Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 003388
Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 003388
- 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 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 Nov 30, 2010 and posted on Nov 30, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 10, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $19,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Small businesses Individuals Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education 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) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses.
- 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 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 solving real, on-the-ground challenges in organic agriculture. Its central focus is integrating research with extension and outreach, meaning funded projects are expected not only to generate practical findings but also to actively get those findings into the hands of farmers, ranchers, and processors in usable forms. The program is designed specifically to strengthen the capacity of producers and processors who have already adopted organic standards to produce and market high-quality organic products, so proposals generally need to show clear relevance to organic systems and measurable benefits for organic operations.
OREI prioritizes a wide range of topics across the biological, physical, and social sciences, explicitly including economics. In practice, this broad scope supports work such as improving soil health and fertility strategies, organic pest and disease management, crop and livestock system design, post-harvest handling, supply chain and market development, and the economic and social factors that influence adoption and long-term viability of organic practices. A major emphasis of the opportunity is whole-farm planning, with particular interest in projects that help organic farmers and ranchers respond to climate change. That can include research and outreach tied to resilience, risk management, adaptive production strategies, and farm-level planning approaches that consider the entire operation rather than a single practice in isolation.
A key requirement is that fieldwork must occur on certified organic land or on land transitioning to organic certification, as appropriate to the project goals. This ensures the research is truly representative of organic conditions and constraints and aligns with the USDA National Organic Program standards. Applicants are expected to plan for delivery of applied production information, meaning results should translate into actionable guidance, decision tools, demonstrations, trainings, publications, or other extension products that producers can use directly.
The opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA ICGP 003388; CFDA 10.307) was offered as a discretionary grant with a cost-sharing or matching requirement. The posting date was November 30, 2010, with an application deadline of February 10, 2011, and it was later archived on March 14, 2011. The listed award ceiling is $19,000,000, with no stated minimum award amount.
Eligibility is intentionally broad. Eligible applicants include state agricultural experiment stations; colleges and universities (including public/state-controlled and private institutions); university research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; federal agencies and national laboratories; private organizations or corporations; and U.S. citizens or nationals as individuals. Collaborative applications are also allowed, including groups made up of two or more eligible entity types. The solicitation also indicates eligibility for nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) organizations), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), and other applicants as further described in the full announcement.
For standards governing what qualifies as organic production, the announcement points applicants to the USDA National Organic Program. For access issues with the full announcement, the listed support contact is the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays).
Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) - FAQs
What is the Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI)?
The Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) is a competitive grant program run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It supports projects that address real, practical challenges in organic agriculture, with a strong expectation that the work will produce usable outcomes for organic producers and processors.
What is the main purpose of OREI funding?
OREI is designed to strengthen the capacity of producers and processors who have already adopted organic standards to produce and market high-quality organic products. Funded projects are expected to be clearly relevant to organic systems and to deliver measurable benefits for organic operations.
What does it mean that OREI integrates research with extension and outreach?
It means projects are expected to do more than generate findings. Applicants should plan to actively share results with farmers, ranchers, and processors through applied, practical delivery methods such as guidance documents, decision tools, demonstrations, trainings, publications, and other extension products.
What kinds of topics does OREI prioritize?
OREI prioritizes a broad range of topics across the biological, physical, and social sciences, including economics. The scope supports work related to organic production challenges and opportunities, including technical, economic, and social factors.
Are economics and social science topics eligible under this opportunity?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes the social sciences and economics, including topics connected to adoption and long-term viability of organic practices, as well as supply chain and market development.
What are examples of project areas that fit within OREI?
Examples mentioned include improving soil health and fertility strategies, organic pest and disease management, crop and livestock system design, post-harvest handling, supply chain and market development, and research on the economic and social factors that influence adoption and sustainability of organic practices.
Is there a focus on whole-farm planning?
Yes. A major emphasis of the opportunity is whole-farm planning, with particular interest in projects that consider the entire operation rather than a single practice in isolation.
Does OREI support projects related to climate change and resilience in organic systems?
Yes. The program shows particular interest in projects that help organic farmers and ranchers respond to climate change, including research and outreach focused on resilience, risk management, adaptive production strategies, and farm-level planning.
Where must fieldwork take place for an OREI project?
Fieldwork must occur on certified organic land or on land transitioning to organic certification, as appropriate to the project goals. This requirement is intended to ensure research is representative of organic conditions and constraints and aligns with USDA National Organic Program standards.
Does the opportunity require project results to be practical and usable?
Yes. Applicants are expected to deliver applied production information, meaning results should translate into actionable outputs that producers can use directly (for example, decision tools, demonstrations, trainings, and publications).
What USDA standards govern what qualifies as organic production for this opportunity?
The announcement points applicants to the USDA National Organic Program for standards governing what qualifies as organic production.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this OREI announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is USDA NIFA ICGP 003388.
What is the CFDA number for this grant opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 10.307.
Was this grant offered as a discretionary or formula grant?
This opportunity was offered as a discretionary grant.
Is there a cost-sharing or matching requirement?
Yes. The opportunity was offered with a cost-sharing or matching requirement.
When was the opportunity posted, and what was the application deadline?
The posting date was November 30, 2010, and the application deadline was February 10, 2011.
Is this opportunity still open?
No. The listing indicates it was archived on March 14, 2011.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $19,000,000.
Is there a minimum award amount stated?
No. The opportunity indicates there is no stated minimum award amount.
Who is eligible to apply for OREI according to this announcement?
Eligibility is broad and includes state agricultural experiment stations; colleges and universities (including public/state-controlled and private institutions); university research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; federal agencies and national laboratories; private organizations or corporations; and U.S. citizens or nationals as individuals.
Are collaborative applications allowed?
Yes. Collaborative applications are allowed, including groups made up of two or more eligible entity types.
Are nonprofits eligible to apply?
Yes. The solicitation indicates eligibility for nonprofits, including 501(c)(3) organizations and certain non-501(c)(3) organizations, as further described in the full announcement.
Are for-profit organizations or small businesses eligible to apply?
Yes. The solicitation indicates eligibility for for-profit organizations, including small businesses, as further described in the full announcement.
Which agency runs OREI?
OREI is run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
Who should applicants contact if they have trouble accessing the full announcement?
The listed support contact is the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048.
What are the NIFA Help Desk hours for access support?
The help desk is available Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.
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