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Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research

Annual Giving
$150.6M
Grant Range
$100K - $1.0M
Decision Time
10mo

Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR)

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $150,564,252 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Approximately 9 months
  • Grant Range: $100,000 - $1,000,000 (varies by program)
  • Geographic Focus: U.S. benefit required; international applicants eligible with U.S. collaboration

Contact Details

Website: https://foundationfar.org/

Address: 401 9th St NW, Suite 620, Washington, DC 20004

Email: grants@foundationfar.org

Phone: Available on website

Pre-application Support: Research Concepts can be submitted for vetting at https://foundationfar.org/grants-funding/open-opportunities/

Overview

The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) was established in 2014 through congressional authorization in the Farm Bill as a unique public-private partnership. Congress provided $200 million in federal funding, which FFAR is required to match with non-federal investments. Since inception, FFAR has allocated $366 million through 275 awards and has successfully raised $1.40 for every federal dollar received. With annual giving exceeding $150 million, FFAR funds bold, innovative research addressing urgent food and agriculture challenges. The foundation operates as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit and has earned a Four-Star rating (95%) from Charity Navigator. In 2023, FFAR unveiled a new research strategy transitioning from six Challenge Areas to four interrelated strategic research priority areas, demonstrating their commitment to evolving with the needs of the agricultural sector.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research (ROAR)

  • Grant Amount: Up to $150,000
  • Duration: One year
  • Application: Rolling basis, year-round
  • Focus: Emerging or unanticipated threats to food supply or agricultural systems
  • Process: Two-stage (concept note, then invited full application with 8-week deadline)

New Innovator in Food & Agriculture Research Award

  • Grant Amount: Up to $150,000 per year for maximum 3 years (up to $450,000 total)
  • Target: Early-career scientists in tenure-track positions for 3 years or less
  • Focus: Supporting scientists to propel successful research careers in FFAR's priority areas
  • Recent Awards: 11 recipients in 2024 with total investment of $5,371,624 over three years

Seeding Solutions Program

  • Grant Amount: $300,000 - $1,000,000
  • Note: Not accepting applications in 2025 while undergoing program evaluation
  • Previous Focus: Projects demonstrating unique partnerships and significant agricultural advancements

Growing Impact Award

  • Details: Check open opportunities for current parameters
  • Focus: Scaling successful research to broader impact

Veterinary Student Research Fellowships (Vet Fellows)

  • Partnership: With American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC)
  • Focus: Veterinary students pursuing research on global food security and sustainable animal production
  • Recent Awards: 15 recipients in 2025

Other Programs

  • USDA-FFAR Innovation Challenge
  • Various challenge area-specific programs announced periodically

Priority Areas (2023-Present)

FFAR transitioned in 2023 from Challenge Areas to four interrelated strategic research priority areas:

  1. Cultivating Thriving Production Systems: Supporting animal and crop systems by increasing productivity, combating pests and diseases, supporting animal welfare, and safeguarding farmers' livelihoods

  2. Sustaining Vibrant Agroecosystems: Environmental sustainability and ecosystem health

  3. Bolstering Healthy Food Systems: Connecting agriculture to nutrition and health outcomes

  4. Strengthening the Scientific Workforce: Building capacity and supporting next-generation researchers

Previous Challenge Areas (2018-2023)

  • Soil Health
  • Sustainable Water Management
  • Next Generation Crops
  • Advanced Animal Systems
  • Urban Food Systems
  • Health and Agriculture Link

What They Don't Fund

FFAR explicitly does not fund:

  • Political organizations, action groups, candidates, or lobbying efforts
  • Religious organizations for religious purposes
  • Salary/wage support for staff or administrative personnel (except program administration)
  • Capital or building campaigns
  • Construction projects
  • Advocacy programs
  • Recurring external meetings, conferences, or workshops
  • Recurring external fundraising dinners, galas, and events
  • Outreach, community, or education activities without a research component
  • Indirect costs above 10% (strict cap)
  • Organizations with discriminatory policies (based on race, color, religion, sex, gender, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status)
  • Research that duplicates existing federal agricultural research programs
  • Research that does not benefit the U.S. food and agriculture system

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Chair: Dr. Mark E. Keenum, President of Mississippi State University

Vice Chair: Dr. Kathryn Boor, Dean and Vice Provost of Graduate Education at Cornell University

Treasurer: Dr. Chris Mallett, Former Corporate Vice President of Cargill (retired Corporate Vice President of R&D)

Secretary: Dr. Doug Buhler, Director of AgBioResearch and Assistant Vice President for Research and Innovation at Michigan State University (also includes a farmer from Rodibaugh & Sons in previous reporting)

Additional Board Members: Executives, professors, and program officers from organizations including Invasive Species Corporation, Riceland Foods Inc., Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and University of California San Francisco

Executive Team

Executive Director: Dr. Saharah Moon Chapotin (joined 2022)

  • Quote: "Our Research Strategy enhances coordination between research areas, aligns our work around intended impacts, creates opportunities to welcome new partners and ensures the research we fund with our partners is meeting stakeholder needs."

First Executive Director: Dr. Sally Rockey (2015-2022), previously from National Institutes of Health

  • Quote: "This is an incredible opportunity for me to lead an organization through its early days and see FFAR develop as a vital component of the food and agriculture research enterprise."

Chief Scientific Officer: Dr. Angela Records

  • Quote: "We are excited to begin implementing our new Strategy, and its interdisciplinary approach, to focus FFAR's work on critical Priority Areas. Through innovative collaborations with new and existing partners, we are committed to continuing to tackle urgent food and agriculture challenges."

Other Leadership: Chief Financial & Operations Officer, Vice President of Partnerships & Development, and several Scientific Program Directors overseeing different focus areas

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Application Portal: All applications must be submitted through FFAR's online Grants Management System at https://foundationfar.org/grants-funding/. Applications submitted by any other mechanism will not be evaluated.

Application Types:

  1. Research Concepts (Pre-Application):

    • Submit through Research Concepts webpage under Open Opportunities
    • Not a full application, but a general concept idea being vetted
    • FFAR responds within 30 days only if interested in pursuing the concept
    • Recommended first step to gauge interest

  2. Full Applications:

    • Submitted in response to FFAR's Request for Applications (RFA)
    • Must be complete and submitted through online portal
    • Check Open Opportunities page regularly for current funding opportunities

Matching Funds Requirement: Critical requirement for all applicants, including U.S. government scientists. FFAR must match every federal dollar with non-federal investments from the awardee or a third party. Applicants must demonstrate ability to secure matching funds.

Eligibility: U.S. institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations, government-affiliated researchers, and international organizations are generally eligible. International applicants typically need clearly described collaboration with U.S.-based researchers. Check specific RFA for program-specific eligibility requirements.

Decision Timeline

  • Evaluation Process: Approximately 9 months from submission to final decision
  • ROAR Program: Faster track - 8 weeks for full application after concept note invitation
  • Notification: FFAR contacts all applicants regardless of outcome via email

Review Process

Applications undergo rigorous scientific review:

  1. Evaluation by External Peer Reviewers
  2. Review by Advisory Councils
  3. Evaluation scored on four weighted criteria categories focusing on technical merit and impact
  4. Highest quality proposals selected for funding

Success Rates

FFAR does not publicly disclose specific success rates or application statistics. The foundation emphasizes that the review process is highly competitive and focuses on selecting the highest quality proposals in terms of technical merit and transformative impact.

Reapplication Policy

FFAR does not explicitly publish a reapplication policy. All applicants are notified of final funding decisions regardless of outcome. For specific questions about reapplication after an unsuccessful attempt, contact grants@foundationfar.org.

Application Success Factors

Essential Elements for Competitive Applications

1. Address Intractable Problems FFAR seeks proposals that tackle significant, difficult-to-solve challenges and accelerate innovation within their Priority Areas. Projects should demonstrate transformative potential rather than incremental improvements.

2. Build Unique Public-Private Partnerships This is a cornerstone of FFAR's approach. Strong partnerships with multiple sectors are highly encouraged:

  • Private sector companies
  • NGOs and nonprofit organizations
  • Government agencies
  • Academic institutions
  • End users and stakeholders
  • Demonstrate how partnerships make research outcomes scalable and applicable to existing food and agriculture systems

Quote from leadership emphasizes: "Through innovative collaborations with new and existing partners, we are committed to continuing to tackle urgent food and agriculture challenges."

3. Balance Creativity and Practical Applicability Research quality should demonstrate:

  • Innovation and scientific rigor
  • Contribution to disciplinary science
  • Real-world applicability to food and agriculture systems
  • Potential for implementation by stakeholders

4. Demonstrate U.S. Benefit Even if you're an international organization, clearly articulate how research directly benefits U.S. agricultural interests and the U.S. food system.

5. Include Strong Collaborators (especially for New Innovator Awards) For early-career investigators, collaborators are often essential for success. Include:

  • Information about essential collaborators
  • Letters of support from collaborators
  • Demonstrated track record of collaborative work

6. Plan for Data Accessibility and Impact Proposals should demonstrate potential to:

  • Make data open and accessible
  • Create economic development opportunities
  • Contribute to food and agriculture workforce development
  • Serve the public interest

7. Secure Matching Funds Address matching fund requirements clearly in your proposal. FFAR requires non-federal match for all projects, so demonstrate committed or potential sources of matching support.

Recent Funded Projects as Examples

2024-2025 Awards Include:

  • H5N1 vaccine development for dairy cows (Genvax Technologies) - ROAR grant
  • Universal influenza vaccine for cows using bovine adenoviral vaccine platform (Purdue University)
  • H5N1 influenza prevention and response for pork industry
  • Various New Innovator Awards to early-career scientists at institutions including The Land Institute
  • Veterinary Student Research Fellowships addressing global food security

Common Application Strengths

Based on FFAR's evaluation criteria and funded projects:

  • Clear articulation of how research accelerates innovation
  • Strong letters of support from diverse partners
  • Demonstration of scalability and real-world application
  • Alignment with current Priority Areas
  • Clear timeline and deliverables
  • Evidence of researcher qualifications and institutional support

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Matching funds are mandatory: Plan early to identify non-federal sources of matching support; this is non-negotiable for all applicants including government researchers

  • Partnerships are critical: FFAR prioritizes projects with unique public-private partnerships; demonstrate multi-sector collaboration with letters of support

  • Submit a Research Concept first: The 30-day concept review process can save months of work by gauging FFAR's interest before investing in a full proposal

  • Focus on U.S. benefit: Even international applicants must clearly demonstrate how research benefits U.S. agriculture and food systems

  • Aim for transformative impact: FFAR seeks bold solutions to intractable problems, not incremental research; emphasize innovation and scalability

  • Timeline is long: With a 9-month review process, plan accordingly and maintain patience; FFAR will notify all applicants of outcomes

  • Check open opportunities regularly: Programs and RFAs are announced periodically; the Seeding Solutions program is paused for 2025 evaluation, demonstrating FFAR's evolving priorities

  • Indirect costs capped at 10%: This is significantly lower than many federal grants; budget accordingly

References

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