Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA BRAP 011857
The Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants (BRAG) Program (Assistance Listing/CFDA 10.219) is a mandatory USDA funding opportunity administered through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Its central goal is to fund research that produces new, decision-ready scientific information to help federal regulatory agencies evaluate the ecological effects of introducing genetically engineered (GE) organisms into the environment. In practice, the program is focused on risk assessment research that can inform science-based regulatory decisions when organisms have been modified or created using modern genetic engineering approaches that involve recombinant, synthesized, or amplified nucleic acids to alter a genome.
A key feature of this opportunity is its broad scope of organisms and ecological contexts. BRAG is not limited to GE crops; it explicitly encompasses plants as well as microorganisms (including fungi, bacteria, and viruses), arthropods, fish, birds, livestock, and other animals. The program also recognizes that ecological effects often involve interactions beyond the engineered organism itself, so it includes consideration of related wild and agricultural organisms. That framing signals an emphasis on understanding environmental outcomes such as how GE organisms may interact with ecosystems, affect non-target species, persist or spread, or influence ecological processes in agricultural and natural settings, with the intent of improving the evidence base regulators rely on.
Eligibility is restricted to public or private research or educational institutions or organizations, meaning proposals must come from established institutional entities rather than individuals acting independently. The opportunity is categorized under Agriculture funding activities, and the instrument type is a grant.
Administrative details provided for this specific announcement include the funding opportunity title "Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants Program" and the opportunity number "USDA NIFA BRAP 011857." The original closing date is July 13, 2026. The award ceiling is $650,000, and the agency anticipates making about 7 awards. The posting indicates a creation date of June 18, 2026, and identifies the sponsoring agency as the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.Apply for USDA NIFA BRAP 011857
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.219.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-18.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-13. (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 $650,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants (BRAG) Program (CFDA 10.219) - FAQs
1) What is the BRAG Program?
The Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants (BRAG) Program is a USDA funding opportunity administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It supports research that generates new, decision-ready scientific information to help federal regulatory agencies evaluate the ecological effects of introducing genetically engineered (GE) organisms into the environment.
2) What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The central goal is to fund risk assessment research that strengthens the scientific evidence base regulators use when making science-based decisions about environmental introductions of GE organisms.
3) What does "decision-ready scientific information" mean in this context?
Based on the program description, it refers to research outputs that are directly useful for federal regulatory review and decision-making on ecological effects, rather than purely exploratory or theoretical work.
4) What types of genetic engineering approaches are in scope?
The opportunity focuses on organisms modified or created using modern genetic engineering approaches that involve recombinant, synthesized, or amplified nucleic acids to alter a genome.
5) Is BRAG limited to genetically engineered crops?
No. The program explicitly is not limited to GE crops and has a broad scope across many organism types and ecological contexts.
6) What organisms are explicitly included under this program?
The scope includes plants and microorganisms (including fungi, bacteria, and viruses), arthropods, fish, birds, livestock, and other animals.
7) Does the program consider impacts beyond the engineered organism itself?
Yes. The program recognizes that ecological effects can involve interactions beyond the engineered organism, and it includes consideration of related wild and agricultural organisms.
8) What kinds of ecological effects is BRAG concerned with?
The description emphasizes environmental outcomes such as how GE organisms may interact with ecosystems, affect non-target species, persist or spread, or influence ecological processes in agricultural and natural settings.
9) What is the overall purpose of studying these ecological effects?
The purpose is to improve the evidence base that federal regulatory agencies rely on when evaluating environmental introductions of GE organisms.
10) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is restricted to public or private research or educational institutions or organizations. This means proposals must come from established institutional entities rather than individuals applying independently.
11) Can an individual apply without an institution?
No. The eligibility statement indicates proposals must be submitted by qualifying institutions or organizations, not by individuals acting independently.
12) What type of funding instrument is used?
The instrument type for this opportunity is a grant.
13) What funding activity category does this opportunity fall under?
It is categorized under Agriculture funding activities.
14) What is the official Assistance Listing/CFDA number?
The Assistance Listing/CFDA number provided is 10.219.
15) What is the official funding opportunity title?
The funding opportunity title is "Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants Program."
16) What is the funding opportunity number?
The opportunity number is "USDA NIFA BRAP 011857."
17) Which agency sponsors and administers this opportunity?
The sponsoring agency identified is the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), which administers the program.
18) What is the application deadline?
The original closing date listed is July 13, 2026.
19) When was this announcement created?
The posting indicates a creation date of June 18, 2026.
20) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $650,000.
21) How many awards does the agency expect to make?
The agency anticipates making about 7 awards.
22) Is this a mandatory USDA funding opportunity?
Yes. The program is described as a mandatory USDA funding opportunity.
23) What is the core research focus of BRAG?
The core focus is risk assessment research intended to inform federal regulatory evaluation of ecological effects associated with introducing GE organisms into the environment.
24) Does BRAG emphasize agricultural settings, natural settings, or both?
Both. The description references ecological processes and outcomes in agricultural and natural settings.
25) What is the practical intent of BRAG-funded research?
The practical intent is to produce new scientific information that can be used to support science-based regulatory decisions regarding GE organisms and their ecological effects.
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