Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 006124
The Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) is a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) grant program designed to tackle high-priority challenges in organic agriculture by combining research, education, and extension (outreach) into integrated projects. Its core aim is practical impact: helping producers and processors who already follow organic standards strengthen their ability to produce and market high-quality organic products. In other words, the program is not just about generating academic findings, but about turning those findings into usable tools, guidance, and on-the-ground practices that organic operations can adopt.
OREI focuses on solving “critical organic agriculture issues” across biological, physical, and social science areas, with economics explicitly included. That wide scope means projects can address everything from soil health, pest and disease management, and crop or livestock production systems to market barriers, adoption behavior, labor realities, and profitability. A notable emphasis is on whole-farm planning support, meaning proposals are expected to deliver practical, research-based information that helps farmers and ranchers make integrated decisions across their operation rather than optimizing only one piece of the system. The opportunity strongly favors applied work that results in production-ready information delivered directly to producers through extension and education efforts.
A key requirement is that fieldwork must take place on certified organic land or land transitioning to organic certification, depending on what the project is trying to accomplish. Applicants are expected to align activities with the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) standards, which serve as the official benchmark for organic production and handling in the United States. This condition underscores that the research and demonstrations should be grounded in real organic conditions and constraints, so that results are relevant and directly transferable to organic producers and supply-chain partners.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of institutions and individuals. 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 individual U.S. citizens or nationals. The program also allows collaborative applications from groups made up of two or more eligible entity types, which fits the integrated nature of the work and encourages partnerships that combine research capacity with extension networks and producer engagement.
From the posted opportunity details, this is a mandatory grant opportunity (as categorized in the listing) under CFDA 10.307, administered by USDA NIFA. The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA ICGP 006124. The listed maximum award amount (ceiling) is $2,000,000. The opportunity record shows an original closing date of January 19, 2017, and a creation date of October 21, 2016, indicating this specific posting refers to that funding cycle.Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 006124
- 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 2016-10-21.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-01-19. (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 $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI)?
OREI is a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) grant program that funds integrated projects combining research, education, and extension (outreach) to address high-priority challenges in organic agriculture.
What is the main goal of OREI?
The core aim is practical impact for organic producers and processors: strengthening their ability to produce and market high-quality organic products by turning research results into usable tools, guidance, and on-the-ground practices.
Does OREI fund research only, or must projects include outreach?
Projects are expected to be integrated, meaning they combine research with education and extension (outreach). The emphasis is on delivering production-ready information directly to producers through extension and education efforts.
What kinds of issues or topics can OREI projects address?
OREI targets "critical organic agriculture issues" across biological, physical, and social sciences, and explicitly includes economics. Projects may address areas such as soil health, pest and disease management, crop or livestock production systems, market barriers, adoption behavior, labor realities, and profitability.
Is whole-farm planning an important part of this opportunity?
Yes. The opportunity places a notable emphasis on whole-farm planning support, meaning proposals are expected to provide practical, research-based information that helps farmers and ranchers make integrated decisions across their operations rather than focusing on only one component of the system.
Who is OREI intended to help?
The program is aimed at helping producers and processors who already follow organic standards improve their ability to produce and market high-quality organic products.
Where must fieldwork for OREI projects take place?
A key requirement is that fieldwork must occur on certified organic land or land transitioning to organic certification, depending on the goals of the project.
Do projects need to follow USDA organic rules?
Yes. Applicants are expected to align activities with USDA National Organic Program (NOP) standards, which are the official benchmark for organic production and handling in the United States.
Why does OREI require work on certified or transitioning organic land?
This requirement is meant to ensure that research and demonstrations reflect real organic conditions and constraints, so results are relevant and directly transferable to organic producers and supply-chain partners.
Who is eligible to apply for OREI funding?
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, foundations, or corporations; and individual U.S. citizens or nationals.
Can multiple organizations apply together?
Yes. Collaborative applications are allowed from groups composed of two or more eligible entity types, encouraging partnerships that combine research capacity, extension networks, and producer engagement.
Which USDA agency administers this opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by USDA NIFA (National Institute of Food and Agriculture).
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The listing identifies the program under CFDA 10.307.
What is the funding opportunity number listed for this posting?
The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA ICGP 006124.
What is the maximum award amount for this opportunity?
The posted maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $2,000,000.
Is this opportunity listed as mandatory or discretionary?
In the posted opportunity details, it is categorized as a mandatory grant opportunity.
What are the dates associated with this specific opportunity record?
The record shows a creation date of October 21, 2016, and an original closing date of January 19, 2017, indicating the posting refers to that funding cycle.
Is this posting tied to a particular funding cycle?
Yes. Based on the creation date (October 21, 2016) and the original closing date (January 19, 2017), the information provided refers to that specific funding cycle.
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