Biotechnology Risk Assessment Grants Program | USDA NIFA BRAP 007072

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA BRAP 007072

The Biotechnology Risk Assessment Grants (BRAG) program is a competitive federal grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). Its core goal is to fund research that produces new, practical scientific information to help federal regulatory agencies make sound, evidence-based decisions about what happens when genetically engineered (GE) organisms are introduced into the environment. In other words, the program is designed to strengthen the scientific foundation behind regulation and oversight of biotechnology by filling data gaps that matter for real regulatory questions.

BRAG-supported work can focus on a wide range of genetically engineered organisms, not just crops. Eligible research topics can involve GE plants as well as microorganisms such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses, and also animals including insects, fish, birds, mammals, and other non-human animals. The program is specifically concerned with environmental effects, so studies may look at outcomes in managed settings (like farms, production systems, or controlled release sites) as well as in natural environments where organisms might spread or interact with ecosystems. The emphasis is on understanding environmental interactions and potential impacts that regulators need to evaluate, rather than purely basic laboratory research that does not connect to risk or environmental assessment.

The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant program under the agriculture funding activity category, listed under CFDA number 10.219. The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA BRAP 007072. The agency lists eligible applicants as "Others," and applicants are expected to meet the eligibility and application requirements described in the request for applications (RFA). The notice makes clear that eligibility is enforced strictly: if an applicant does not meet the eligibility criteria by the application deadline, the proposal may be excluded from review or NIFA may be unable to make an award even if the project is otherwise strong.

For this specific posting, the original closing date was 2020-03-18, and the maximum award amount (award ceiling) was $500,000. The opportunity was created on 2020-01-23. While the announcement indicates that awards are expected, it does not provide a clear number of expected awards in the provided source text. Applicants who are unfamiliar with federal financial assistance are directed to NIFA's Grants Overview resource (https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/grants-overview), which explains the federal grants process and can help organizations understand requirements, application steps, and how awards are administered.

• The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Biotechnology Risk Assessment Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.219.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-01-23.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-03-18. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for USDA NIFA BRAP 007072

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