Best Food Safety Grants in New York

*Round 2 of the NYS Grown & Certified Infrastructure and Technology Grant Program is anticipated to launch in summer of 2026

About the Institute

The New York Farm Viability Institute is a nonprofit grantmaking organization. We run a competitive grant program seeking to fund agricultural research and education projects that will create and share knowledge to improve the economic viability of New York’s farmers.

Our Mission

Our mission is to help New York farmers become more profitable and improve the long-term economic viability and sustainability of our state’s farms, the food system, and the communities which they serve.

We strive to achieve our mission through a farmer-driven grant making process connecting farmer-identified needs to practical research and education solutions.

We amplify our efforts and the efforts of others through leadership and collaboration. This creation and sharing of knowledge results in positive farm-level impact.

NYFVI administers both research and education as well as direct grants for farms and food businesses.

NYS Grown & Certified Infrastructure and Technology Grant

This program will provide $8.5million to support New York food and beverage producers, processors, distributors, and other eligible entities in bringing NYS Grown & Certified food and beverage products to market through investments in innovative infrastructure and technology. 

Grant sizes range from $20,000 – $250,000 with a required 10% match

Priority areas include:

• Production automation and labor efficiency
• Distribution capacity enhancement
• Processing and packaging
• Food safety
• Environmental sustainability
• New product development

All funded projects must implement new and innovative practices or approaches that address industry needs and consumer demand, provide direct and timely benefit to the NY agricultural industry, and demonstrate regional significance. Additionally, applicants must be current NYS Grown & Certified participants or actively working to become certified.

NYS Grown & Certified farmers, food processors, and distributors in New York can receive US $10,000 - US $50,000 to pay for research and development services that launch or improve certified food products. New York Farm Viability Institute supports projects that expand production, enhance distribution, or strengthen the safety of existing NYS Grown & Certified foods.

New York 501(c)(3) nonprofits working on agriculture, food access, health, environment, poverty, or community safety can apply for the Perdue Foundation’s corporate giving program, with awards up to US $1,000. Eligible organizations must be tax-exempt and include an endorsement letter from a Perdue associate with their request.

New York nonprofits and community organizations working on community health, food access, and economic resilience can seek support for programs that improve health and wellbeing. Focused on equitable access to care and quality of life, Highmark supports initiatives like preventative healthcare, health education, housing stability, and related services that may strengthen local food systems and nutrition security.

Nonprofits, government agencies, and educational institutions in New York serving veterans, active military, or first responders can apply for CSX Foundation’s Pride in Service grants, awarding US $2,500 - US $25,000 for safety, health, workforce, and basic needs programs. Food security and related community support efforts may be eligible when aligned with these focus areas.

New York organizations working on food or drug safety communications can access funding through the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: Food and Drug Administration to disseminate clinical practice guidelines. This US $1,000,000 cooperative agreement supports developing, testing, and distributing equity-focused materials that promote effective, evidence-based clinical practices nationwide.

Research institutions in New York and across the U.S. conducting mid-phase clinical trials on natural products for human health can apply for National Institutes of Health support, with awards around US $350,000. Projects must study botanicals, dietary supplements, probiotics, or standardized nutritional compounds with strong preliminary data, which may include food safety–related interventions.

Eligible research institutions in New York and other U.S. locations can apply for NIH’s NCCIH Natural Product Early Phase Clinical Trial Award, offering up to US $1,050,000 for early phase clinical trials of natural products. Projects may involve botanicals, dietary supplements, probiotics, or standardized nutritional regimens with strong preliminary evidence relevant to food and drug safety.

Research institutions conducting early phase clinical trials of natural products for food and drug safety in New York and other eligible U.S. locations can seek up to US $1,750,000 in phased funding. With a mission to advance health research, the National Institutes of Health provides support for milestone-driven R61/R33 studies on pharmacokinetics, bioavailability, and clinical outcomes.

State human and animal food testing laboratories in New York can access funding to expand food safety and food defense testing capacity. The US Department of Health & Human Services: Food and Drug Administration offers up to US $1,500,000 for prioritized sample testing, microbiology, chemistry, radiochemistry, and related method and capability development projects.

Nonprofit national organizations affiliated with higher education institutions that include New York retail food safety regulators in their membership can apply for FDA’s Retail Food Safety Regulatory Association Collaboration, awarding US $4,000,000. Funding supports research, intervention strategies, and related activities to reduce food-borne illness risk factors and strengthen a nationally integrated food safety system.

Food safety and agricultural research organizations in New York working on sustainable packaging for U.S. specialty crop exports can apply for funding to advance novel, compliant packaging solutions. Grants from Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research support applied R&D, technology acceleration, and pilot-scale manufacturing to replace single-use plastic packaging while meeting international market regulations, with awards ranging from US $50,000 - US $250,000.

Food safety and agriculture researchers in New York working on H5N1 risks to swine can seek up to US $250,000 for projects improving prevention, preparedness, mitigation, and response. Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research supports work on diagnostic surveillance, transmission risks, caretaker safety, biosecurity, pork safety, production impact, and business continuity in the U.S. swine herd.

Educational institutions and organizations in New York developing food and agricultural education, workforce training, or food safety-related programs can apply for USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Education and Workforce Development grants, offering US $10,000 - US $650,000. Funding supports K-14 professional development, youth non-formal education, community college training, undergraduate research, and pre/postdoctoral fellowships.

The Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowships program, managed by the USDA's NIFA, aims to enhance the training of new graduate students in food and agricultural sciences. It provides essential funding for master's, DVM, and doctoral students, focusing on developing the next generation of experts to address critical needs in agricultural sciences. This initiative supports U.S. citizens and residents in achieving their educational goals and contributing to the USDA's mission.

The Cold Chain Grants for Emergency Food Assistance, funded by the Agricultural Marketing Service, aim to support eligible organizations in enhancing cold storage capabilities within the food supply chain. This initiative focuses on providing essential nutrition assistance to low-income individuals through subawards to food banks and nonprofit organizations. By investing in cold storage equipment, the program seeks to improve the management and distribution of food resources, ensuring that vulnerable populations receive adequate support.

The MPPEP Phase 3 program aims to enhance processing capabilities for invasive, wild-caught catfish, benefiting both processors and fishers. By increasing processing capacity and volume, the initiative seeks to create fair wages and stable job opportunities, fostering economic growth in rural areas. This grant will support innovative strategies that ensure sustainable practices and elevate incomes within the community, thus contributing to the overall development of the meat and poultry sector.

With a mission to strengthen retail food protection, the Food and Drug Administration provides New York food safety organizations with cooperative agreement funding to advance retail food safety practices and research. Eligible applicants are nonprofit national organizations affiliated with higher education institutions whose members include state, local, tribal, or territorial retail food safety regulators; awards are US $4,000,000.

The US Department of Health & Human Services, through the FDA, is offering a $1.5 million cooperative agreement for a non-profit to establish the Integrated Food Safety System Regulatory and Laboratory Training System National Coordination Center. This center will oversee the training system, enhancing access to high-quality regulatory and laboratory learning resources for both human and animal food safety, thereby leveraging partnerships to improve food safety training nationwide.

The Public Health Laboratory Fellowship Program, supported by the Association of Public Health Laboratories, develops future public health scientists through experiential learning in laboratory science. Participants receive training aligned with core competencies and work on impactful projects in various focus areas such as bioinformatics, food safety, and infectious disease. With flexible terms and potential for extension, this fellowship ensures a robust foundation for a career in public health laboratory science.

The NCCIH Natural Product Mid Phase Clinical Trial (R01 Clinical Trial Required) invites applications for mid-phase clinical trials involving natural products like botanicals and dietary supplements. The goal is to advance clinical testing through robust preliminary data, ensuring these products demonstrate measurable impacts on target engagement. Submission deadlines span from March 2024 to October 2026. Applications must focus on optimizing doses and identifying patient responders to inform future efficacy trials, aligning with NCCIH's research priorities.

The NCCIH Natural Product Early Phase Clinical Trial Award (R33 Clinical Trial Required) promotes innovative clinical trials on natural products, such as botanicals and dietary supplements. This funding opportunity supports studies that demonstrate significant scientific rationale and preliminary evidence for efficacy. Applications can explore various delivery methods and combinations with existing treatments to enhance outcomes. Funding is available for up to three years, aimed at bridging basic science discoveries into practical clinical applications.

The NCCIH Natural Product Early Phase Clinical Trial Phased Innovation Award supports investigator-initiated clinical trials of natural products, including botanicals and dietary supplements. This funding opportunity aims to validate the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of these products over three years in a phased approach. Successful trials will provide crucial data for further development and clinical application, emphasizing the importance of scientifically driven research in natural product efficacy.

The California Specialty Crop Multi-State Program, established by the California Department of Food and Agriculture, aims to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through funding collaborative projects addressing key issues like food safety and marketing. Grants range from $250,000 to $1 million, supporting initiatives that span up to three years. This program emphasizes the importance of specialty crops, including fruits, vegetables, and horticulture, in California's agricultural landscape.

The OECD Conference Sponsorship aims to enhance scientific knowledge and provide essential information to influence policy decisions on sustainable resource use in food, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. It supports international events that showcase innovative research and developments, inviting applications from scientists in these fields. The event sponsorship encourages collaboration among policymakers, industry, and academia, ensuring that research insights are effectively communicated and utilized in decision-making processes.

The AAAP Foundation: Poultry Scholarship supports students pursuing careers in poultry health and food safety in North America. Offered by the American Association of Avian Pathologists, the scholarship aims to enhance scientific knowledge and promote the well-being of poultry. Eligible candidates must be enrolled in accredited veterinary colleges or universities with relevant programs. Scholarships may reach up to $1,500, with undergraduate awards capped at $500, fostering the next generation of poultry medicine professionals.

RedRover Relief Safe Housing Grants provide vital support for domestic violence survivors by enabling them to keep their pets safe during challenging times. With grants up to $60,000, nonprofit organizations can create or enhance programs that offer shelter for pets, foster care, and veterinary services. This initiative fosters collaboration between domestic violence and animal organizations, ensuring comprehensive community support. By addressing the unique needs of families, these grants promote safety and well-being for both humans and their beloved pets.