The U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA), requests applications for the Special Research Grants for Aquaculture Research competitive grants program for fiscal year (FY) 2024. The amount available for grants in FY2024 is approximately $1.936 million. If this program receives appropriated funds in FY2025, meritorious projects identified in the FY2024 competition that were not able to receive support in FY2024 may be supported using FY2025 funds. In this case, a separate RFA may not be issued for the FY2025 funds. The intent is to fund applied research that addresses program priorities with a maximum award of $300,000 and maximum duration of 2 years. The application deadline is April 15, 2024.

The purpose of the Special Research Grants for Aquaculture Research program is to support the development of an environmentally and economically sustainable aquaculture industry in the United States by generating new, science-based information and technology to address industry constraints.

Applied research is needed to develop practical solutions that will facilitate growth and remove limitations to expansion of the United States aquaculture industry. Results of projects supported by this program are intended to help improve the profitability of the United States aquaculture industry, reduce the 17-billion dollar United States seafood trade deficit, increase domestic food security, expand markets for United States-produced products, and provide more jobs for rural and coastal America.

Applications must:

• Directly address major constraints to the United States aquaculture industry; and
• Focus on one or more of the following Program Area Priorities:
• Genetics of commercial aquaculture species;
• Critical disease issues impacting commercial aquaculture species;
• Design of environmentally and economically sustainable commercial aquaculture production systems;
• Development of climate resilient technologies, production systems, and/or management strategies for commercial aquaculture species; or
• Economic research for increasing commercial aquaculture profitability

Eligible applicants include:

• State Agricultural Experiment Stations;
• colleges and universities (including junior colleges offering associate degrees or higher);
• university research foundations;
• other research institutions and organizations;
• Federal agencies;
• national laboratories;
• private organizations or corporations;
• individuals who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents; and
• any group consisting of two or more entities identified in a) through h).

Eligible institutions do not include foreign and international organizations.

The Special Research Grants Program for Aquaculture Research funding page and RFA are now published: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/special-research-grants-program-aquaculture-research.

If you have questions, please contact Tim Sullivan, timothy.sullivan@usda.gov, National Program Leader, Animal Health and Aquaculture, USDA NIFA.