USDA-NIFA-Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative

FUNDING PROGRAM: USDA-NIFA-Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: USDA-NIFA-ICGP-011076.

FUNDING AGENCIES: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

OPPORTUNITY:

The Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) seeks to solve critical organic agriculture issues, priorities, or problems through the integration of research, education, and extension activities. The purpose of this program is to fund projects that will enhance the ability of producers and processors who have already adopted organic standards to grow and market high quality organic agricultural products. Priority concerns include biological, physical, and social sciences, including economics. The OREI is particularly interested in projects that emphasize research, education and outreach that assist farmers and ranchers with whole farm planning by delivering practical research-based information. Projects should plan to deliver applied production information to producers. Fieldwork must be done on certified organic land or on land in transition to organic certification, as appropriate to project goals and objectives. Refer to the USDA National Organic Program for organic production standards.

DESCRIPTION:

The purpose of this program is to fund high priority integrated projects that will enhance the ability of producers and processors who have already adopted organic standards to grow and market high quality organic agricultural products, mitigate and adapt to climate change, build resilience of the organic farming system, and protect water and other resources. Priority concerns include biological, physical, and social sciences, including economics. OREI has eight goals:

1. Facilitating the development and improvement of organic agriculture production, breeding, and processing methods.
2. Evaluating the potential economic benefits of organic agricultural production and methods to producers, processors, and rural communities.
3. Exploring international trade opportunities for organically grown and processed agricultural commodities.
4. Determining desirable traits for organic commodities.
5. Identifying marketing and policy constraints on the expansion of organic agriculture.
6. Conducting advanced on-farm research and development that emphasizes observation of, experimentation with, and innovation for working organic farms, including research relating to production, marketing, food safety, socioeconomic conditions, and farm business management.
7. Examining optimal conservation, soil health, and environmental outcomes relating to organically produced agricultural products.
8. Developing new and improved seed varieties that are particularly suited for organic agriculture.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS: 

• State agricultural experiment stations
• Colleges and universities
• University research foundations
• Other research institutions and organizations
• Federal agencies
• National laboratories
• Private organizations, foundations, or corporations
• Individuals who are United States citizens or nationals
• A group consisting of two or more of the entities described above

COST SHARING:

Applicants must provide matching contributions on a dollar-for-dollar basis for all Federal funds awarded under the OREI. NIFA may waive the matching funds requirement for a grant if one of the following applies:

• The results of the project, while of particular benefit to a specific agricultural commodity, are likely to be applicable to agricultural commodities generally.
• The project involves a minor commodity, the project deals with scientifically important research, and the grant recipient is unable to satisfy the matching funds requirement.

FUNDING AVAILABLE:

• FUNDING AVAILABILITY: $44 million.
• INDIVIDUAL AWARD AMOUNTS: Award Ceiling $3.5 million: Award Floor $5,000.

APPLICATION WINDOW: February 13, 2025.