U.S. Department of Agriculture, NIFA announces Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI)

Deadline: 2 May 2019

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is seeking applications for its Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI).

The OREI seeks to solve critical organic agricultural issues, priorities, or problems through the integration of research, education and extension activities. The purpose of this program is to fund high priority integrated 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. Priority concerns include biological, physical, and social sciences, including economics.

Goals

The OREI has eight goals that were legislatively-defined by the Farm Bill:

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.
Developing new and improved seed varieties that are particularly suited for organic agriculture.

Award Information

Award Ceiling: $2,000,000
Award Floor: $50,000

Eligible Applicants

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; or
- A group consisting of two or more of the entities described in subparagraphs (1) through (8).
Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project.