Message from the Director
As Director of USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, I am proud of how NIFA provides leadership and funding for innovative programs that feed people and fuel progress advancing agricultural sciences.
NIFA was created to spur scientific innovation, education and Extension programs enhancing the work carried out by colleges and universities across the United States.
NIFA’s investments play a critical role in not only inspiring innovation but provide the crucial funding needed to pursue those innovations.
It is an exciting time at NIFA – a time of growth, change and renewed focus. We are mission oriented, and we continue to recruit the best minds to lead us and agriculture into the future. Our aim is to always lead federal efforts to advance agricultural sciences.
As you read about NIFA’s work across six broad topic areas in our FY2023 Annual Report, you will see how we are funding collaborative projects that are delivering real solutions and making a difference in the lives of not only the people of the United States but the world as well.
NIFA is investing in hope for the future, and I believe you will find this reflected in our FY2023 Annual Report.
Dr. Manjit Misra
Director, National Institute of Food and Agriculture
How NIFA Serves
NIFA’s mission is to lead and fund programs that advance agricultural sciences. Our investments are crucial to building the knowledge base within those agriculture-related sciences. Additionally, they are vital to the translation of knowledge into practical applications that ensure all people have access to safe, nutritious and affordable foods. NIFA investments also help make sure farmers, ranchers and foresters have equitable access to markets. Finally, NIFA is working to protect and enhance the environment through the support of projects addressing climate-smart agriculture and forestry practices.
- To ensure scientific discoveries reach the people who need them, about 95% of NIFA’s appropriated funds are used for program grants. Competitively awarded grants make up about 47% of funding, while about 44% is distributed through formula-based capacity and other funding.
- Competitive grants are awarded for foundational and applied research, Extension and education activities, as well as for projects that integrate all three functions. In FY2023, NIFA awarded $2.5 billion in research, Extension and education funding with research funding alone totaling $1.204 billion.
- NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), the nation’s leading competitive grants program for agricultural sciences, enacted $455 million in FY2023 to support projects that improve rural economies, increase food production, stimulate the bioeconomy, mitigate impacts of climate variability, address water availability issues, ensure food safety and nutrition security, enhance human nutrition, and train the next generation of the agricultural workforce.
NIFA is securing the future of the nation by investing in science through the support it provides.