Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 002696
Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 002696
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture employment, labor and training environment food and nutrition health natural resources science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.307 Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 18, 2010 and posted on Nov 18, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 22, 2010. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $19,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Small businesses Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Individuals Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- The following entities are eligible 1. State agricultural experiment stations 2. colleges and universities 3. university research foundations 4. other research institutions and organizations 5. Federal agencies 6. national laboratories 7. private organizations or corporations 8. individuals who are United States citizens or nationals or 9. any group consisting of 2 or more of the entities described in subparagraphs (1) through (8).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) is a competitive grant program run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) that supports practical, science-based projects aimed at solving real problems in organic agriculture. The core idea is integration: proposals are expected to combine research with extension and outreach so that findings do not just stay in journals, but are translated into usable guidance that organic producers and processors can apply in the field and in the marketplace. The program is designed to strengthen the capacity of farms and businesses that already follow organic standards by improving how they produce, handle, and market high-quality organic products.
OREI targets critical needs across a wide range of disciplines, including biological sciences (such as pest, disease, soil biology, and crop or livestock management), physical sciences (such as soil and water dynamics), and social sciences, explicitly including economics. Beyond technical production challenges, the program is also interested in the human and business side of organic agriculture: profitability, market access, decision-making, labor considerations, and the broader social and economic factors that affect adoption and success within organic systems. A recurring emphasis in the program description is whole-farm planning and ecosystem integration, meaning projects that look at the farm as a connected system (soil, crops, livestock, biodiversity, nutrient cycling, and management decisions) rather than isolated problems.
A key requirement is that projects be grounded in real organic conditions. Fieldwork must occur on certified organic land or on land transitioning toward organic certification, depending on what fits the project goals and objectives. Applicants are expected to align with USDA National Organic Program (NOP) standards, which define what practices and inputs are allowed in certified organic production. Just as important, projects should be designed to deliver applied production information to producers, meaning the outputs should be usable tools, recommendations, trainings, demonstrations, or other extension products that help farmers and ranchers make decisions on the ground.
From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity was posted November 18, 2009 (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA ICGP 002696) and falls under CFDA 10.307. It is a discretionary grant program with an estimated total funding pool of $19,000,000 and an award ceiling of $3,000,000 per grant (no formal award floor listed). Cost sharing or matching is required, so applicants must plan for a portion of project costs to be covered through non-federal contributions, consistent with the program rules in the full announcement.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of applicants involved in research, education, and technology transfer. Eligible entities include state agricultural experiment stations; colleges and universities (public or private); university research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; federal agencies and national laboratories; private organizations or corporations; and individual U.S. citizens or nationals. Teams or collaborations made up of two or more eligible entities are also allowed, which fits the program’s preference for integrated research and extension approaches that often require multi-partner participation. The opportunity listing also notes eligibility for nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) entities), small businesses, other for-profit organizations, and additional categories as clarified in the full notice.
Operationally, the original closing date was February 9, 2010, later extended to February 22, 2010, and the opportunity was archived March 23, 2010. For assistance accessing the announcement or navigating submission issues, NIFA’s Help Desk is referenced (202-401-5048, business hours on weekdays). Overall, OREI is best understood as a USDA funding stream focused on advancing organic agriculture through research that is tightly linked to outreach, with a strong preference for whole-systems, farm-ready outcomes validated in certified organic or transitioning settings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI)?
OREI is a competitive grant program administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It funds practical, science-based projects intended to solve real problems in organic agriculture, with a strong emphasis on making results usable by organic producers and processors.
What is the main purpose of OREI funding?
The program is designed to strengthen the capacity of farms and businesses that already follow organic standards by improving the production, handling, and marketing of high-quality organic products. A central expectation is that funded work leads to field-ready outcomes, not just academic publications.
What does OREI mean by “integration�
Integration refers to proposals combining research with extension and outreach. Projects are expected to generate findings and also translate those findings into usable guidance through activities such as trainings, demonstrations, recommendations, tools, or other extension products that organic operators can apply in practice.
What kinds of topics and disciplines does OREI support?
OREI targets critical needs across a wide range of disciplines, including biological sciences (for example, pest and disease management, soil biology, and crop or livestock management), physical sciences (such as soil and water dynamics), and social sciences, explicitly including economics.
Does OREI support research on business and profitability issues in organic agriculture?
Yes. In addition to technical production challenges, the program highlights the human and business side of organic agriculture, including profitability, market access, decision-making, labor considerations, and broader social and economic factors affecting adoption and success.
What is meant by “whole-farm planning†and “ecosystem integration†in OREI?
These terms describe a whole-systems approach to organic agriculture. The program emphasizes projects that view the farm as a connected system (soil, crops, livestock, biodiversity, nutrient cycling, and management decisions) rather than treating challenges as isolated issues.
Where must fieldwork take place for an OREI project?
Fieldwork must occur on certified organic land or on land transitioning toward organic certification, depending on what best fits the project goals and objectives.
Do projects need to follow USDA organic rules?
Yes. Applicants are expected to align with USDA National Organic Program (NOP) standards, which define the practices and inputs that are allowed in certified organic production.
What kinds of project outputs does OREI expect?
OREI expects applied production information delivered to producers. Outputs may include usable tools, recommendations, trainings, demonstrations, or other extension and outreach products that support on-the-ground decision-making by organic farmers and ranchers.
Is OREI a competitive grant program?
Yes. OREI is described as a competitive grant program, meaning proposals are reviewed and awards are made competitively.
Which USDA agency runs OREI?
The program is run by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this listing?
The Funding Opportunity Number provided is USDA NIFA ICGP 002696.
What is the CFDA number for OREI in this listing?
The listing identifies CFDA 10.307.
How much total funding was estimated to be available under this opportunity?
The estimated total program funding pool listed is $19,000,000.
What is the maximum award size (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed is $3,000,000 per grant.
Is there a minimum award amount (award floor)?
No formal award floor is listed in the information provided.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. Cost sharing or matching is required, meaning applicants must plan for a portion of project costs to be covered through non-federal contributions, consistent with the program rules described in the full announcement.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes: state agricultural experiment stations; colleges and universities (public or private); university research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; federal agencies and national laboratories; private organizations or corporations; and individual U.S. citizens or nationals. Collaborations involving two or more eligible entities are also allowed.
Are collaborations or multi-partner proposals allowed?
Yes. Teams or collaborations made up of two or more eligible entities are allowed, which aligns with the program’s preference for integrated research and extension approaches.
Are nonprofits eligible to apply?
Yes. The opportunity listing notes eligibility for nonprofits, including 501(c)(3) organizations and certain non-501(c)(3) entities, as further clarified in the full notice.
Are small businesses or for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. The listing notes eligibility for small businesses and other for-profit organizations, with additional categories clarified in the full notice.
When was this funding opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on November 18, 2009.
What was the closing date for applications?
The original closing date was February 9, 2010, and it was later extended to February 22, 2010.
Is this opportunity still open?
No. The listing indicates the opportunity was archived on March 23, 2010.
Where can applicants get help with accessing the announcement or submission issues?
The listing references NIFA’s Help Desk for assistance at 202-401-5048 during weekday business hours.
How should an applicant think about “real organic conditions†for project design?
Projects are expected to be grounded in real organic settings, with fieldwork conducted on certified organic land or land transitioning to certification, and designed to produce applied information that organic producers and processors can use in the field and marketplace.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (USDA NIFA ICGP 002696) also looked into and applied for these:
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| Specialty Crop Research Initiative Apply for USDA NIFA SCRI 003357 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SCRI 003357 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Employment, Labor and Training Environment Food and Nutrition Health Natural Resources Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $47,300,000 |
| Organic Research and Extension Initiative Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 003388 Funding Number: USDA NIFA ICGP 003388 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Employment, Labor and Training Environment Food and Nutrition Health Natural Resources Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $19,000,000 |
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