The United States Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS), has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the 2026 Emerging Markets Program (EMP). This grant aims to develop, maintain, or expand markets for U.S. agricultural exports and encourage cooperation between U.S. agricultural entities and emerging markets. The EMP achieves its objectives by funding activities that strengthen food and rural business systems in eligible markets, including initiatives that address trade barriers and promote institutional collaboration.

The purpose of the EMP is to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and best practices between U.S. agricultural professionals and their counterparts in emerging markets. It funds four categories of activities: market assessments, subsistence travel from the U.S. to emerging markets, subsistence travel to the U.S. from emerging markets, and technical training. Applications must target no more than four countries that fall below the World Bank’s high-income threshold and must not involve countries under U.S. sanctions. Funding is limited to a maximum of $500,000 per application, and applicants must demonstrate a tangible benefit to the broader U.S. agricultural industry.

Funding under the EMP is anticipated to total no more than $8 million, with approximately 40 awards expected. Federal entities must expend funds by September 30, 2026, while other applicants may request funding for up to three years. Cost share of at least 10% is required for non-federal applicants. Applications must be submitted through the Unified Export Strategy (UES) system, and entities must be registered in SAM.gov. The program explicitly excludes tobacco products and requires that at least 50% of a processed product's content (by weight, excluding water) be of U.S. agricultural origin.

Eligible applicants include U.S. private and government entities with an interest in agricultural exports. This includes non-profits, trade associations, universities, agricultural cooperatives, and private companies. Foreign organizations can only participate as third parties and are not eligible to apply directly. Applications must include organizational details, market analysis, clearly defined objectives, performance measures, and a detailed budget with cost justifications.

Applications will be reviewed in multiple tranches, with the initial submission deadline set for June 6, 2025. Subsequent deadlines are December 31, 2025; March 31, 2026; and June 30, 2026. No applications will be accepted after June 30, 2026. Evaluation criteria include the appropriateness of the proposed activity, potential market impact, and the completeness and viability of the application. Scores below 70 points will not be considered for funding.

Applications must demonstrate the potential to enhance emerging markets' food and rural business systems while contributing to increased U.S. exports. All successful applicants must adhere to post-award requirements, including performance reporting, financial reporting, and compliance with federal regulations. Contact for the program is Curt Alt, who can be reached at curt.alt@usda.gov or (202) 690-4784 during business hours.