Urban, Indoor, and other Emerging Agricultural Production Research, Education, and Extension Initiative
Competitive grants fund research, education, and extension on urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural production systems, including horticultural, social, and economic factors affecting production and market growth, with community organizations included on the team.
⚑ Local community organizations must be included in the project team. · Priority given to proposals involving cooperation among multiple eligible applicants. · Program covers research, education, and extension across the food value chain; proposals should align to the FY 2026 priority focus on high-density settings, indoor/controlled-environment systems, and other emerging production approaches.
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| IPPRA | 62 good | outside portfolio topics; social/behavioral work is substantial; funds applied research |
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 55 good | technical depth: minor; funds applied research |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 30 weak | funds applied research; deep-tech content |
Description
The UIE program (ALN 10.333) supports research, education, and extension activities through competitive grants designed to address key production and market challenges of local, regional, and national importance. The authorization covers the full food value chain, including production, harvesting, transportation, aggregation, packaging, distribution, and market development. Public input was solicited through Federal Register Notice 2020-08402, stakeholder listening sessions, and consultation with the Federal Advisory Committee (FAC) for Urban Agriculture to help identify the most urgent needs in the above listed food value chain stages. This input helped identify the most urgent needs across the food value chain.
To address the most critical challenges in agricultural production and market growth, applications must align with the FY 2026 Priority Focus of identifying and promoting the horticultural, social, and economic factors that contribute to successful agricultural production in high‑population‑density settings, indoor and controlled‑environment systems, and other emerging agricultural production approaches.
Applicants must include local community organizations in the project team. Priority will be given to proposals that involve the cooperation of multiple eligible applicants.
Eligibility
Applications may only be submitted by the following entities: (A) State Agricultural Experiment Stations; (B) Colleges and universities; (C) University research foundations; (D) Other research institutions and organizations; (E) Federal agencies; (F) National laboratories; (G) Private organizations, foundations, or corporations; (H) Individuals; or (I) Any group consisting of two or more of the entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (H).
Apply
View on Grants.gov → CONTACT: Adam Hoque Grantor <grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov>