Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FAS EMP 2027
The 2027 Emerging Markets Program (EMP) is a competitive grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), under the E. (Kika) de la Garza Emerging Markets Program. Its central aim is to help U.S. agriculture compete in and grow demand within emerging markets by developing, maintaining, or expanding export markets for U.S. agricultural commodities and products. A major theme of the program is practical, on-the-ground cooperation: the grant is meant to encourage partnerships and information exchange between U.S. agricultural institutions and agribusinesses and their counterparts in emerging market countries, ultimately improving how food and rural business systems function and opening pathways for U.S. exports.
Funded projects are expected to fit into one or more of three core activity types. First, applicants can conduct assessments that identify needs and constraints within food systems and rural business systems in emerging markets. Second, applicants can develop recommendations for measures that would improve the effectiveness of those systems, including changes that could reduce trade barriers or other frictions that limit agricultural trade and market access. Third, applicants can identify and implement specific opportunities and projects that strengthen food and rural business systems in emerging markets, with the broader intent that stronger systems and better-aligned practices make it easier to trade and to build durable demand for U.S. agricultural goods. In other words, the program is not just about market promotion in the abstract; it supports analytical work, policy and systems-oriented recommendations, and concrete projects that address operational gaps and bottlenecks in target markets.
Eligibility to apply as the direct recipient is limited to U.S. entities with a demonstrated role or interest in exporting U.S. agricultural commodities or products. This includes government organizations at the federal, state, or local level, as well as private-sector and nonprofit organizations such as trade associations, colleges and universities, agricultural cooperatives, state regional trade groups, and private companies. Foreign organizations are not eligible to be the primary grant recipient, but they can still be involved in a meaningful way as subrecipients or as in-kind partners supporting activities led by an eligible U.S. recipient. This structure allows projects to be executed in-country with local expertise while keeping award responsibility and leadership with the U.S.-based organization.
A strict administrative requirement is that all applicants must have an active registration in the U.S. Government System for Award Management (SAM.gov) by the application deadline. Registrations that are inactive, expired, pending, or excluded make the applicant ineligible, and the notice states clearly that no exceptions, waivers, or extensions will be considered. That makes early SAM registration and verification a practical must-have step for anyone planning to apply, especially because SAM processing and renewals can take time.
In the published opportunity details, the program is listed as a discretionary grant with an agriculture funding activity category under CFDA number 10.603. The funding opportunity number is USDA FAS EMP 2027, and the agency is USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. The original closing date is August 14, 2026. The notice anticipates making around 40 awards, and while an award ceiling field is referenced, the ceiling amount is not provided in the supplied listing. The opportunity record shows a creation date of June 10, 2026, indicating when the listing was first posted in the system.Apply for USDA FAS EMP 2027
- The Foreign Agricultural Service in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2027 Emerging Markets Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.603.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-10.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-08-14. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 40 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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2027 Emerging Markets Program (EMP) Grant FAQs
What is the 2027 Emerging Markets Program (EMP)?
The 2027 Emerging Markets Program (EMP) is a competitive, discretionary grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), under the E. (Kika) de la Garza Emerging Markets Program.
What is the main purpose of the EMP grant?
The central aim is to help U.S. agriculture compete in and grow demand within emerging markets by developing, maintaining, or expanding export markets for U.S. agricultural commodities and products.
What kind of approach does EMP emphasize?
A major theme is practical, on-the-ground cooperation. The program is meant to encourage partnerships and information exchange between U.S. agricultural institutions and agribusinesses and their counterparts in emerging market countries, with the goal of improving food and rural business systems and opening pathways for U.S. exports.
What types of projects does EMP fund?
Funded projects are expected to fit into one or more of three core activity types: (1) assessments, (2) recommendations, and/or (3) identifying and implementing specific opportunities and projects that strengthen food and rural business systems in emerging markets.
What does an “assessment” project mean under EMP?
Assessments are activities that identify needs and constraints within food systems and rural business systems in emerging markets.
What does EMP mean by “recommendations” as a funded activity?
This activity type involves developing recommendations for measures that improve the effectiveness of food systems and rural business systems, including changes that could reduce trade barriers or other frictions that limit agricultural trade and market access.
What does EMP mean by “specific opportunities and projects”?
This refers to identifying and implementing concrete opportunities and projects that strengthen food and rural business systems in emerging markets, with the broader intent that stronger systems and better-aligned practices make it easier to trade and build durable demand for U.S. agricultural goods.
Is EMP only about marketing or promotion?
No. The program is described as supporting more than abstract market promotion. It supports analytical work, systems- and policy-oriented recommendations, and concrete projects that address operational gaps and bottlenecks in target markets.
Who is eligible to apply as the direct recipient?
Eligibility to apply as the direct recipient is limited to U.S. entities with a demonstrated role or interest in exporting U.S. agricultural commodities or products.
What types of U.S. organizations are included as eligible applicants?
The eligible applicant types listed include government organizations (federal, state, or local) and private-sector and nonprofit organizations such as trade associations, colleges and universities, agricultural cooperatives, state regional trade groups, and private companies.
Are foreign organizations eligible to be the primary recipient?
No. Foreign organizations are not eligible to be the primary grant recipient.
Can foreign organizations participate in an EMP project in other ways?
Yes. Foreign organizations can be involved as subrecipients or as in-kind partners supporting activities led by an eligible U.S. recipient. The structure allows projects to be executed in-country with local expertise while keeping award responsibility and leadership with the U.S.-based organization.
What is the SAM.gov requirement for applicants?
All applicants must have an active registration in the U.S. Government System for Award Management (SAM.gov) by the application deadline.
What happens if an applicant’s SAM.gov registration is inactive or not fully active by the deadline?
Registrations that are inactive, expired, pending, or excluded make the applicant ineligible.
Are exceptions, waivers, or deadline extensions allowed for SAM.gov registration issues?
No. The notice states clearly that no exceptions, waivers, or extensions will be considered.
Why is early SAM.gov registration important for this opportunity?
The opportunity highlights that SAM processing and renewals can take time, so early registration and verification are described as a practical must-have step for anyone planning to apply.
Which USDA office administers this funding opportunity?
The agency is the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is USDA FAS EMP 2027.
What is the CFDA number and category for this program?
The program is listed under CFDA number 10.603, with the funding activity category identified as agriculture.
Is this a competitive grant?
Yes. It is described as a competitive grant opportunity.
Is this a discretionary grant?
Yes. The program is listed as a discretionary grant in the published opportunity details.
What is the application closing date listed in the opportunity record?
The original closing date is August 14, 2026.
How many awards does the notice anticipate making?
The notice anticipates making around 40 awards.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
An award ceiling field is referenced, but the ceiling amount is not provided in the supplied listing.
When was the opportunity listing first posted?
The opportunity record shows a creation date of June 10, 2026, indicating when the listing was first posted in the system.
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