Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Human Sciences Education and Literacy Initiative

Overview

<p>Topics: This AFRI RFA addresses the following six Farm Bill 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. Bioenergy, natural resources, and environment; 5. Agriculture systems and technology; and 6. Agriculture economics and rural communities. (as stated in the 2014 Farm Bill). <br>In FY 2017, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) requests applications for the AFRI’s Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Human Sciences Education and Literacy Initiative (ELI) to support: professional development opportunities for K-14 teachers and education professionals; training of undergraduate students in research and extension; and fellowships for predoctoral and postdoctoral candidates. <br>The purpose of the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) is to support research, education, and extension work by awarding grants to solve key problems of local, regional, national, and global importance in sustaining conventional, organic, and urban agricultural systems. These include farm efficiency, profitability and sustainability, ranching, bioenergy, forestry, aquaculture, rural communities and entrepreneurship, human nutrition, mitigating impacts of biotic and abiotic constraints on food production, food safety, mitigating food waste and food loss, physical and social sciences, home economics and rural human ecology, biotechnology, and classical breeding. <br>The Professional Development for Secondary School Teachers and Education Professional (PD-STEP) program area seeks to increase the number of K-14 teachers and educational professionals trained in FANH sciences. Participating teachers are expected to build their skills necessary for integrating food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences (FANH) concepts in their classes; explore the opportunities available in the FANH career paths; and forge mentorships with professional and business leaders, and faculty.<br>Program Area Priority - The PD-STEP program area will support Research, Education, Extension or Integrated Projects that promote faculty expertise and encourage widespread implementation of educational innovation at the K-14 levels in the FANH sciences. This includes projects that contain elements of the human sciences (e.g., disciplines that address issues challenging individuals, youth, families, and communities).<br>Requested Project Types – Research, Education, Extension, or Integrated Projects Requested Grant Types – Standard Grants and FASE (Strengthening Standard) Grants only<br>Projects should provide immersive learning experiences for K-14 teachers and educational professionals (counselors, administrators, etc.) to create and replicate best practices to improve student success outcomes within the FANH sciences.</p>