The Sustainable Agricultural Systems (SAS) program area is part of the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), USDA’s flagship competitive grant program that supports fundamental and applied research, education, and Extension/outreach projects in the food and agricultural sciences.
SAS funds projects that use transdisciplinary approaches to create outcomes and impacts that transform, preserve, and grow food, agricultural, and forestry systems in the United States. Funded projects increase productivity while creating jobs and promoting rural prosperity.
The SAS program area promotes a sustainable supply of accessible, healthy, safe, and affordable food and other agricultural products while enhancing rural economic development, employment, and economic opportunities, and improving the long-term health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities.
SAS Program Highlights
- Project Type: Integrated projects only – must include all three components: Research, Education, and Extension
- Grant Type: Coordinated Agriculture Project (CAP)
- Project Duration: Up to 60 months
- Award Amount: To Be Announced
- Previously Funded Projects:
Coordinated Agriculture Project (CAP) Awards
The SAS program area funds projects through Coordinated Agriculture Project (CAP) grants. CAP grants support large-scale, multi-million-dollar systems-oriented projects that promote collaboration toward a stated outcome and coordinate activities among academic, government, state, regional, non-governmental, and private sector institutions.
What is a Coordinated Agricultural Project?
- The project participants (Project Director, co-Project Director(s), partners, etc.) serve as a team that, together, conducts integrated research, education, and Extension/outreach activities in response to emerging or priority area(s) of state, regional, or national need.
- The project team organizes and coordinates efforts to receive upfront input and guidance from communities and individuals who will be impacted by and included in the project. These communities and individuals are likely to be principal stakeholders and partners.
- The project is overarched by economic, environmental, and social sustainability analyses that contribute to action and investment beyond the project performance period. Successful applications will clearly articulate how a CAP will complement and/or link with existing programs or projects at the regional or national level.
- The project contains the needed science-based expertise and experience from principal stakeholders and partners to accomplish project goals and objectives. Successful applications clearly outline the potential of the project, the structure, coordination, and plan of implementation.
Helpful Links
Project Directors and teams who are interested in learning more about and/or applying to the SAS program area are encouraged to:
- Read the AFRI SAS RFA and the corresponding Glossary
- Check out the AFRI SAS Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Learn more about transdisciplinary approaches through the USDA NIFA and National Agricultural Library’s Transdisciplinary Approaches Webinar Series and through resources for leading transdisciplinary projects.
- Know what it takes to apply by reviewing the AFRI RFA Resources (including Part IV, C. Content and Form of Application Submission)
Meet the Team
Due to the complexity of the AFRI SAS Program, email contact is preferred. Email the AFRI SAS team to ask a question or to schedule a call with the subject matter expert: afri-sas@usda.gov.