Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 004958
Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 004958
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Organic Transitions" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.303 Integrated Programs.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 26, 2015 and posted on Feb 26, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 16, 2015 Prospective applicants are asked to email a Notice of Intent to Submit an Application by 500 p.m. Eastern Time on March 26, 2015. This notification is not required and does not enter into the review of a subsequent application, but will inform the review process. It will not be used for screening for project appropriateness or applicant eligibility, nor will feedback be offered.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $4,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Colleges and universities (as defined in section 1404 of NARETPA) (7 U.S.C. 3103) are eligible to submit applications to the ORG program. Section 1404 of NARETPA was amended by section 7101 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110 246) to define Hispanic serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACUs) (defined in 7 CFR 3430, and referred to in Part VIII, E.), and to include research foundations maintained by eligible colleges or universities.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Organic Transitions Program (ORG) is a competitive grant opportunity run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to strengthen the organic agriculture sector by funding integrated research, extension, and higher education efforts. The program is aimed at improving the competitiveness of organic crop and livestock producers, as well as conventional producers who are in the process of adopting organic practices. The core idea is to move organic production forward through practical science, on-the-ground outreach, and workforce development that helps farmers and advisors solve real production challenges and expand organic systems in a credible, economically viable way.
For FY 2015, the program emphasizes the environmental benefits and services associated with organic farming, with particular attention to soil conservation and climate change mitigation. Applicants are encouraged to address how organic systems can protect and build soils, reduce erosion, improve soil health and function, and contribute to climate solutions, including outcomes related to greenhouse gas emissions. Projects can focus on organic crops, organic animal production, or integrated crop-livestock systems, reflecting the program interest in whole-farm approaches rather than isolated practices.
Two additional priorities were added in this cycle. The first focuses on building educational tools for Cooperative Extension personnel and other agricultural professionals who advise producers on organic practices. This priority recognizes that many producers rely heavily on trusted local advisors, and it aims to improve the quality, consistency, and availability of organic-specific technical guidance. The second new priority supports the development of cultural practices and other allowable alternatives to materials that are being considered for removal from the National Organic Program (NOP) National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. In practical terms, this encourages projects that reduce reliance on at-risk inputs by developing viable management-based alternatives, such as improved rotations, mechanical or biological controls, resistant varieties, habitat management for beneficial organisms, and other organic-compliant strategies that keep farms productive even as allowed substances change over time.
This opportunity is offered as a discretionary grant under CFDA 10.303 (Integrated Programs) and includes a cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants should expect to provide matching resources as part of the project budget structure. The estimated total funding available for this funding cycle is $4,000,000.
Eligibility is limited to colleges and universities as defined in Section 1404 of NARETPA (7 U.S.C. 3103), which also includes certain designated institutions such as Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACUs) and research foundations maintained by eligible colleges and universities. In other words, the program is structured primarily for higher-education-based applicants that can credibly deliver research plus extension and education components, rather than stand-alone research projects.
Key dates for the FY 2015 announcement include a posted date of February 26, 2015, and an application deadline of April 16, 2015. NIFA also requested (but did not require) that prospective applicants email a Notice of Intent to Submit an Application by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on March 26, 2015. This notice was explicitly described as optional and not part of the formal review, but intended to help NIFA plan the review process. The program listing was archived on May 16, 2015.
Overall, ORG is designed for teams that can connect applied research with farmer-facing outreach and education, and that can show measurable benefits for organic production performance, resilience, and environmental outcomes. Strong proposals under this program typically align organic production challenges with practical solutions, demonstrate how results will be delivered through extension and training, and show how the work will help organic producers remain competitive while meeting evolving standards and sustainability expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Organic Transitions Program (ORG) - FY 2015
What is the Organic Transitions Program (ORG)?
The Organic Transitions Program (ORG) is a competitive USDA grant program run by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It supports integrated projects that combine research, extension, and higher education activities to strengthen the organic agriculture sector.
What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The goal is to improve the competitiveness of organic crop and livestock producers, as well as conventional producers who are adopting organic practices, by funding practical science, on-the-ground outreach, and workforce development tied to real production challenges.
Which USDA agency administers ORG?
ORG is administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
Is ORG a competitive grant program?
Yes. ORG is described as a competitive grant opportunity.
What kinds of activities does ORG fund?
ORG funds integrated efforts across research, extension, and higher education. The program is designed for projects that connect applied research with farmer-facing outreach and education, rather than stand-alone research projects.
Does the program support workforce development or training?
Yes. ORG emphasizes workforce development that helps farmers and agricultural advisors solve production challenges and expand organic systems in a credible and economically viable way.
What topics were emphasized for FY 2015?
For FY 2015, ORG emphasized environmental benefits and services associated with organic farming, particularly soil conservation and climate change mitigation.
What soil-related outcomes are applicants encouraged to address?
Applicants are encouraged to address how organic systems can protect and build soils, reduce erosion, and improve soil health and function.
What climate-related outcomes are relevant for FY 2015 proposals?
FY 2015 proposals are encouraged to consider climate change mitigation, including outcomes related to greenhouse gas emissions.
Can projects focus on crop systems, livestock systems, or both?
Yes. Projects can focus on organic crops, organic animal production, or integrated crop-livestock systems.
Is the program interested in whole-farm approaches?
Yes. The program interest is described as favoring whole-farm approaches rather than isolated practices.
What were the two additional priorities added for this FY 2015 cycle?
Two additional priorities were added: (1) building educational tools for Cooperative Extension personnel and other agricultural professionals who advise producers on organic practices, and (2) developing cultural practices and other allowable alternatives to materials being considered for removal from the National Organic Program (NOP) National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances.
What does the educational tools priority focus on?
This priority focuses on creating educational tools for Cooperative Extension personnel and other agricultural professionals who provide technical guidance to producers on organic practices, with the intent of improving the quality, consistency, and availability of organic-specific advice.
Why does ORG emphasize tools for Cooperative Extension and agricultural advisors?
The program recognizes that many producers rely heavily on trusted local advisors, and it aims to strengthen organic-specific technical guidance available through those advisors.
What does the priority about alternatives to at-risk materials mean?
It supports developing viable organic-compliant alternatives to inputs that may be removed from the NOP National List. The intent is to reduce reliance on substances that could become unavailable by shifting toward management-based solutions that keep farms productive as allowed substances change over time.
What types of alternatives are mentioned as examples?
Examples include improved rotations, mechanical controls, biological controls, resistant varieties, habitat management for beneficial organisms, and other organic-compliant strategies.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
This opportunity is offered under CFDA 10.303 (Integrated Programs).
Is ORG a discretionary grant?
Yes. ORG is offered as a discretionary grant under CFDA 10.303.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The opportunity includes a cost sharing or matching requirement, so applicants should expect to provide matching resources as part of the project budget structure.
How much total funding was estimated to be available for this funding cycle?
The estimated total funding available for the cycle described is $4,000,000.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to colleges and universities as defined in Section 1404 of NARETPA (7 U.S.C. 3103). This includes certain designated institutions such as Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACUs) and research foundations maintained by eligible colleges and universities.
Are research foundations allowed to apply?
Yes, research foundations maintained by eligible colleges and universities are included within the described eligibility.
Does this program appear intended for higher-education-based applicants?
Yes. The program is structured primarily for higher-education-based applicants that can credibly deliver research plus extension and education components.
Is the program intended for stand-alone research proposals?
No. The description emphasizes integrated projects and notes that the program is for teams that can deliver research plus extension and education components, rather than stand-alone research projects.
What was the posted date for the FY 2015 announcement?
The posted date was February 26, 2015.
What was the application deadline for FY 2015?
The application deadline was April 16, 2015.
Was a Notice of Intent (NOI) required?
No. NIFA requested (but did not require) that prospective applicants email a Notice of Intent to Submit an Application.
When was the optional Notice of Intent due?
The optional Notice of Intent was requested by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on March 26, 2015.
Did the Notice of Intent affect formal review?
No. The notice was explicitly described as optional and not part of the formal review, and was intended to help NIFA plan the review process.
When was the program listing archived?
The program listing was archived on May 16, 2015.
What makes a strong ORG proposal based on the description provided?
Strong proposals typically align organic production challenges with practical solutions, clearly demonstrate how results will be delivered through extension and training, and show measurable benefits for organic production performance, resilience, and environmental outcomes.
How does ORG define the overall approach it is trying to support?
ORG is designed for teams that move organic production forward through practical science, on-the-ground outreach, and education that supports credible, economically viable organic systems while helping producers meet evolving standards and sustainability expectations.
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