Opportunity Information: Apply for 7200AA18RFA00017
The Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Legume Systems Research is a USAID-funded competitive grant opportunity intended to establish and operate a new Feed the Future Innovation Lab focused on legumes and the broader farming and food systems that depend on them. USAID is seeking applications from qualified U.S. colleges and universities to lead this effort under a "Leader with Associates" Cooperative Agreement structure. In practical terms, that means the selected lead institution would run a central, long-term research and capacity development program (the Leader award) while also providing a mechanism to support additional, aligned awards (Associates) that can be added over time, often tied to specific USAID missions, countries, or targeted priorities.
The main purpose of the opportunity is to launch an Innovation Lab that advances legume systems research and strengthens capacity, with emphasis at the smallholder level and across food systems. This points to work that goes beyond basic crop improvement alone and instead looks at how legumes fit into whole production systems, markets, nutrition outcomes, and resilience. Legumes are strategically important in many Feed the Future contexts because they can improve soil fertility through biological nitrogen fixation, diversify smallholder incomes, provide relatively affordable protein and micronutrients, and support more sustainable rotations and intercropping systems. A lab focused on "legume systems" would typically be expected to address agronomic constraints (such as pests, diseases, seed access, soil health, and climate variability) alongside adoption constraints (such as market incentives, gender and labor dynamics, post-harvest handling, processing, and consumer demand).
The award is issued as a Cooperative Agreement, which generally indicates substantial involvement by USAID during implementation compared to a standard grant. That often includes collaboration on priorities, review of work plans, coordination with other Feed the Future investments, and expectations around learning, reporting, and translating research into development outcomes. The funding instrument category is Agriculture, and the opportunity is listed under CFDA 98.001, which is the broad USAID foreign assistance listing.
Financially, the opportunity has an award ceiling of $35,000,000 and anticipates a single award (ExpectedAwards: 1), meaning USAID planned to select one lead institution to host and manage the Innovation Lab. The opportunity number is 7200AA18RFA00017, and it was created on March 29, 2018, with an original closing date of May 30, 2018. The opportunity category is labeled "Earmark," which typically signals that the funding aligns with a specific congressional or agency-directed priority, even though applicants still compete for the award.
Eligibility is limited to qualified U.S. colleges and universities, with the formal eligibility field indicating "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)." In similar USAID Innovation Lab competitions, that wording usually means the lead applicant must be a U.S. higher education institution, while partnering arrangements may include other universities, research institutes, NGOs, private sector actors, and international organizations, depending on the specific solicitation requirements. The chosen institution would be expected to assemble a consortium with strong technical depth in legume science and farming systems, demonstrated ability to manage large cooperative agreements, and credible partnerships in priority countries where Feed the Future operates.
Overall, this opportunity is designed to create a flagship, long-horizon research and capacity-building platform dedicated to improving legume-based farming and food systems for smallholders, with the scale of funding suggesting work that spans multiple geographies, disciplines, and stages of the value chain. The end goal is not just generating research outputs, but helping translate innovations into measurable development impacts such as higher productivity, improved soil health, stronger markets, better nutrition, and increased resilience for smallholder households.Apply for 7200AA18RFA00017
- The Agency for International Development in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Legume Systems Research" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 29, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 30, 2018. (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 $35,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Legume Systems Research?
It is a USAID-funded competitive grant opportunity to establish and operate a new Feed the Future Innovation Lab focused on legumes and the broader farming and food systems that depend on them. The lab is intended to run a long-term research and capacity development program that supports smallholder-oriented development outcomes.
Who is funding this opportunity?
The opportunity is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Feed the Future initiative.
What is the main purpose of this Innovation Lab?
The purpose is to launch an Innovation Lab that advances legume systems research and strengthens capacity, with emphasis on smallholder farmers and food systems. The focus is on moving beyond basic crop improvement alone to address how legumes function within full production systems and value chains.
What does "legume systems research" mean in this context?
"Legume systems" points to research and development that considers legumes within whole farming and food systems, such as rotations and intercropping, soil health, pest and disease pressure, climate variability, seed systems, markets, nutrition outcomes, post-harvest handling, processing, consumer demand, and factors that influence adoption (including gender, labor, and incentives).
Why are legumes strategically important for Feed the Future?
Legumes can improve soil fertility through biological nitrogen fixation, diversify smallholder incomes, provide relatively affordable protein and micronutrients, and support more sustainable cropping systems such as rotations and intercropping. These attributes make legumes relevant for productivity, nutrition, sustainability, and resilience goals.
What kinds of problems or constraints is the lab expected to address?
Based on the description, the lab would typically be expected to address both agronomic constraints (for example pests, diseases, seed access, soil health, and climate variability) and adoption constraints (for example market incentives, gender and labor dynamics, post-harvest handling, processing, and consumer demand).
What type of funding instrument is being used?
The award is issued as a Cooperative Agreement.
What does it mean that this is a Cooperative Agreement?
A Cooperative Agreement generally indicates substantial involvement by USAID during implementation compared to a standard grant. As described, this can include collaboration on priorities, review of work plans, coordination with other Feed the Future investments, and expectations around learning, reporting, and translating research into development outcomes.
What is meant by a "Leader with Associates" structure?
Under a "Leader with Associates" Cooperative Agreement, the selected lead institution would operate a central, long-term program (the Leader award) and also provide a mechanism to support additional aligned awards (Associates) that can be added over time. These Associate awards are often tied to specific USAID missions, countries, or targeted priorities.
How many awards does USAID expect to make?
USAID anticipated a single award (ExpectedAwards: 1), meaning one lead institution was planned to be selected to host and manage the Innovation Lab.
What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $35,000,000.
Is this opportunity competitive even though it is labeled an "Earmark"?
Yes. The opportunity is described as a competitive grant opportunity, while the "Earmark" label typically indicates the funding aligns with a specific congressional or agency-directed priority even though applicants still compete for the award.
Who is eligible to apply as the lead institution?
Eligibility is limited to qualified U.S. colleges and universities. The formal eligibility field is listed as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," but the provided description specifies that USAID is seeking applications from qualified U.S. colleges and universities to lead the effort.
Can organizations other than U.S. colleges and universities participate?
The provided information indicates the lead applicant must be a qualified U.S. college or university. It also notes that in similar USAID Innovation Lab competitions, partnerships may include other universities, research institutes, NGOs, private sector actors, and international organizations, depending on the solicitation requirements. The specific participation rules would be governed by the solicitation, but only the lead eligibility is explicitly stated here.
What is the role of the lead institution?
The selected lead institution would host and manage the Innovation Lab, run the central long-term research and capacity development program, and provide the mechanism to support additional aligned Associate awards that may be added over time.
What kind of expertise or capacity is implied for a strong applicant?
The description suggests the chosen institution would be expected to assemble a consortium with strong technical depth in legume science and farming systems, demonstrate the ability to manage large cooperative agreements, and have credible partnerships in priority countries where Feed the Future operates.
What kinds of outcomes is USAID looking for?
The end goal is not only research outputs, but translating innovations into measurable development impacts such as higher productivity, improved soil health, stronger markets, better nutrition, and increased resilience for smallholder households.
What is the opportunity number for this funding announcement?
The opportunity number is 7200AA18RFA00017.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 98.001, described as the broad USAID foreign assistance listing.
What is the funding instrument category?
The funding instrument category is Agriculture.
When was the opportunity created, and what was the original closing date?
The opportunity was created on March 29, 2018, and the original closing date was May 30, 2018.
Does the description indicate specific countries or regions of focus?
No specific countries are listed in the provided information. It notes that Associate awards can be tied to specific USAID missions, countries, or targeted priorities, and that credible partnerships in priority countries where Feed the Future operates would be expected.
Does this opportunity focus only on crop improvement?
No. The description emphasizes work that goes beyond basic crop improvement alone and instead examines how legumes fit into whole production systems, markets, nutrition outcomes, and resilience, including both technical and adoption constraints.
What kinds of activities might be included under "capacity development"?
The text states the lab will run a research and capacity development program, but it does not specify particular capacity-building activities. It does indicate an emphasis on strengthening capacity alongside advancing research, consistent with the Innovation Lab model.
How does USAID involvement affect implementation and reporting expectations?
Because it is a Cooperative Agreement, the description suggests USAID would have substantial involvement, which can include collaboration on priorities, review of work plans, coordination with other Feed the Future investments, and expectations around learning, reporting, and translating research into development outcomes.
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