Office of Research
New Innovator in Food & Agriculture Research Award
Through this program, FFAR intends to provide investigators with the ability to pursue highly creative ideas, firmly establish their early lines of research into important food and agriculture scientific areas and provide funding stability in the critical early career years. These awards allow grantees to focus exclusively on research without the pressure of securing additional funding.
The New Innovator Award 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.
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.
- Cultivating Thriving Production Systems
- Sustaining Vibrant Agroecosystems
- Bolstering Healthy Food Systems
Eligibility Requirements
- The nominated faculty member must have been hired on or after August 1, 2022, for a tenure-track or equivalent position and may work in any discipline or any department within the institution. Preference will be given to individuals near the onset of their independent research career and who are within eight (8) years of receiving a Ph.D. or equivalent degree.
- 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.
Unique Circumstances
FFAR’s model requires federal funding from Congress to build public-private partnerships. Due to delays in passing a new Farm Bill, FFAR’s funding is limited, and all remaining program funds are currently committed and expected to be awarded in 2026. FFAR's ability to fund research is contingent on receiving additional funding. The 2026 New Innovator Award RFA, which would typically result in 2027 awards, is subject to this limitation.
FFAR wishes to advise potential applicants that it cannot fund any New Innovator Awards selected through this RFA until additional funds are allocated to the Foundation.
Application Instructions
Please submit the following as a combined pdf labeled with PI’s Lastname, Firstname:
- A one-page letter of intent with a description of proposed aims and approach.
- If the final application requires a statement of broader impacts, please summarize your plans to address the specific requirements on an additional page.
- CV (not biosketch) of the PI.
to limitedsubs@uw.edu by 5:00 PM Wednesday, March 4, 2026. If given the go-ahead by the Limited Submissions review committee, nominations are due to the sponsor 3/18/2026. If invited to send a full application, the deadline is 4/29/2026, with the OSP deadline of 4/20/26.
Inquiries and Contact Information
Investigators who identify a grant, award or fellowship program that restricts the number of applications that can be submitted from an Institution should immediately contact their Chairperson, Associate Dean for Research (or Dean, if no ADR) and the Office of Research (see below) if they intend to prepare a response. Failure to do so, or to meet the deadlines for submission of pre-proposal, will preclude submission of the application through the Office of Sponsored Programs.
For general inquiries, or to request a listing of a limited submission opportunity that should be but is not already listed, please email us at limitedsubs@uw.edu.