Partnerships are at the core of NIFA’s work.
They serve as the foundation of the integrated approach NIFA uses to discover and apply groundbreaking solutions to critical issues related to agriculture, food, the environment, and communities.
NIFA’s programs join strengths and skills from a wide range of organizations — universities, other Federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, businesses, foundations, and associations — in order to drive innovation. Collaboration is critical to ensure that all Americans have access to NIFA’s resources.
Land-grant University Map
NIFA’s key partner is the Land-grant University System, which includes the 1862 public universities; the 1890 historically Black colleges and universities and Tuskegee University; and the 1994 Tribal colleges and universities.
Explore MapOther NIFA Partnerships
Non-Land-grant Colleges of Agriculture
The agency also collaborates with institutions certified as Non-Land-grant Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCA). NIFA and NLGCA partners focus on improving research, outreach, and postsecondary-level educational activities related to food, agriculture, natural and renewable resources, human sciences, and other similar disciplines. NLGCA partners also support rural prosperity by funding new degree programs that emphasize new and emerging employment opportunities.
Federal Agencies
NIFA collaborates with other Federal agencies, both within and external to USDA, in order to accelerate progress on the discovery and application of solutions to high priority challenges. By partnering with agencies with complementary missions, we are able to bring a wider range of capabilities, expertise, and experience to our programs. Through collaboration, NIFA also serves as a vital contributor to Federal science policy decision making.
Associations, Nonprofits, and Other Groups
NIFA partners closely with the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and its units including the Board on Agriculture Assembly, which comprises the Cooperative Extension Section and agInnovation (formerly the Experiment Station Section), among others.
- NIFA assigns liaisons to work with many of APLU’s sections and committees.
- NIFA and APLU sponsor a Memorial Lecture that is presented at the APLU Annual Meeting. The lecture rotates to honor one of three historical figures of the Land-grant University System.
NIFA also funds programs that allow nonprofit organizations to leverage their established relationships to bring agricultural science, educational, and socioeconomic support services to rural and urban communities.
We also partner with professional societies, commodity groups, grower associations, and foundations.
International Partnerships
Science partnerships that cross borders benefits U.S. agriculture by advancing the science needed in this country while also promoting the science that’s needed to strengthen food security overseas. Our international research partnerships support issues related to food safety, sustainability, resource management, biotechnology, and crop and livestock disease prevention.