Harnessing scientific innovation and technology in agriculture and nutrition is key to reaching Feed the Future’s core objectives of reducing global hunger, poverty and undernutrition. It's also critical to meeting the global challenges of producing more food with less land and water, improving nutrition, and helping farmers adapt to climate change.
In May 2011, the U.S. Government released the Feed the Future research strategy, informed by a consultative process with USAID, USDA, university partners, and others stakeholders.
Investments under this strategy range from longer-term research to address major global challenges to applied and adaptive research guided by host-country priorities for nearer-term impact.
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Sustainable Intensification
Feed the Future anchors its global research activities in four major agricultural systems with high concentrations of poverty and undernutrition and where we have the opportunity to make a significant impact to improve lives.
This approach incorporates research breakthroughs with management practices, extension and education to fit the local environment.
Increasing Productivity
To help meet growing global demand for food, Feed the Future research focuses on technologies that have high potential to increase agricultural productivity while at the same time optimizing the use of natural resources.
Food Safety and Nutrition
To improve food safety and nutrition, Feed the Future research is helping develop technologies and solutions that enhance dietary diversity, increase the availability of nutritious foods and access to them, and reduce the loss and contamination of food after it’s harvested.
Enabling Environment
To help countries improve the necessary conditions for stimulating and sustaining broad-based growth, Feed the Future conducts policy research and outreach around issues affecting food security and economic growth.
To improve growth and promote innovation in the agriculture sector over the long term, countries need to build human and institutional capital. Feed the Future works with countries to strengthen their capacity to conduct world-class research and train the next generation of agricultural entrepreneurs, technicians, policymakers, managers, and researchers.
Through the Borlaug 21st Century Leadership Program, Feed the Future is:
Addressing hunger, poverty and other major challenges in rural development through agricultural research requires a strong and diverse set of partners. Under Feed the Future, partners from U.S. and host country universities, international agricultural research centers, national agricultural research system (NARS), nongovernmental organizations, and private industry implement programs.
As part of this effort, USAID and USDA are collaborating under the Norman Borlaug Commemorative Research Initiative to address key challenges that both U.S. and developing-country farmers face. Learn more about our collective work in the Partner Highlights and Updates below.
| Title | Description |
| India-Africa Agriculture Innovation Bridge Program | This Annual Program Statement (APS) invites applicants to propose the sharing of proven Indian agriculture innovations in Kenya, Liberia, and Malawi, which are Feed the Future focus countries. The APS is open for submission of concept papers by local Indian organizations until Dec 30, 2013, with four rounds of concept paper submissions on a quarterly basis. Search "APS-386-13-000001" on grants.gov for the announcement. |
| U.S. Borlaug Fellows in Global Food Security Program | This RFA solicits applications to support U.S. students conducting research on topics related to Feed the Future. The U.S. Borlaug Fellows in Global Food Security graduate research grants are intended to support students interested in developing a component of their graduate research in a single, developing country setting by supporting the student’s work in-residence at an International Agricultural Research Center (IARC), or a qualifying National Agricultural Research System (NARS) unit. Apply by Monday, April 1, 2013, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. |
| Horticulture CRSP Trellis Fund | The Horticulture Collaborative Research Support Program has released a new call for Trellis Fund project proposals and student applicants as the program prepares to fund a third round of projects that will begin July 1. The Horticulture CRSP will select up to 12 of the most successful project proposals for funding and then pair a student with related expertise to the project. Project proposals and student applications are due by March 4, 2013. |
| U.S. Borlaug Summer Institute on Global Food Security | Housed at Purdue University, the Summer Institute on Global Food Security is a 2-week long learning program for graduate students attending U.S. institutions who are interested in developing a holistic understanding of the conceptual challenges around global food security. The Summer Institute is now accepting applications for the 2013 session. Apply by Monday, March 4, 2013, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. |
| Norman E. Borlaug Leadership Enhancement in Agriculture Program | Applications are requested for Sub-Saharan African students conducting research on topics related to the U.S. Government's global hunger and food security initiative, Feed the Future. The focus region is Sub-Saharan Africa. Closing date: January 17, 2013. |
| Global Hunger and Food Security Research Strategy: Climate Resilience, Nutrition, and Policy | This RFA focuses on climate resilience, nutrition, and policy objectives under the Feed the Future Research Strategy, and welcomes applications in specific areas. Search "RFA-OAA-12-000036" on grants.gov for the announcement. Closing date: December 21, 2012. |
| African Women in Agricultural Research & Development Fellowship | African Women in Agricultural Research & Development (AWARD) offers two-year fellowships that include a series of career development resources for women agricultural scientists from specific African countries. Closing date: Sept. 7, 2012. |
| USDA Borlaug Fellowship Program | The Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program (Borlaug Fellowship Program) helps developing countries strengthen sustainable agricultural practices by providing scientific training and collaborative research opportunities to visiting researchers, policymakers, and university faculty. |
| Collaborative Research Support Programs | Opportunities exist within Collaborative Research Support Programs (CRSPs) at universities throughout the United States. CRSPs address hunger and poverty through science and technology. |
| Africa Leadership Training and Capacity Building Program | Africa Lead offers powerful leadership training that builds the capacity of agriculture leaders to prioritize key activities and implement priorities of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP). |