agriculture · USDA-NIFA-ERA

Food Safety Outreach Program-Collaborative Education and Training Projects

National Institute of Food and Agriculture-eRA · USDA-NIFA-FA4182-32936

Closed

Award Range

$400K – $550K

Total Program Funding

$5.8M

Expected Awards

Deadline

July 20, 2026

GRANTQUICK SUMMARYPlain-English Overview

USDA/NIFA's Food Safety Outreach Program - Collaborative Education and Training Projects funds 10 larger grants ($400K-$550K each, $5.8M total) for multi-partner collaborative food safety training reaching small/beginning/underserved food producers. Unlike the Community Outreach grants ($80K-$300K for single organizations), these require COLLABORATION between multiple organizations to deliver comprehensive FSMA training across a region or population.

Who Should Apply

Coalitions of extension services, nonprofits, universities, and community organizations that jointly train small/underserved farmers on food safety. Lead applicant manages the collaboration; partners contribute expertise and farmer access.

Who Should NOT Apply

Single organizations working alone (use Community Outreach grants instead), large agribusiness, regulatory agencies, or groups without established farmer relationships.

Key Requirements (Plain English)

•Must be a collaborative project with multiple partner organizations
•Must provide food safety/FSMA training to small/underserved producers
•10 awards of $400K-$550K
•Must reach producers facing barriers to food safety training
•Must demonstrate genuine collaboration (not subcontracting)
•No cost-sharing required

💡 GrantQuick Tip

These awards are larger because NIFA wants TRUE collaboration — 3-5 organizations each bringing unique value (one brings Spanish-speaking trainers, another brings farm network access, a third brings food safety curriculum expertise). Don't just add partner letters — show how each partner contributes something irreplaceable. Regional collaboratives covering 3-5 states with diverse farmer populations are ideal.

Competitiveness: Moderate — 10 awards but requires genuine multi-partner collaboration, which many applicants fail to demonstrate convincingly.

What This Grant Funds

In FY 2026, FSOP, under Assistance Listing 10.328, will maintain and continue to expand training, education, outreach, and coordination by soliciting new Collaborative Education and Training Projects.

Attachments

PDF

USDA-NIFA-FA4182-32936-Full-Announcement.html

Who Can Apply

Entities are eligible to apply to the FSOP if they meet at least one of the following criteria:A State Cooperative Extension Service;A Federal, State, local, or Tribal agency;A nonprofit community-based or non-governmental organization;An organization representing owners and operators of farms, small food processors, or small fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers that has a commitment to public health and expertise in administering programs that contribute to food safety;An institution of higher education (as defined at in Section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C 1001(a))) or a foundation maintained by an institution of higher education; or;A collaboration of two or more eligible entities.

Eligible Applicant Types

Other (see NOFO for details)

Funding Details

Minimum Award: $400K
Maximum Award: $550K
Total Program Funding: $5.8M
Expected Number of Awards: 10
Cost Sharing Required?: No
Funding Instrument: grant

Key Dates

Posted: June 18, 2026

Application Deadline: July 20, 2026 (0 days remaining)

Agency Contact

NIFA Support Email grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov

grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov

Ready to apply?

View the full NOFO and submit your application on Grants.gov

View on Grants.gov