Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Sustainable Bioenergy and Bioproducts Challenge Area | USDA NIFA AFRI 006352

AFRI SBEBP (Sustainable Bioenergy and Bioproducts) Grant Opportunity FAQs

What is the AFRI Sustainable Bioenergy and Bioproducts Challenge Area (SBEBP)?

The AFRI Sustainable Bioenergy and Bioproducts Challenge Area (SBEBP) is a competitive grant opportunity offered under the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). It supports research intended to advance U.S. bioenergy and bio-based product systems.

Which federal agency runs this funding opportunity?

The agency is the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

Is this a competitive or non-competitive grant program?

This is a competitive grant opportunity.

What type of grant is this listed as?

It is listed as a discretionary grant under the AFRI umbrella.

What is the purpose or long-term national goal behind this program?

In FY 2017, the program is framed around a long-term national goal of reducing reliance on foreign oil while helping the United States move toward the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 benchmark of producing 36 billion gallons of biofuels per year by 2022.

What does the program aim to do in practical terms?

In practical terms, the funding is intended to push forward innovations that make biomass-based fuels and products more viable, more efficient, and more economically attractive at scale.

What are the FY 2017 priority areas for this funding cycle?

NIFA highlights two specific priority areas for this cycle: (1) lignin or nano-cellulosic co-products derived from biomass feedstocks, and (2) biomass feedstock genetic development and evaluation.

What is meant by the lignin or nano-cellulosic co-products priority area?

This priority area focuses on developing lignin- or nano-cellulosic-based co-products from biomass feedstocks. The underlying concept is that next-generation biofuel systems can become more cost-effective when major components of plant material are converted into valuable products, not only the portions used to make fuel.

Why does the program emphasize lignin?

Lignin is described as a large fraction of many biomass sources and historically difficult to process. The opportunity highlights its potential to be converted into high-value chemicals, materials, or other co-products that can strengthen the economics of biorefineries.

Why does the program emphasize nano-cellulosic materials?

Nano-cellulosic materials are highlighted because they can enable advanced biomaterials and performance-enhancing additives. The opportunity describes these as potential new markets and revenue streams that can support broader bioenergy adoption.

What is the biomass feedstock genetic development and evaluation priority area?

This priority area targets improvements in the biomass sources themselves by developing and assessing feedstocks with traits that make them better suited for bioenergy and bioproduct supply chains.

What kinds of feedstock traits does the program mention?

The opportunity mentions traits such as increased yield, improved composition for conversion, enhanced stress tolerance, reduced inputs, and other performance improvements across different environments.

Does the program expect projects to only develop new genetic materials, or also to test them?

Both. The emphasis on genetic development and evaluation signals that projects are expected not only to create or identify promising genetic materials, but also to test and characterize them to demonstrate value for real-world production and downstream conversion.

What activity categories does this opportunity cover?

The activity categories span agriculture, energy, and natural resources.

What is the funding opportunity number for this grant?

The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA AFRI 006352.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 10.310.

When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on April 17, 2017.

What was the original application closing date?

The original application closing date was June 28, 2017.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applications can only be submitted by eligible entities, and eligibility depends on the type of project being proposed. Applicants are directed to consult the Request for Applications (RFA) to confirm eligibility.

Where should applicants look to confirm eligibility requirements?

Applicants are instructed to consult the RFA section on eligible applicants (Part III, A) and the section describing project types (beginning in Part II, C) to confirm they qualify and to ensure they apply under the correct project category.

Why does eligibility depend on the project type?

The notice indicates that eligibility varies based on the type of project being proposed, so an applicant must match their organization and proposal to the correct project type as described in the RFA.

What kinds of barriers is this program trying to address?

The SBEBP Challenge Area is positioned to address key technical and economic barriers that can limit biofuel and bioproduct deployment by improving upstream feedstock performance and increasing downstream product value through co-product development.

How do the two priorities work together toward the program goals?

The priorities are designed to make bioenergy systems more competitive by pairing upstream improvements (feedstock genetic innovation and evaluation) with downstream value creation (co-products such as lignin- and nano-cellulose-based materials), aligning research with energy security and renewable fuel goals.