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NIFA supports research, educational, and extension efforts in a wide range of scientific fields related to agricultural and behavioral sciences.

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The lifecycle of grants and cooperative agreements consists of four phases: Pre-Award, Award, Post-Award, and Close Out.

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        Access Data GatewayThe Data Gateway enables users to find funding data, metrics, and information about research, education, and extension projects that have received grant awards from NIFA.
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    View Resources PageThis website houses a large volume of supporting materials. In this section, you can search the wide range of documents, videos, and other resources.View Resources Page
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    Second Annual Virtual Grants Support Technical Assistance Workshop
    Check out this five-day workshop in March 2024 workshop, designed to help you learn about NIFA grants and resources for grants development and management.

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The National Institute of Food and Agriculture provides leadership and funding for programs that advance agriculture-related sciences.

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    EcosystemsSharePrint Friendly Email Twitter Facebook
    
    Environment
      Climate Change
          Ecosystems
          Invasive Pests and DiseasesA dynamic balance between plants, animals, and the surrounding environment comprises an ecosystem. The impact of humans, as an integral part of most ecosystems, must be taken into account when managing the system’s health. For healthy functioning and sustainability, an ecosystem’s living members must be in balance with the non-living elements.

Importance of Ecosystems

Ecosystems provide life-sustaining interactions for many plants and animals.  Humans also enjoy the system’s many benefits, such as:

Natural diversity of plant and animal life
	Recreational space
	Natural resource  accessibilityFuture agricultural success depends on our ability to make use of Earth’s natural resources without permanently damaging or depleting them.  As a result of  increasing population demands and poor agriculture practices, natural and managed ecosystems face growing threats from:

Plant or animal diseases
	Uncontrolled fires
	Increased human activityNIFA’s Impact

NIFA is committed to restoring the integrity of the nation’s ecosystems. Our programs seek to increase the public’s understanding that human well-being is linked to the sustainable use and management of ecosystems. We support innovative work to increase production, conservation, and restoration of farms, forests, rangeland, and all other ecosystems.

NIFA initiatives work to:

Advance natural resource and ecosystem sustainability through land management
	Protect our natural systems through environmental conservation
	Study and control invasive species to help prevent the degradation of crop and natural systems
	Understand and predict changes in fire patterns, droughts, and floods to mitigate risk
	Maintain natural diversity and ecosystem health by understanding and controlling plant and animal disease
	Understand the impact of urban development on ecosystems
	Discover the impact that climate change has on our ecosystems and how that impact could be limited
	Appreciate the dynamic of all these issues across a landscape of managed and natural ecosystems

  Programs
    Wildlife and Fish Programs
              Ecosystems Programs
              Urban, Indoor, and Emerging Agriculture
              Equipment Grants Program (EGP)
              From Learning to Leading: Cultivating the Next Generation of Diverse Food and Agriculture Professionals (NextGen)

  Funding Opportunities
    Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Education and Workforce Development
              Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) (Joint NSF) Competitive Grants Program
              Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Sustainable Agricultural Systems
              Research Facilities Act Program Return to top
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