Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Image of fresh produce, courtesy of Getty Images.

Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition (IFSN)

Overview

Although the nation’s food supply ranks among the safest in the world, the country faces challenges from new and emerging foodborne pathogens, as well as those that are growing resistant to treatment. The Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition (NIFA) is the extramural science-funding agency within USDA’s Research, Education and Economics mission area. NIFA invests in and supports initiatives that ensure the long-term viability of agriculture. NIFA provides funding and strategic leadership for programs that ensure groundbreaking discoveries in agriculture-related sciences and technologies reach the people who can put them into practice.

Priorities

  • Create a sustainable, safe food supply
  • Reduce malnutrition and childhood obesity through education
  • Improve the nutritional quality of food without sacrificing flavor, acceptability, and safety
  • Decrease instances of foodborne illness and death, especially in minority and low-income population

NIFA’s Cross Priority Approach

  • Address knowledge gaps & opportunities
  • Spur innovation & accelerating change
  • Empower individuals and communities
  • Support synergies across diverse priorities
  • Support a diverse WIC & EFNEP Workforce

IFSN Divisions

IFSN Capacity Grant Programs

IFSN Competitive Grant Programs

NIFA Calendar

Related Pages and Resources

Primary Contacts

Page last updated: April 29, 2025

Your feedback is important to us.

Take the Website Survey