take Action: