С»ÆÊé

Below is a summary assembled by the Research & Innovation Office (RIO). Please see the full solicitation for complete information about the funding opportunity.

Program Summary

FFAR intends to provide early-career scientists with the investment needed to propel them into successful research careers. The New Innovator Award program supports and promotes exceptionally talented new faculty who are conducting critical and highly innovative research addressing significant food and agriculture challenges. These awards allow grantees to focus exclusively on research without the pressure of securing additional funding.Ìý

The New Innovator Award is a flagship program of FFAR’s Scientific Workforce Priority Area and seeks to promote career advancement of promising new scientists who intend to make a long-term career commitment to research in food and agriculture and bring innovative, ground-breaking research initiatives and thinking to bear on problems facing food and agriculture. Within the scope of the New Innovator Award program, investigators have the freedom to explore new avenues of inquiry that arise during their research. Therefore, FFAR is interested in the program of research to be explored and its impact as opposed to a list of very specific aims.

FFAR asks that applicants address how their proposed research program will address at least one of the following Priority Areas and clearly benefit the U.S. food and agriculture system.Ìý Ìý

• :ÌýProduction systems thrive when input providers and producers have the information and technologies (novel germplasm, digital tools, pest and disease solutions, etc.) to manage their enterprises efficiently and profitably—which includes selecting animals, crops and management practices that support site-specific environmental, social and business goals.
• :ÌýTools, technologies and integrative models designed at scales needed for site-specific decision making allow producers to create, build and maintain healthy, productive agroecosystems that meet consumer expectations under changing climate conditions. Such solutions must provide flexibility to deal with future uncertainty, and clarify trends and trade-offs in environmental regeneration, productivity and resilience.
• :ÌýIn a healthy food system, food processors, distributors and retailers have the information and technologies needed to produce nutritious, environmentally sustainable and culturally appropriate food for consumers. Likewise, consumers require convenient access to safe, nutritious, desirable foods with a balance of macronutrients, micronutrients and protective phytochemicals.

Note: FFAR relies on federal funding from Congress to support public-private partnerships. Funding for any New Innovator Awards is contingent on additional funds being allocated to the Foundation.

Deadlines

• С»ÆÊé Internal Deadline: 11:59pm MT March 2, 2026
• Sponsor Nomination Deadline: 3:00pm MTÌýMarch 18, 2026
• Sponsor Full Application Deadline (by invitation only): 3:00pm MTÌýApril 29, 2026

Internal Application Requirements (all in PDF format)

• Nominee Justification Letter (from someone other than PI, 600-word limit): Please explain how the nominee is outstanding in her/his field and why the nominee should receive the FFAR New Innovator Award.
• Research Program (2000-word limit total): Describe (1) the scientific challenge or opportunity that you propose to address, its importance, and how anticipated outreach and outcomes would have a major impact on a broad area of research relevant to a FFAR research priority area (1,000 words), (2) what makes the project exceptionally innovative in the context of the current state-of-the-art of the field (500 words), and (3) the personal qualities and experiences demonstrating your inclination to question paradigms and work with intellectual uncertainties, develop unique collaborations, integrate diverse sources of information, or develop novel approaches when new challenges or opportunities arise (500 words).
• PI Biosketch (5 pages maximum)
• Budget Overview (up to 1 page): A basic budget outlining project costs is sufficient; detailed OCG budgets are not required.

To access the online application, visit:

Eligibility

• The nominated faculty member must have been hired on or afterÌýAugust 1, 2022,Ìýfor a tenure-track or equivalent position and may work in any discipline or any department within the institution.Ìý
• PreferenceÌýwill be given to individuals near the onset of their independent research career and who areÌýwithin eight (8) yearsÌýof receiving a Ph.D. or equivalent degree.Ìý
• Individuals with significant research experience prior to obtaining their faculty position will not be considered for this award. For 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 scopes.
• The proposed researchÌýapplicationÌýmust directlyÌýbenefitÌýU.S. agricultural interests.

Limited Submission Guidelines

С»ÆÊé Boulder is invited to nominate one applicant.

Award Information

Award Amount:ÌýUp to $450,000. There is no maximum on the amount of matching funds that may be included in the total budget. Projects up to 36 months in length are eligible for funding. Contingent project start dates range from January 1, 2027 to March 1, 2027.

Number of Awards: Up to 10

Review Criteria

Innovation & Strategic Impact (30%)

• Does the research program address an important problem or a critical barrier to progress within a Priority Area?Ìý Ìý
• Did the applicant identify how FFAR is uniquely positioned to fund this research program? Does the application clearly address at least one of FFAR’s Priority Areas?Ìý Ìý
• Did the applicant describe what makes the proposed approach(es) exceptionally innovative in the context of the current state-of-the-art of the field?
• If the program is successful, will it create new paradigms or challenge existing ones in the U.S. and/or global food systems?
• Will the applicant train the next generation of food and agriculture research scientists, and if so, how?
• Did the applicant clearly show how funding will result in deliverables that benefit the scientific community and/or other stakeholders in the food and agriculture value chain?
• If applicable, did the applicant show how the proposed research will move the technology, tool, practice or approach under study from its current status further along the commercialization pipeline?

Feasibility (30%)

Note that applicants are asked to focus on the overall program of research. Applicants are not required to provide a detailed experimental plan or list of aims and the program budget does not need to be associated with specific aims.

• Are the overarching goals of the proposed research program clear?
• Is the overall scientific approach well-reasoned and appropriate?
• Did the applicant identify potential risks to successfully complete the research goals and propose to address them?
• Is the data and results management plan outlined by the applicant adequate?Ìý

Potential Outcomes & Outreach (25%)

• Has the applicant sufficiently demonstrated that the proposed research program is expected to directly benefit the U.S. food and agriculture system?
• Does the application adequately discuss the significance of the challenge that is being addressed in the application and how the research will contribute to a solution?
• Has the applicant demonstrated that this research has not been done elsewhere, or that this research accelerates a current research challenge or addresses a challenge in a new or innovative manner?
• Will the PI share the data and research results with the food and agriculture community? If so, do they also effectively describe how they will share results?

Qualifications (15%)

• Is the PI well suited to the research program?Ìý Ìý
• Does the PI show the potential to have significant impact on their field? Does the PI have the appropriate experience and training?
• Is the effort committed sufficient to perform the proposed research?Ìý Ìý
• Will this research program serve as a platform for a successful scientific career?Ìý Ìý
• Will the PI be an inspiring mentor who will attract and motivate students and postdocs in their lab?Ìý Ìý
• Does the PI have institutional support to carry out the program being proposed?Ìý