Deadline: 19 January 2017
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is seeking applications for its programe titled “Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI)” to solve critical organic agriculture issues, priorities, or problems through the integration of research, education, and extension activities.
The purpose of this program is to fund high priority research, education and extension projects that will enhance the ability of producers and processors who have already adopted organic standards to grow and market high quality organic agricultural products.
Objectives
- 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 and environmental outcomes relating to organically produced agricultural products.
- Developing new and improved seed varieties that are particularly suited for organic agriculture.
Priority Areas
Proposals must address the following key 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 and socioeconomic issues.
- Develop and demonstrate educational tools for Cooperative Extension personnel and other agricultural professionals who advise producers on organic practices.
- 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 seed systems, including seed and transplant production and protection, and plant breeding for organic production, with an emphasis on publically available releases.
- Explore technologies that meet the requirements of the National Organic Program (NOP) while protecting soil, water, and other 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, including, but not limited to: grazing and pasture-based systems (including rotational grazing), and NOP National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) confinement standards.
- Breed, evaluate, and select animal breeds and genotypes adapted to organic systems.
- Develop new undergraduate and/or graduate curriculum in organic agriculture.
Funding Information
The anticipated amount available for grants in FY 2017 is approximately $17,624,076.
Eligibility Criteria
The following entities are eligible to apply for and receive a grant under this program:
- 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
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online via given website.
Eligible Country: United States
For more information, please visit OREI.