Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 011736
The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is offering a discretionary grant opportunity under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 10.308 titled "Resident Instruction Grants for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas" and the related "Agriculture and Food Science Facilities and Equipment Program for Insular Areas" (RIIA and AGFEI). The overall goal is to build and strengthen the capacity of eligible colleges and universities in the U.S. Insular Areas to deliver stronger education, outreach, and research in the food and agricultural sciences. In practical terms, these programs are meant to help institutions improve what they can teach, how they can serve their communities through Extension-style outreach, and, for eligible land-grant institutions, how they can expand or modernize research and facilities/equipment tied to agriculture and food systems.
Two related tracks are described. The RIIA program focuses on education and Extension/outreach capacity, supporting institutions that can demonstrate they are able to carry out teaching and community-facing programming in the food and agricultural sciences. The AGFEI program is geared toward strengthening research capability and explicitly emphasizes facilities and equipment needs for agriculture and food science work. While both programs share the same assistance listing and serve the same geographic areas, their eligibility rules differ based on institutional type, especially around land-grant status for AGFEI.
Eligibility is limited to institutions located in one of eight Insular Areas: American Samoa; the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; the Federated States of Micronesia; Guam; the Republic of the Marshall Islands; the Republic of Palau; and the United States Virgin Islands. For RIIA, eligible applicants include public or nonprofit, accredited two-year and four-year institutions of higher education that offer certificate or degree programs in the food and agricultural sciences and can demonstrate capacity to provide instruction and Extension/outreach in those fields, consistent with the Higher Education Act definition of an institution of higher education (section 101(a)). For AGFEI, eligibility is narrower: only individual land-grant colleges and universities, or other institutions that have obtained land-grant status through federal legislation, and that are located in the Insular Areas, may apply as individual applicants.
The notice also clarifies how multi-campus systems can apply. Branch institutions within a territory university system may be treated as separate eligible institutions if they are separately accredited as degree-granting institutions and otherwise meet the program definitions. Independent branch campuses of otherwise eligible institutions may also apply and receive awards, as long as they meet the same eligibility standards described for the relevant program.
Administrative details from the opportunity listing include the following: the funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA RIGP 011736; the agency is USDA NIFA; the funding instrument is a grant; the activity area is agriculture; and the opportunity is categorized as discretionary. The application deadline listed is June 15, 2026. The maximum award amount (ceiling) is $500,000, and NIFA expects to make about six awards under this announcement.Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 011736
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Resident Instruction Grants for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas Agriculture and Food Science Facilities and Equipment Program for Insular Areas" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.308.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-04-29.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-06-15. (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 $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is this USDA NIFA funding opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 10.308. It covers two related programs: Resident Instruction Grants for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (RIIA) and the Agriculture and Food Science Facilities and Equipment Program for Insular Areas (AGFEI).
2) What is the overall goal of RIIA and AGFEI?
The overall goal is to build and strengthen the capacity of eligible colleges and universities in the U.S. Insular Areas to deliver stronger education, outreach, and research in the food and agricultural sciences. In practical terms, the programs are intended to help institutions improve instruction, expand community-facing Extension-style outreach, and (for eligible land-grant institutions) strengthen research capability and upgrade or modernize agriculture and food science facilities and equipment.
3) What are the two tracks and how do they differ?
The announcement describes two related tracks:
- RIIA: Focuses on building education and Extension/outreach capacity. It supports institutions that can demonstrate they are able to carry out teaching and community-facing programming in the food and agricultural sciences.
- AGFEI: Focuses on strengthening research capability and explicitly emphasizes facilities and equipment needs for agriculture and food science work. Eligibility is narrower and tied to land-grant status in the Insular Areas.
4) What Assistance Listing (CFDA) number applies to this opportunity?
Assistance Listing (CFDA) 10.308.
5) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA RIGP 011736.
6) Which agency is offering the grant?
The agency is the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
7) What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
8) How is this opportunity categorized?
The opportunity is categorized as discretionary.
9) What activity area does this opportunity support?
The activity area is agriculture, specifically focused on food and agricultural sciences in higher education settings in the Insular Areas.
10) Which geographic areas are eligible (the Insular Areas)?
Eligibility is limited to institutions located in one of these eight Insular Areas:
- American Samoa
- Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
- Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Guam
- Republic of the Marshall Islands
- Republic of Palau
- United States Virgin Islands
11) Who is eligible to apply under RIIA?
For RIIA, eligible applicants include public or nonprofit, accredited two-year and four-year institutions of higher education that:
- Offer certificate or degree programs in the food and agricultural sciences, and
- Can demonstrate capacity to provide instruction and Extension/outreach in those fields, and
- Meet the Higher Education Act definition of an institution of higher education (section 101(a)).
12) Who is eligible to apply under AGFEI?
For AGFEI, eligibility is narrower. Only individual land-grant colleges and universities, or other institutions that have obtained land-grant status through federal legislation, located in the Insular Areas may apply as individual applicants.
13) Does land-grant status matter for both tracks?
Land-grant status is specifically highlighted for AGFEI eligibility. RIIA eligibility is based on being a public or nonprofit accredited two-year or four-year institution offering relevant programs and demonstrating capacity for instruction and Extension/outreach, consistent with the Higher Education Act definition.
14) Can a branch campus apply, or does the main campus have to apply?
The notice clarifies that branch institutions within a territory university system may be treated as separate eligible institutions if they are separately accredited as degree-granting institutions and otherwise meet the program definitions. Independent branch campuses of otherwise eligible institutions may also apply and receive awards as long as they meet the same eligibility standards for the relevant program.
15) Under what conditions can a branch institution be treated as a separate eligible institution?
A branch institution may be treated as a separate eligible institution if it is separately accredited as a degree-granting institution and otherwise meets the program definitions and eligibility standards for the applicable track (RIIA or AGFEI).
16) What kinds of activities does RIIA support?
RIIA supports strengthening education and Extension/outreach capacity in the food and agricultural sciences, including improving what institutions can teach and how they can serve communities through Extension-style outreach.
17) What kinds of activities does AGFEI emphasize?
AGFEI is geared toward strengthening research capability and explicitly emphasizes facilities and equipment needs for agriculture and food science work.
18) What is the application deadline?
The listed application deadline is June 15, 2026.
19) What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award amount (ceiling) is $500,000.
20) How many awards does NIFA expect to make?
NIFA expects to make about six awards under this announcement.
21) Are RIIA and AGFEI part of the same Assistance Listing even though they have different eligibility rules?
Yes. Both programs are described as being under the same Assistance Listing (CFDA) 10.308 and serve the same geographic areas, but they differ in eligibility rules, especially regarding land-grant status for AGFEI.
22) Is this opportunity limited to certain types of institutions (public, nonprofit, etc.)?
For RIIA, the notice specifies public or nonprofit, accredited two-year and four-year institutions of higher education. For AGFEI, the key limiter described is land-grant status (or land-grant status obtained through federal legislation) for institutions located in the Insular Areas.
23) What fields or subject areas should the institution be involved in to fit this opportunity?
The opportunity is focused on the food and agricultural sciences, including instruction, Extension/outreach programming, and (for AGFEI) research capability and related facilities/equipment tied to agriculture and food systems.
24) What does "Extension-style outreach" mean in the context of this notice?
Based on the notice language, "Extension-style outreach" refers to community-facing programming and services that help institutions serve their local communities through outreach related to food and agricultural sciences.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Agriculture
Previous opportunity: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS): Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP): Accessible Education Video Projects; Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.327C
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (USDA NIFA RIGP 011736) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Distance Education Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 011716 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 011716 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Agricultural Genome to Phenome Initiative - Research Grants Apply for USDA NIFA DAG2PI 32940 Funding Number: USDA NIFA DAG2PI 32940 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture-eRA Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $900,000 |
| Agricultural Genome to Phenome Initiative - Workshop Grants Apply for USDA NIFA DAG2PI 32942 Funding Number: USDA NIFA DAG2PI 32942 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture-eRA Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Supplemental and Alternative Crops Apply for USDA NIFA OP 011756 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 011756 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $460,000 |
| UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE MCGOVERN-DOLE INTERNATIONAL FOOD FOR EDUCATION AND CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM Apply for USDA FAS MCGOVERN DOLE PROGRAM 26 001 Funding Number: USDA FAS MCGOVERN DOLE PROGRAM 26 001 Agency: Foreign Agricultural Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $35,000,000 |
| Alaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Education Competitive Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA AHSI 011902 Funding Number: USDA NIFA AHSI 011902 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOOD FOR PEACE, TITLE II PROGRAM Apply for USDA FAS 10624 0700 25 Funding Number: USDA FAS 10624 0700 25 Agency: Foreign Agricultural Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $200,000,000 |
| Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Apply for USDA NIFA BFR 011336 Funding Number: USDA NIFA BFR 011336 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program Apply for USDA NIFA FINI 011905 Funding Number: USDA NIFA FINI 011905 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $15,000,000 |
| Special Research Grants Program for Aquaculture Research Apply for USDA NIFA SRGP 011856 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SRGP 011856 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $300,000 |
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