Kansas Supports Stronger Food Supply Chains

By Scout Nelson

The Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) has announced a second round of grant funding under the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program. This opportunity offers Simplified Equipment-Only Grants to support the development of local and regional food supply chains in the state.

Kansas received nearly $6.46 million in 2023 through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service. The first round of funding in 2024 supported 49 projects. Now, the second round focuses strictly on equipment purchases.

The Simplified Equipment-Only Grant provides fixed-price awards between $10,000 and $50,000. No cost sharing or matching is required. The awarded amount must match the equipment purchase cost, and all equipment purchases must be completed by December 31, 2025. These grants are ideal for food and farm-related businesses looking to strengthen their infrastructure quickly.

Eligible applicants include Kansas-based food and farm businesses, nonprofit organizations, tribal governments, local government units, and institutions such as hospitals and schools. However, recipients of first-round RFSI grants are not eligible for this new round.

Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. CT on July 18, 2025. Interested applicants must review the official Request for Applications on the KDA website: agriculture.ks.gov/RFSI. The applications will go through a competitive review process with the USDA–AMS. Projects will be judged based on need, outcomes, feasibility, and the impact on local food systems.

The RFSI program focuses on building resilience in the middle of the food supply chain. It supports equipment purchases related to the aggregation, processing, storing, transporting, or distribution of food system crops and products meant for human consumption. Meat and poultry projects are excluded, as they are covered under separate USDA programs.

This effort reflects KDA’s ongoing goal to support sustainable agricultural growth and food security across Kansas.

Photo Credit:kansas-department-of-agriculture