Dear Colleagues,

USDA NIFA is seeking applications to the Food and Agriculture Service Learning Program (FASLP) due January 31, 2022 (FY22) or December 15, 2022 (FY23)

FASLP supports projects that bring together stakeholders from the distinct parts of the food system to increase the capacity for food, garden, and nutrition education within host organizations or entities, such as school cafeterias and classrooms, while fostering higher levels of community engagement between farms and school systems. The goal of these efforts is to not only increase access to school meals for underserved children, but also to dramatically improve their quality.

FASLP projects are intended for eligible applicants to expand existing farm-to-school initiatives and other food and agriculture experiential learning initiatives, such as training and technical assistance, evaluation activities, curriculum development, or incorporate farm to school strategies in trainings and professional opportunities along with working closely with agricultural producers in the local and regional areas with primary and secondary schools.

The program is also focused on the development of leadership skills, knowledge, and qualities are necessary to prepare students for food and agricultural and related careers in the private sector, government, and academia.

Specific activities may include:

1. Developing practical applications to increase understanding of leadership roles, including critical thinking, problem solving, and communication skills; ethics and professionalism; and working in teams;
2. Connecting the academic classroom experiences with daily leadership roles and organizational activities;
3. Providing opportunities for mentoring and shadowing; and
4. Organizing leadership academies, workshops, trainings, etc.

Proposals may include the following activities, but are not limited to:

1. Expanding farm-to-school programs beyond lunch to bring local or regional food products into the School Breakfast program;
2. Operating service projects (e.g., AmeriCorps, VISTA, Food Corps, local service corps programs, etc.) that support farm to school initiatives in schools;
3. Readying producers to participate in school food service by providing training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and other food safety-related topics;
4. Providing technical support in the form of face-to-face and/or virtual trainings, consultations, webinars, etc.;
5. Developing promotional campaigns in support of farm-to-school initiatives;
6. Expanding strategic planning efforts to expand or coordinate efforts across multiple school districts;
7. Conducting farm-to-school evaluation efforts;
8. Establishing new or strengthening existing community partnerships (e.g., working with personnel to identify appropriate suppliers, etc.);
9. Encouraging increased consumption of fruits and vegetables through promotional activities, taste tests, and other activities;
10. Expanding experiential or agriculture-based learning opportunities, such as the creation of school gardens, support to ag/food clubs, or increased exposure to on-farm activities;
11. Developing and evaluating integrated curriculum to reinforce food and nutrition-based learning throughout the school environment.

All projects must involve underserved rural and or urban communities and facilitate a connection between elementary schools and secondary schools with agricultural producers in the local and regional area.

Applicants are encouraged to seek and create partnerships with public or private, nonprofit or for-profit entities, including links with academic institutions (including minority-serving colleges and universities), and/or other appropriate professionals, community-based organizations, school districts, and local and state government entities.

Projects will be funded up to $225,000 over a 24 month performance period.

For more information and to review the application requirements, see https://nifa.usda.gov/funding-opportunity/food-and-agriculture-service-learning-program

FY22 FASLP applications are due January 31, 2022 via www.grants.gov.

Thank you.

Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)