Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA CSREES ICGP 002403
Apply for USDA CSREES ICGP 002403
- The CSREES in the agriculture environment food and nutrition health natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Integrated Organic and Water Quality Program, ICGP" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.303 Integrated Programs.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 18, 2009 and posted on Jun 18, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 24, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $2,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $220,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 12 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
- Colleges and universities (as defined in section 1404 of NARETPA) (7 U.S.C. 3103) are eligible to submit applications for the IOWP. Section 1404 of NARETPA was amended by section 7101 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110 246) to define Hispanic serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACUs) (see Part III, B. and 7 CFR 3430, Competitive and Noncompetitive Non formula Grant Programs General Grant Administrative Provisions for more information), and to include research foundations maintained by eligible colleges or universities. For the purposes of this program, the terms college and university mean an educational institution in any state which (1) admits as regular students only persons having a certificate of graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the recognized equivalent of such a certificate (2) is legally authorized within such state to provide a program of education beyond secondary education (3) provides an educational program for which a bachelor s degree or any other higher degree is awarded (4) is a public or other nonprofit institution and (5) is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association. Applications also may be submitted by 1994 Land Grant Institutions (7 CFR 3430, Competitive and Noncompetitive Non formula Grant Programs General Grant Administrative Provisions), HSACUs, and research foundations maintained by eligible colleges or universities. An applicant s failure to meet an eligibility criterion by the time of an application deadline will preclude CSREES from reviewing an application and making an award. Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply directly for funds, provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Integrated Organic and Water Quality Program (ICGP) is a competitive USDA CSREES grant opportunity focused on how certified organic farming practices affect water resources and soil conditions when compared directly to conventional farming systems. The program is specifically interested in field- or farm-scale work that looks at practical, measurable outcomes such as sediment delivery (how much soil is eroded and transported), nutrient use and movement (including how nutrients are applied, retained, lost, or transported through soil and water), and overall water availability in terms of both quality and quantity. A central theme is producing credible, side-by-side comparisons that can clarify where certified organic practices provide clear environmental benefits, where they may create tradeoffs or challenges, and what those differences mean for real farm management.
A core expectation of funded projects is that they integrate hands-on physical measurements with modeling, and that both pieces of the work operate at the same spatial and temporal scale. In other words, proposals are expected to collect on-the-ground data (for example, soil conditions, surface water indicators, and/or groundwater conditions) and pair that monitoring with modeling approaches that are calibrated and applied to the same fields or farms and over the same timeframes. The goal is to move beyond broad assumptions about organic versus conventional systems and instead demonstrate, with evidence, how certified organic management changes processes tied to soil health and water resources, including impacts on water quality, water quantity, and the pathways by which contaminants or nutrients move.
The program also emphasizes applied problem-solving rather than observation alone. CSREES highlights interest in projects that address specific water resource issues at the field or farm scale through a combined approach of research, education, and extension. That means proposals are expected not only to generate data and analysis, but also to translate findings into usable guidance and outreach that can influence decision-making by producers, advisors, and local stakeholders. Another priority is examining connections between surface water and groundwater, recognizing that water availability and water quality are often shaped by interactions between these systems. Projects that explore how farming practices affect both surface runoff and subsurface flow, recharge, leaching, and related dynamics align well with this emphasis.
Applicants are required to describe outcomes in a way that goes beyond publishing results. Successful proposals must spell out expected impacts in three areas: changes in knowledge (what farmers, advisors, students, or agencies will understand better as a result of the work), changes in behaviors (how management practices, recommendations, or decision processes may shift), and changes in environmental conditions (measurable improvements or documented tradeoffs in water quality, water quantity, sediment movement, or nutrient transport). This outcome framing signals that the program values accountability and real-world environmental relevance, not just scientific activity.
From an administrative standpoint, this was a discretionary grant program under Funding Opportunity Number USDA CSREES ICGP 002403 and was posted June 18, 2009, with a closing date of July 24, 2009, and an archive date of February 17, 2010. The program anticipated making about 12 awards from an estimated total funding pool of $2,500,000. Individual awards could be as large as $220,000, with no stated minimum award floor. A cost-sharing or matching requirement applies, meaning applicants were expected to contribute non-federal resources according to the terms in the full solicitation. The opportunity was listed under CFDA 10.303 (Integrated Programs) and spans activity areas that include agriculture, environment, food and nutrition, health, and natural resources.
Eligibility was centered on higher education institutions as defined by federal statute, including public and nonprofit accredited colleges and universities that award bachelor’s degrees or higher and meet the specific criteria described under NARETPA. The eligibility language also includes 1994 Land Grant Institutions, Hispanic-serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACUs), and research foundations maintained by eligible colleges or universities. While only eligible entities could apply directly, award recipients were allowed to subcontract with organizations that are not themselves eligible applicants, as long as those partners are necessary to carry out the work. For access issues related to the full announcement, CSREES provided a help desk contact by phone during standard business hours.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Integrated Organic and Water Quality Program (ICGP)
What is the Integrated Organic and Water Quality Program (ICGP)?
The Integrated Organic and Water Quality Program (ICGP) is a competitive USDA CSREES discretionary grant opportunity focused on understanding how certified organic farming practices affect water resources and soil conditions, compared directly against conventional farming systems.
What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The program aims to generate credible, side-by-side evidence of how certified organic management changes processes tied to soil health and water resources. The goal is to clarify where organic practices provide clear environmental benefits, where they may involve tradeoffs or challenges, and what those differences mean for practical farm management.
What types of comparisons does the program want to see?
The program emphasizes direct, side-by-side comparisons of certified organic and conventional systems. These comparisons are intended to move beyond broad assumptions and instead document measurable differences under real field or farm conditions.
What scale of work is the program interested in?
The ICGP is specifically interested in field-scale or farm-scale work, with practical, measurable outcomes tied to real management decisions and on-the-ground environmental conditions.
What environmental outcomes or indicators are highlighted in the program description?
The opportunity highlights outcomes and indicators such as:
- Sediment delivery (how much soil is eroded and transported)
- Nutrient use and movement (how nutrients are applied, retained, lost, or transported through soil and water)
- Water availability in terms of both quality and quantity
- Pathways by which contaminants or nutrients move (including surface and subsurface pathways)
Does the program focus on water quality, water quantity, or both?
Both. The program calls for work that evaluates water availability in terms of quality and quantity, and it also stresses understanding how certified organic practices affect water resource processes that influence both.
Is the program focused on observation only, or applied problem-solving?
The program emphasizes applied problem-solving rather than observation alone. CSREES highlights interest in projects that address specific water resource issues at the field or farm scale.
What does it mean that projects should integrate research, education, and extension?
It means proposals are expected not only to generate data and analysis, but also to translate findings into usable guidance and outreach that can influence decision-making by producers, advisors, and local stakeholders. The program description frames this as a combined approach that links research outputs with education and extension activities.
Are projects required to include both monitoring and modeling?
Yes. A core expectation is that funded projects integrate hands-on physical measurements with modeling, and that both operate at the same spatial and temporal scale.
What does "same spatial and temporal scale" mean in this context?
In this program, it means the on-the-ground measurements (such as soil conditions, surface water indicators, and/or groundwater conditions) should be collected for the same fields or farms and over the same timeframes used in the modeling work. The modeling is expected to be calibrated and applied to those same locations and periods.
What types of on-the-ground measurements does the program reference?
The program references collecting physical, on-the-ground data such as soil conditions and indicators from surface water and/or groundwater, as part of field- or farm-scale monitoring.
Does the program encourage examining surface water and groundwater together?
Yes. The opportunity emphasizes connections between surface water and groundwater and notes that water availability and water quality are often shaped by interactions between these systems.
What kinds of surface water and groundwater interactions are relevant to this opportunity?
The description points to interactions such as effects on surface runoff and subsurface flow, as well as recharge, leaching, and related dynamics that influence water quality and water availability.
How should applicants describe project outcomes?
Applicants are required to describe outcomes beyond publishing results. Successful proposals must spell out expected impacts in three areas: changes in knowledge, changes in behaviors, and changes in environmental conditions.
What are "changes in knowledge" in the context of this program?
They are improvements in what farmers, advisors, students, or agencies will understand better as a result of the project, based on the program requirement to define knowledge impacts.
What are "changes in behaviors" in the context of this program?
They refer to how management practices, recommendations, or decision processes may shift due to the project findings and outreach, as required in the outcome framing.
What are "changes in environmental conditions" in the context of this program?
They refer to measurable improvements or documented tradeoffs in areas such as water quality, water quantity, sediment movement, or nutrient transport, consistent with the program's emphasis on real-world environmental relevance and accountability.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA CSREES ICGP 002403.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
It was posted on June 18, 2009, and the closing date was July 24, 2009.
Is this funding opportunity still active?
No. The opportunity includes an archive date of February 17, 2010, indicating it was archived.
How much total funding was anticipated for this program?
The estimated total funding pool was $2,500,000.
How many awards were anticipated?
The program anticipated making about 12 awards.
What was the maximum award size?
Individual awards could be as large as $220,000.
Was there a minimum award amount?
No minimum award floor was stated in the information provided.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. A cost-sharing or matching requirement applies, meaning applicants were expected to contribute non-federal resources according to the terms in the full solicitation.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity was listed under CFDA 10.303 (Integrated Programs).
What activity areas does the opportunity cover?
The program spans activity areas that include agriculture, environment, food and nutrition, health, and natural resources.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility was centered on higher education institutions as defined by federal statute, including public and nonprofit accredited colleges and universities that award bachelor’s degrees or higher and meet criteria under NARETPA.
Are specific institution types mentioned as eligible?
Yes. The eligibility language also includes 1994 Land Grant Institutions, Hispanic-serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACUs), and research foundations maintained by eligible colleges or universities.
Can organizations that are not eligible applicants still participate?
Yes. While only eligible entities could apply directly, award recipients were allowed to subcontract with organizations that are not themselves eligible applicants, as long as those partners are necessary to carry out the work.
What kind of support was offered for accessing the full announcement?
For access issues related to the full announcement, CSREES provided a help desk contact by phone during standard business hours.
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