Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA CSREES ICGP 002012
Apply for USDA CSREES ICGP 002012
- The CSREES 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 Jan 21, 2009 and posted on Jan 21, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 9, 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 $17,300,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: For profit organizations other than small businesses Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Individuals Private institutions of higher education Small businesses Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
- 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 USDA competitive grant program designed to address real, high-priority challenges in organic agriculture by pairing research with extension and outreach. The core idea is that funded projects should not stop at generating new knowledge; they must also translate results into practical, usable guidance that helps organic producers and processors improve how they grow, manage, and market high-quality organic products. The opportunity is geared toward applicants who can connect on-the-ground production realities with scientifically sound research, and then deliver applied production information back to farmers, ranchers, and organic stakeholders in a form they can actually use.
A major focus of OREI is integrated projects that tackle critical issues across the biological, physical, and social sciences, explicitly including economics. This means proposals can span topics like pest and disease management, soil health and fertility, crop and livestock systems, postharvest handling, market development, labor considerations, and broader socio-economic barriers to organic adoption and profitability. The program is especially interested in work that supports whole-farm planning and ecosystem integration, so projects that look at organic systems as interconnected operations (rather than isolated single-practice studies) tend to align well with the stated priorities. In practice, that could include approaches that connect nutrient cycling, biodiversity, crop rotations, livestock integration, risk management, and economic outcomes into a coherent, farm-ready strategy.
A key operational requirement is that fieldwork must take place on certified organic land or land transitioning to organic certification, to the extent that matches the project goals and objectives. This is meant to ensure results are relevant to real organic production conditions and consistent with organic standards. Applicants are directed to the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) for the governing production standards that should guide project design and implementation.
From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity was issued by USDA CSREES (the former Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service) as a mandatory grant competition under CFDA 10.307. The total estimated funding amount listed is $17.3 million, with an award ceiling of $3 million and no stated award floor. Cost sharing or matching is required, meaning applicants should expect to contribute non-federal resources according to the announcement’s rules.
Eligibility is broad and includes state agricultural experiment stations; colleges and universities (public and 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. Collaborative applications are also explicitly allowed, including groups made up of two or more eligible entities. The eligible applicant categories also span for-profit organizations (including small businesses), nonprofits (both with and without 501(c)(3) status), and institutions of higher education, which reflects an intention to fund both traditional research/extension institutions and other capable organizations with strong organic agriculture expertise.
The posting date for this specific announcement was January 21, 2009, with a closing date of March 9, 2009, and an archive date of February 17, 2010. The announcement includes a help desk contact for access issues through the CSREES Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during business hours.
Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) - FAQs
What is the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI)?
OREI is a USDA competitive grant program designed to address real, high-priority challenges in organic agriculture by funding projects that combine research with extension and outreach. The program emphasizes not only generating new knowledge, but also translating results into practical guidance that organic producers and processors can use.
What is the main purpose of OREI-funded projects?
The central goal is applied impact: projects should connect on-the-ground organic production realities with scientifically sound research, then deliver usable, farm-ready information back to organic farmers, ranchers, processors, and other stakeholders.
Does OREI require extension or outreach activities, or is research alone enough?
OREI is specifically described as pairing research with extension and outreach. Funded projects are expected to go beyond research results and translate findings into practical, usable guidance for organic stakeholders.
What kinds of projects are especially aligned with OREI priorities?
The opportunity emphasizes integrated projects that address critical issues across the biological, physical, and social sciences, explicitly including economics. Projects that take a whole-farm or systems approach and consider how organic operations function as interconnected systems tend to align well with the stated priorities.
What does "integrated projects" mean in the context of OREI?
Integrated projects are those that tackle organic agriculture challenges using multiple disciplines and perspectives rather than focusing on a single isolated practice. The program indicates interest in projects spanning biological, physical, and social sciences (including economics) and translating outcomes into applied production information.
What topic areas can an OREI proposal cover?
Based on the description, topic areas can include pest and disease management, soil health and fertility, crop and livestock systems, postharvest handling, market development, labor considerations, and broader socio-economic barriers to organic adoption and profitability.
Does OREI support projects that include economics and other social science components?
Yes. The program explicitly includes economics and references social science and socio-economic barriers, suggesting that economic analysis and broader social factors can be core components of competitive projects.
Does OREI prefer whole-farm and ecosystem-based approaches?
Yes. The program is described as especially interested in work that supports whole-farm planning and ecosystem integration, viewing organic systems as interconnected operations rather than single-practice studies.
What are examples of a whole-farm or systems approach that could fit OREI?
The description suggests approaches that connect nutrient cycling, biodiversity, crop rotations, livestock integration, risk management, and economic outcomes into a coherent strategy that can be implemented on farms.
Where must project fieldwork take place?
Fieldwork must take place on certified organic land or land transitioning to organic certification, to the extent that matches the project goals and objectives.
Does all project work have to occur on certified organic land?
The requirement is stated specifically for fieldwork, and it must occur on certified organic land or land transitioning to organic certification, to the extent that matches the project goals and objectives.
What standards should guide project design and implementation for organic fieldwork?
Applicants are directed to the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) for the governing production standards that should guide project design and implementation.
Who issued this OREI opportunity?
This opportunity was issued by USDA CSREES (the former Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service).
Is this grant opportunity competitive?
Yes. It is described as a USDA competitive grant program and a mandatory grant competition.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 10.307.
How much total funding is estimated to be available under this announcement?
The total estimated funding amount listed is $17.3 million.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $3 million.
Is there a minimum award amount (award floor)?
No award floor is stated in the provided description.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. Cost sharing or matching is required, meaning applicants should expect to contribute non-federal resources according to the announcement's rules.
Who is eligible to apply for OREI funding?
Eligibility includes state agricultural experiment stations; colleges and universities (public and 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.
Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligible categories explicitly include private organizations or corporations and note that eligibility spans for-profit organizations (including small businesses).
Are nonprofits eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligible applicant categories span nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status.
Are institutions of higher education eligible?
Yes. Colleges and universities (public and private) are listed as eligible, and the description also notes institutions of higher education among eligible categories.
Are federal agencies and national laboratories eligible?
Yes. Federal agencies and national laboratories are explicitly listed as eligible.
Can an individual apply, or is this only for organizations?
Individuals are eligible if they are U.S. citizens or nationals, as explicitly stated in the eligibility list.
Are collaborative or multi-organization applications allowed?
Yes. Collaborative applications are explicitly allowed, including groups made up of two or more eligible entities.
What types of stakeholders should project results be delivered to?
The program emphasizes delivering applied production information back to farmers, ranchers, and organic stakeholders, including producers and processors who need practical guidance to improve how they grow, manage, and market organic products.
What was the posting date for this specific announcement?
The posting date was January 21, 2009.
What was the closing date for this announcement?
The closing date was March 9, 2009.
When was this announcement archived?
The archive date was February 17, 2010.
Who should be contacted for help with access issues related to the announcement?
The announcement includes a help desk contact for access issues through the CSREES Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during business hours.
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| 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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