Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 004960
Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 004960
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture 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 6, 2015 and posted on Mar 6, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 30, 2015 Notification of Intent to Submit (NOI) emails are due by 500 p.m. Eastern Time on April 1, 2015. Applications must be received by 500 p.m. Eastern Time on April 30, 2015.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $17,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- 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, foundations, 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 competitive grant program run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) that supports projects aimed at tackling high-priority challenges in organic agriculture. The central focus is on solving practical, real-world issues that organic producers and processors face by integrating research with education and extension, meaning the work is expected not only to generate new knowledge but also to translate it into usable guidance, tools, and outreach for the people doing the farming and processing. The program is designed to strengthen the capacity of operations that already follow organic standards by helping them improve production and successfully grow and market high-quality organic products.
OREI places strong emphasis on applied, producer-relevant outcomes. Projects are expected to deliver practical, research-based information that farmers and ranchers can put to use, especially in the context of whole-farm planning. This includes approaches that consider the entire farm system rather than single isolated practices, and it encourages proposals that pair rigorous field research with meaningful education and outreach components. Priority topics can come from a wide range of disciplines, including biological and physical sciences as well as social sciences such as economics, reflecting the reality that organic agriculture challenges are often technical, environmental, and market-related at the same time.
A key requirement is that fieldwork tied to the project must take place on certified organic land or on land transitioning toward organic certification, depending on what best fits the project goals and objectives. Applicants are also directed to align their work with USDA National Organic Program (NOP) standards, which define the rules and practices governing organic production in the United States. This ensures that funded research and outreach are relevant to certified organic systems and consistent with the regulatory framework producers must follow.
The opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA ICGP 004960; CFDA 10.307) was posted on March 6, 2015, with an estimated total funding amount of $17.5 million and a cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning awardees must contribute non-federal resources toward the project as required by the program rules. The submission timeline included a required Notification of Intent (NOI) email due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on April 1, 2015, and full applications due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on April 30, 2015. The opportunity archive date was May 30, 2015.
Eligibility is broad and includes state agricultural experiment stations, colleges and universities, university research foundations, other research institutions and organizations, federal agencies, national laboratories, private organizations (including foundations and corporations), and U.S. citizens or nationals as individuals. Applications may also be submitted by teams or partnerships made up of two or more eligible entity types, which aligns with the program’s integrated research, education, and extension structure and its preference for projects that combine scientific work with strong delivery and adoption pathways.
For access and submission support, NIFA provided a help desk contact (202-401-5048) during standard weekday business hours, and the full announcement and related details were available through the program’s additional information link and NIFA’s electronic posting.
Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) - FAQs
What is the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI)?
OREI is a competitive grant program run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) that funds projects focused on high-priority challenges in organic agriculture. The program supports work intended to help organic producers and processors address practical, real-world issues through projects that combine research with education and extension.
What is the main purpose of the OREI program?
The central purpose is to solve producer- and processor-relevant challenges in organic agriculture by integrating research with education and extension, so that funded work not only generates knowledge but also translates it into usable guidance, tools, and outreach that people can apply on farms and in processing operations.
What does "integrated research, education, and extension" mean in this program?
In OREI, projects are expected to pair research with education and extension activities. In practice, that means the project should include both the scientific or field-based work and a clear plan to deliver results through outreach, training, tools, or other methods that support adoption by organic producers and processors.
What types of outcomes does OREI emphasize?
OREI emphasizes applied outcomes that are directly relevant to producers. Projects are expected to deliver practical, research-based information that farmers and ranchers can use, including approaches that support whole-farm planning and consider the farm as a system rather than focusing only on isolated practices.
Is OREI focused on practical, on-the-ground problems or basic research?
The program places strong emphasis on applied, producer-relevant outcomes and practical problem-solving for organic producers and processors, with research results translated into usable guidance and outreach.
What is meant by "whole-farm planning" in the context of OREI?
Whole-farm planning refers to approaches that consider the entire farm system rather than single isolated practices. OREI encourages projects that reflect this systems-based perspective while still producing actionable recommendations.
What kinds of disciplines or topic areas can OREI projects cover?
Priority topics can span a wide range of disciplines, including biological sciences, physical sciences, and social sciences such as economics. This reflects the fact that challenges in organic agriculture can be technical, environmental, and market-related at the same time.
Does OREI support projects related to organic markets and economics?
Yes. The opportunity description notes that social sciences such as economics can be included among the priority areas, recognizing the market-related dimensions of organic agriculture challenges.
Where must fieldwork take place for an OREI project?
Fieldwork tied to the project must take place 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 align with USDA organic rules?
Yes. Applicants are directed to align proposed work with USDA National Organic Program (NOP) standards, which govern organic production practices in the United States. This alignment is intended to keep funded research and outreach relevant to certified organic systems and consistent with the regulatory framework organic operations follow.
Who runs and administers OREI?
The program is run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA number for this OREI opportunity?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NIFA ICGP 004960, and the CFDA number is 10.307.
When was this OREI opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on March 6, 2015.
What was the estimated total funding amount?
The estimated total funding amount for this opportunity was $17.5 million.
Is there a cost-sharing or matching requirement?
Yes. The opportunity included a cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning awardees must contribute non-federal resources toward the project as required by the program rules.
Was a Notification of Intent (NOI) required?
Yes. The submission timeline included a required Notification of Intent (NOI) email.
When was the Notification of Intent (NOI) due?
The required NOI email was due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on April 1, 2015.
When were full applications due?
Full applications were due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on April 30, 2015.
What is the archive date for this opportunity?
The opportunity archive date was May 30, 2015.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility included state agricultural experiment stations, colleges and universities, university research foundations, other research institutions and organizations, federal agencies, national laboratories, private organizations (including foundations and corporations), and U.S. citizens or nationals as individuals.
Can individuals apply, or is it limited to institutions?
Individuals who are U.S. citizens or nationals were listed among the eligible applicants, along with many types of institutions and organizations.
Are private organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility list includes private organizations, including foundations and corporations.
Can partnerships or teams submit a proposal?
Yes. Applications could be submitted by teams or partnerships made up of two or more eligible entity types, which fits the program's integrated research, education, and extension structure and its preference for strong delivery and adoption pathways.
Why does OREI encourage teams or partnerships?
The program structure emphasizes integration of research with education and extension. Partnerships can support that integration by combining scientific work with outreach capacity and practical pathways for adoption by producers and processors.
What kinds of operations is OREI intended to strengthen?
The program is designed to strengthen the capacity of operations that already follow organic standards by helping them improve production and successfully grow and market high-quality organic products.
What kind of support was available for access and submission questions?
NIFA provided a help desk contact at 202-401-5048 during standard weekday business hours for access and submission support.
Where could applicants find the full announcement and additional details?
The full announcement and related details were available through the program's additional information link and NIFA's electronic posting.
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