Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative Program 2025 (US)

NIFA is committed to enhancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility of programs and encourages individuals, institutions, and organizations from underserved communities to apply to funding opportunities as lead, co-lead, or sub award recipient(s), and to engage as leaders in the peer panel review process to support the development of strong networks and collaborations.

Goals

• Facilitating the development and improvement of organic agriculture production, breeding, and processing methods;
• Evaluating the potential economic benefits of organic agricultural production and methods to producers, processors, and rural communities;
• Exploring international trade opportunities for organically grown and processed agricultural commodities;
• Determining desirable traits for organic commodities;
• Identifying marketing and policy constraints on the expansion of organic agriculture;
• Conducting advanced on-farm research and development that emphasizes observation of, experimentation with, and innovation for working organic farms, including research relating to production, marketing, food safety, socioeconomic conditions, and farm business management;
• Examining optimal conservation, soil health, and environmental outcomes relating to organically produced agricultural products; and
• Developing new and improved seed varieties that are particularly suited for organic agriculture.

Priority Areas

• Conduct advanced on-farm crop, livestock, or integrated livestock-crop research and development that emphasize observation of, experimentation with, and innovation for organic farms, including production, marketing, socioeconomic, and environmental considerations.
• Develop and demonstrate tools for Cooperative Extension personnel and other professionals who advise producers on organic practices. Applications bringing end-users together with OREI-funded research, education, and extension teams are encouraged.
• For both plant and animal-based organic products: evaluate, develop, and improve allowable post-harvest handling, processing, and food safety practices to reduce toxins and microbial contamination, while increasing shelf-life, quality, and other economically important characteristics.
• Strengthen organic crop propagation systems, including seed and transplant production and protection, and plant breeding for organic production conditions, with an emphasis on publicly available releases.
• Explore technologies that meet the requirements of the National Organic Program (NOP)1 and protect soil, water, and other natural resources.
• Develop or improve systems-based animal production, animal health, and pest management practices to improve animal productivity, health, and welfare while retaining or enhancing economic viability, and mitigating the impacts of climate change.
• Breed, evaluate, and select animal breeds and genotypes adapted to organic systems. This would include but is not restricted to: identification of and selection for pest, parasite, and disease resistance; health and performance under organic pasture and feed regimens (especially soil-enhancing and climate friendly systems such as management of intensive rotational grazing and multispecies grazing); resilience to heat, fluctuating forage quality, and other stresses related to climate change; and performance in small, mixed, or other innovative farming operations.
• Develop undergraduate and/or graduate curriculum for organic agriculture. Education activities under this priority may include instructional delivery programs and experiential learning including student-farmer engagement for students enrolled in associate, baccalaureate, masters, or Ph.D. degree programs.
• Identify marketing, policy, and other socioeconomic barriers to the expansion of organic agriculture in the United States and develop strategies to address them. Lobbying and advocacy activities are not appropriate under this priority.

Types of Projects

• Applications may only be submitted by the following entities:
  • State agricultural experiment stations;
  • Colleges and universities;
  • University research foundations;
  • Other research institutions and organizations;
  • Federal agencies;
  • National laboratories;
  • Private organizations, foundations, or corporations;
  • Individuals who are United States citizens or nationals;

Funding Information

• Estimated Total Program Funding: $ 44,000,000
• Award Ceiling: $3,500,000
• Award Floor: $5,000

Eligibility Criteria

• Applications may only be submitted by the following entities:
  • State agricultural experiment stations;
  • Colleges and universities;
  • University research foundations;
  • Other research institutions and organizations;
  • Federal agencies;
  • National laboratories;
  • Private organizations, foundations, or corporations; 8. Individuals who are United States citizens or nationals;

For more information, visit Grants.gov.