The Food and Agriculture Service Learning Program is intended to increase knowledge of agriculture and improve the nutritional health of children, and to bring together stakeholders from the distinct parts of the food system to increase the capacity for food, garden, and nutrition education within host organizations or entities, such as school cafeterias and classrooms, while fostering higher levels of community engagement between farms and school systems.
Program Purpose and Priorities
The Purpose of FASLP is to increase knowledge of agriculture and improve the nutritional health of children. The goal of these efforts is not only increasing access to school meals for underserved children, but also to dramatically improve their quality and to decrease food loss and waste through student, school and community engagement.
The Food and Agriculture Service Learning Program is also focused on the development of leadership skills, knowledge, and qualities are necessary to prepare students for food and agriculture and related careers in the private sector, government, and academia. Specific activities may include:
- Developing practical applications to increase understanding of leadership roles, including critical thinking, problem solving, and communication skills; ethics and professionalism; and working in teams;
- Connecting the academic classroom experiences with daily leadership roles and organizational activities;
- Providing opportunities for mentoring and shadowing; and
- Organizing leadership academies, workshops, trainings, etc.
Primary Goals of FASLP
- Increase capacity for food, garden, and nutrition education within host organizations or entities and school cafeterias and in the classroom.
- Complement and build on the efforts of the farm to school programs implemented under section 18(g) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act [(42 U.S.C. 1769(g)].
- Complement efforts by the Department and school food authorities to implement the school lunch programs established under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq,) and the school breakfast program established by section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966.
- Carry out activities that advance the nutritional health of children and nutrition education in elementary schools and secondary schools (as those terms are defined in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C 7801).
- Foster higher levels of community engagement and support the expansion of national service and volunteer opportunities.
Eligibility
Applicants for FASLP must meet all the requirements discussed in this RFA. Failure to meet the eligibility criteria by the application deadline may result in exclusion from consideration or, preclude NIFA from making an award. For those new to Federal financial assistance, NIFA’s Grants Overview provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand the Federal awards process.
Eligible institutions include:
- State agricultural experiment stations;
- colleges and universities;
- university research foundations;
- other research institutions and organizations;
- Federal agencies;
- national laboratories;
- private organizations, foundations, or corporations;
- individuals; or
- any group consisting of two or more entities described above.
Funding Opportunity Page
Thank you for your interest in the Food and Agriculture Service Learning Program (FASLP). This funding opportunity is closed. At the beginning of each fiscal year, NIFA publishes the for the Upcoming RFA Calendar for all NIFA funding opportunities. This calendar is regularly updated. Use the link below to access a copy of the Request for Application (RFA) and the Technical Assistance Webinar.
Program Resources
- FASLP Previously Funded Projects
- Farm to School Programs - Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act
- School Lunch Programs - Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act
- School Breakfast Program - Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act
- Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
- NIFA Grants Application Guide | NIFA (usda.gov)
- Grants Overview | NIFA (usda.gov)
- Data Management Plan for NIFA-Funded Research, Education, and Extension Projects | NIFA (usda.gov)
- Indirect Costs | NIFA (usda.gov)