Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 006429
The Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) is a competitive grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to strengthen and expand organic agriculture in the United States. The program is designed to tackle high-priority challenges in organic farming and organic food systems by funding projects that deliberately combine research with extension, meaning the work is not only about generating new knowledge but also about getting practical, usable results into the hands of farmers, ranchers, and other organic stakeholders. A central emphasis is on understanding organic production as a system, including both the environmental impacts of organic practices and the environmental benefits or services organic systems can provide, such as improved soil health, reduced contamination risks, biodiversity support, and other ecological outcomes.
The opportunity is rooted in the federal framework that created modern organic standards. The Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) established the National Organic Program (NOP) in 1990, with the final implementing rules issued in 2000. Those rules led to the first nationwide organic standards for certification under a national organic label in 2002, which helped create consistency and consumer trust across states and markets. Even with that growth and structure in place, the funding notice highlights a continuing problem reported by market participants: supplies of organic products have not kept up with demand. Those shortages are described as a constraint on expansion for individual businesses and for the organic sector overall. In practical terms, this grant program exists to help remove those bottlenecks by supporting innovations, validated practices, and outreach that can improve organic productivity, resilience, and scalability while staying aligned with organic standards.
OREI sits within NIFA's broader approach to meeting organic agriculture needs, which includes both formula funding to universities and colleges and competitive grants like this one. The notice also places OREI in the context of the Integrated Organic Program (IOP), a competitive umbrella that has included the Organic Transitions Program since 2001 and supported OREI during earlier funding periods (noted as 2009 to 2012). The larger theme is long-term federal investment in building the science base and the on-the-ground support network needed for organic systems to grow responsibly and effectively.
Eligibility for applying is broad but clearly defined, and applicants must fit into one of the listed categories. Eligible applicants include state agricultural experiment stations; colleges and universities; university research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; federal agencies; national laboratories; private organizations, foundations, or corporations; and individuals who are U.S. citizens or nationals. Teams or partnerships are also allowed, as long as the group is made up of two or more of the eligible entity types listed. This structure encourages collaboration across research, education, government, and industry, which fits the program's integrated research-and-extension purpose.
From the source data provided, the opportunity is a discretionary grant program with an agriculture funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 10.307. The funding opportunity is titled "Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative" and is listed under the opportunity number USDA NIFA ICGP 006429. The agency administering it is NIFA. The record shows a creation date of December 27, 2017, and an original closing date of March 1, 2018. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided excerpt, which typically means applicants would need to consult the full request for applications or related program materials for detailed budget limits, project periods, and award expectations.Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 006429
- 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.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2017-12-27.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-03-01. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI)
What is the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI)?
OREI is a competitive grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Its purpose is to strengthen and expand organic agriculture in the United States by funding projects that address high-priority challenges in organic farming and organic food systems.
Who administers this grant opportunity?
The program is administered by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
Is OREI a competitive or formula grant program?
Based on the information provided, OREI is a competitive grant opportunity (as opposed to formula funding).
What type of work does OREI fund?
OREI funds projects that deliberately combine research with extension. This means projects are expected to generate new knowledge and also translate that knowledge into practical, usable results that reach farmers, ranchers, and other organic stakeholders.
What does "research with extension" mean in this program?
In this program context, "research with extension" means the project is not only about research outcomes (data, studies, innovations), but also about outreach and delivery of results so they can be applied in real-world organic farming and organic food system settings.
What is the overall purpose of OREI?
The program is designed to tackle high-priority challenges in organic agriculture and organic food systems, and to help remove bottlenecks that limit organic sector growth, including shortages where organic supply has not kept up with demand.
Why does the funding notice emphasize organic supply not keeping up with demand?
The provided description notes that market participants continue to report shortages of organic products relative to demand. These shortages are described as a constraint on expansion for individual businesses and the organic sector overall, and the grant program exists in part to support innovations, validated practices, and outreach to help address those constraints while remaining aligned with organic standards.
Does OREI focus on organic production as a "system"?
Yes. A central emphasis described is understanding organic production as a system, including both environmental impacts of organic practices and the environmental benefits or services organic systems can provide.
What kinds of environmental benefits or services are highlighted?
The opportunity description highlights potential environmental benefits and services associated with organic systems such as improved soil health, reduced contamination risks, support for biodiversity, and other ecological outcomes.
How is OREI connected to federal organic standards?
The opportunity is described as being rooted in the federal framework that established modern organic standards. The Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) established the National Organic Program (NOP) in 1990, with final implementing rules issued in 2000 and nationwide organic standards for certification under a national organic label beginning in 2002.
What is the National Organic Program (NOP) and why is it referenced?
The NOP is the federal program created under OFPA to establish organic standards. It is referenced because the OREI opportunity is framed within the history and structure of nationally consistent organic standards that helped create consumer trust and market consistency.
How does OREI fit into NIFA's broader organic agriculture approach?
The description places OREI within NIFA's broader efforts to meet organic agriculture needs, which include formula funding to universities and colleges and competitive grant programs like OREI.
Is OREI part of a larger program or umbrella initiative?
Yes. The notice places OREI in the context of the Integrated Organic Program (IOP), described as a competitive umbrella that has included the Organic Transitions Program since 2001 and supported OREI during earlier funding periods (noted as 2009 to 2012).
Who is eligible to apply for OREI?
Eligible applicants are broad but must fit into one of the listed categories. These include: state agricultural experiment stations; colleges and universities; university research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; federal agencies; national laboratories; private organizations, foundations, or corporations; and individuals who are U.S. citizens or nationals.
Can teams or partnerships apply?
Yes. Teams or partnerships are allowed as long as the group is made up of two or more of the eligible entity types listed in the opportunity description.
Are private organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligible applicant categories include private organizations, foundations, or corporations.
Are federal agencies or national laboratories eligible applicants?
Yes. Federal agencies and national laboratories are explicitly listed among eligible applicants.
Are individuals eligible to apply?
Yes. Individuals who are U.S. citizens or nationals are listed as eligible applicants.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The provided information associates this opportunity with CFDA number 10.307.
What is the funding activity category for this grant?
The source data provided describes the funding activity category as agriculture.
Is this a discretionary grant program?
Yes. The provided source data describes it as a discretionary grant program.
What is the official title of the funding opportunity?
The opportunity title provided is "Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative."
What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number provided is USDA NIFA ICGP 006429.
When was this opportunity record created?
The record shows a creation date of December 27, 2017.
What was the original closing date listed for applications?
The record shows an original closing date of March 1, 2018.
Is the award ceiling (maximum award amount) provided in the excerpt?
No. The award ceiling is not specified in the provided excerpt.
Is the expected number of awards provided in the excerpt?
No. The expected number of awards is not specified in the provided excerpt.
Where should applicants look for budget limits, award ceilings, or expected award counts?
The excerpt indicates that applicants would typically need to consult the full request for applications (RFA) or related program materials for details such as budget limits, project periods, and award expectations.
What kinds of outcomes is the program trying to achieve for the organic sector?
Based on the provided description, OREI aims to support innovations, validated practices, and outreach that improve organic productivity, resilience, and scalability, while remaining aligned with organic standards and supporting environmental and ecological outcomes.
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| Organic Transitions Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 006464 Funding Number: USDA NIFA ICGP 006464 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Distance Education Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 006468 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 006468 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Resident Instruction Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 006469 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 006469 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Women and Minorities in STEM Fields Apply for USDA NIFA WAMS 006470 Funding Number: USDA NIFA WAMS 006470 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Secondary Agriculture Education Challenge Grant Program Apply for USDA NIFA SAECP 006488 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SAECP 006488 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Alaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Education Competitive Grants Program (ANNH) Apply for USDA NIFA AHSI 006489 Funding Number: USDA NIFA AHSI 006489 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $1,450,000 |
| Hispanic-Serving Institutions - Education Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA HSI 006509 Funding Number: USDA NIFA HSI 006509 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Alfalfa and Forage Research Program (AFRP) Apply for USDA NIFA OP 006532 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 006532 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| FY 2018 Farm Business Management and Benchmarking RFA Apply for USDA NIFA FBMB 006530 Funding Number: USDA NIFA FBMB 006530 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Supplemental and Alternative Crops Competitive Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA OP 006533 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 006533 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Agriculture Risk Management Education Apply for USDA NIFA ARPA 006535 Funding Number: USDA NIFA ARPA 006535 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Crop Protection and Pest Management Competitive Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA CPPM 006536 Funding Number: USDA NIFA CPPM 006536 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $1,150,000 |
| AgrAbility - Assistive Technology Program for Farmers with Disabilities Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 006537 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 006537 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $180,000 |
| Higher Education Challenge Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA CGP 006538 Funding Number: USDA NIFA CGP 006538 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Specialty Crop Block Grant Program – Farm Bill Apply for USDA AMS TM SCBGP G 18 0003 Funding Number: USDA AMS TM SCBGP G 18 0003 Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| 1994 Tribal Colleges Extension Grant Program Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 006539 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 006539 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grant Program Apply for USDA NIFA RHSE 006542 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RHSE 006542 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Veterinary Services Grant Program (VSGP) Apply for USDA NIFA VSGP 006543 Funding Number: USDA NIFA VSGP 006543 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Apply for OAO 012 Funding Number: OAO 012 Agency: Office of Partnerships and Public Engagements Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Special Research Grants Program - Aquaculture Research Apply for USDA NIFA SRGP 006544 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SRGP 006544 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $300,000 |
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