FFAR 2026 New Innovator in Food and Agriculture Research Award
Internal Competition Under Review // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 0
Deadline note: This selection process is running with an anticipated deadline. We will inform all applicants of relevant updates in the guidelines, submission deadlines, and eligibility as soon as more information becomes available.
Limiting Language
Institutions may submit one nominee to the New Innovator Award program.
Eligibility
- From the 2025 cycle, subject to change in new RFA release: The nominated faculty member must have been hired on or after August 1, 2021, for a tenure-track or equivalent position and may work in any discipline or any department within the institution.
- Preference will be given to individuals near the onset of their independent research career and who are within eight (8) years of receiving a Ph.D. or equivalent degree.
- This research concept must directly benefit U.S. agricultural interests.
- Individuals with significant research experience prior to obtaining their faculty position will not be considered for this award. For the purpose of this funding opportunity, significant research experience is defined as a nominee that has been awarded a substantial research grant (three to five years of support) or has received project funding totaling over $1M within the time of their tenure position or has been awarded similar career development awards with similar budgetary scope.
Research must align with one of the following priority areas:
- Cultivating thriving production systems
- Sustaining vibrant agroecosystems
- Bolstering healthy food systems
- Strengthening the scientific workforce