Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 004510
Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 004510
- 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" 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 Mar 17, 2014 and posted on Mar 17, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 8, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $20,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- The following entities are eligible to apply for and receive a grant under this program. 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.A group consisting of two 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 USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) grant program designed to tackle high-priority challenges in organic agriculture by combining research, education, and extension into a single, coordinated effort. The central aim is practical impact: projects are expected to generate usable, research-based information that helps producers and processors who already follow organic standards (or are transitioning into them) improve how they grow, handle, and market high-quality organic products. In other words, the program is not just looking for studies that advance knowledge in the abstract; it is looking for work that produces real, on-the-ground solutions that organic farmers, ranchers, and organic supply chain participants can adopt.
OREI places a strong emphasis on “whole farm planning†and outreach that meets producers where they are. Competitive projects typically connect applied research with clear education and extension plans so that findings are translated into tools, recommendations, trainings, demonstrations, or decision-support resources that producers can use. Priority areas span biological, physical, and social sciences, explicitly including economics, which signals interest not only in agronomic performance but also in profitability, risk, labor, markets, and other real-world constraints that shape whether organic practices can be adopted and sustained.
A key operational requirement is that fieldwork must take place on certified organic land or on land transitioning to organic certification, as appropriate to the project’s goals and objectives. This condition reinforces the program’s focus on organic relevance and ensures that results reflect organic production realities. Applicants are also directed to align proposed work with USDA National Organic Program standards, which are the baseline rules for organic production and handling in the United States.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, this opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA ICGP 004510; CFDA 10.307) was posted March 17, 2014, with an application deadline of May 8, 2014, and an estimated total program funding level of $20,000,000. Individual awards ranged from a $50,000 floor to a $2,000,000 ceiling, and the program required cost sharing or matching, meaning recipients needed to contribute non-federal resources toward the project budget according to the announcement’s terms. The funding instrument is a grant, and the opportunity category is listed as mandatory.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations and applicants engaged in research and extension: state agricultural experiment stations; colleges and universities; university research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; federal agencies; national laboratories; private organizations or corporations; and individuals who are U.S. citizens or nationals. Collaborative applications are also allowed, including groups made up of two or more eligible entity types, which fits the program’s integrated approach and encourages multi-institution partnerships that can link research capacity with strong extension delivery.
For support with accessing the full announcement or resolving technical issues, applicants were referred to the NIFA Help Desk (202-401-5048) during standard business hours. The full program framing and organic compliance context is tied to the USDA National Organic Program standards referenced in the notice.
Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) - FAQs
What is the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI)?
OREI is a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) grant program that supports coordinated projects that combine research, education, and extension to address high-priority challenges in organic agriculture.
What is the main goal of OREI-funded projects?
The program is focused on practical impact. Projects are expected to produce usable, research-based information that helps organic producers and processors (including those transitioning to organic) improve the production, handling, and marketing of high-quality organic products.
Does OREI fund basic research, or does it need to be applied?
Based on the program description, OREI emphasizes real, on-the-ground solutions rather than research that advances knowledge only in the abstract. Competitive projects typically link applied research with education and extension so results can be adopted by producers and supply chain participants.
What does “integrated†mean in the context of this grant program?
OREI is designed to integrate research, education, and extension into a single coordinated effort. That usually means the project not only studies a problem, but also includes clear plans to translate findings into tools, recommendations, trainings, demonstrations, or decision-support resources that people can use.
Who is the program intended to help?
The program targets producers and processors who already follow organic standards, as well as those transitioning into organic production. It also supports work that benefits organic supply chain participants involved in handling and marketing organic products.
What kinds of outcomes are expected from OREI projects?
Projects are expected to generate practical, research-based outputs such as actionable recommendations, outreach and training materials, demonstrations, or decision-support resources that organic stakeholders can adopt.
What is meant by “whole farm planning†in OREI?
OREI places strong emphasis on whole farm planning and outreach that meets producers where they are. This signals an interest in solutions that fit real farm systems and decision-making, rather than narrow interventions that ignore practical constraints.
What subject areas does OREI support?
Priority areas span biological, physical, and social sciences, and explicitly include economics. This indicates interest in not only agronomic performance, but also profitability, risk, labor, markets, and other practical factors that affect adoption and sustainability of organic practices.
Are economics and market-related topics eligible under this opportunity?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes economics within its priority areas, highlighting interest in market, profitability, risk, labor, and related real-world considerations for organic agriculture.
Where must fieldwork take place for an OREI project?
A key requirement is that fieldwork must take place on certified organic land or on land transitioning to organic certification, as appropriate to the project’s goals and objectives.
Does OREI require alignment with organic standards?
Yes. Applicants are directed to align proposed work with USDA National Organic Program (NOP) standards, which serve as the baseline rules for organic production and handling in the United States.
What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA number for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NIFA ICGP 004510, and the CFDA number is 10.307.
When was this opportunity posted, and what was the application deadline?
The opportunity was posted on March 17, 2014, and the application deadline was May 8, 2014.
How much total funding was available under this announcement?
The estimated total program funding level was $20,000,000.
What was the award size range for individual grants?
Individual awards ranged from a minimum of $50,000 to a maximum of $2,000,000.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument for this opportunity is a grant.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The program required cost sharing or matching, meaning recipients needed to contribute non-federal resources toward the project budget according to the announcement’s terms.
What does it mean that the opportunity category is listed as “mandatory�
The opportunity category is listed as mandatory in the notice. (No additional definition is provided in the information given.)
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility includes a wide range of applicant types involved in research and extension, including: state agricultural experiment stations; colleges and universities; university research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; federal agencies; national laboratories; private organizations or corporations; and individuals who are U.S. citizens or nationals.
Are collaborative or multi-organization applications allowed?
Yes. Collaborative applications are allowed, including groups made up of two or more eligible entity types. This aligns with the program’s integrated approach and encourages multi-institution partnerships.
Can individuals apply, or is it limited to institutions?
Individuals who are U.S. citizens or nationals are listed among the eligible applicants, alongside a broad set of institutions and organizations.
What kind of partnerships does OREI encourage?
The program encourages collaborations that link research capacity with strong education and extension delivery, consistent with its emphasis on integrated projects and practical adoption by organic stakeholders.
Where can applicants get help if they have technical issues or need access to the full announcement?
Applicants were referred to the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during standard business hours for support with accessing the full announcement or resolving technical issues.
Which USDA office administers this program?
OREI is a USDA NIFA grant program (USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture).
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|---|
| Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative Apply for USDA CSREES ICGP 002012 Funding Number: USDA CSREES ICGP 002012 Agency: CSREES Category: Agriculture Employment, Labor and Training Environment Food and Nutrition Health Natural Resources Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| Specialty Crop Research Initiative Apply for USDA CSREES SCRI 002038 Funding Number: USDA CSREES SCRI 002038 Agency: CSREES Category: Agriculture Employment, Labor and Training Environment Food and Nutrition Health Natural Resources Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
| Specialty Crop Research Initiative Apply for USDA NIFA SCRI 002672 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SCRI 002672 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: $10,000,000 |
| Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 002696 Funding Number: USDA NIFA ICGP 002696 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: $3,000,000 |
| 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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