Organic Transitions | USDA NIFA ICGP 006740

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 006740

The Organic Transitions Program (ORG) is a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) competitive grant opportunity designed to strengthen the organic sector by funding projects that help organic crop and livestock producers, as well as producers transitioning into organic production, become more competitive. The program is meant to move beyond isolated research trials by supporting coordinated efforts that combine research with practical education and outreach, so that results translate into real-world changes on farms and in the advising community that supports them.

A core theme of ORG is improving the performance and resilience of organic farming systems while highlighting the public benefits they can provide. NIFA indicates that the program will continue to emphasize environmental services associated with organic production, particularly soil conservation, pollinator health, and climate change mitigation. Climate-related work can include measuring, reducing, or otherwise addressing greenhouse gas emissions and related impacts. In addition to environmental priorities, ORG also targets the nuts-and-bolts challenges of organic production by encouraging the development of cultural practices and other allowable alternatives when certain substances are being considered for removal from the National Organic Program (NOP) National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. In practice, that means proposals can be especially compelling when they help the organic industry adapt to changing input availability by identifying management-based solutions or compliant alternatives that maintain productivity and pest, disease, and fertility management.

ORG places strong emphasis on integrated projects. While a project can lean more heavily toward research, extension, or education depending on its goals, it is expected to include research plus at least one of the other two components (education and/or extension) and demonstrate impact in those areas. Extension and education elements often involve developing training materials, decision tools, curricula, and other resources, with a notable focus on tools for Cooperative Extension personnel and agricultural professionals who advise producers on organic practices. The underlying expectation is that funded work will generate credible findings and then actively package and deliver those findings to the people who make day-to-day decisions in organic and transitioning operations.

NIFA administers ORG and sets priorities through stakeholder input processes, in consultation with the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board (NAREEEAB). That governance detail matters because it signals that funded topics are intended to reflect current needs in U.S. agriculture and the organic community, rather than being purely investigator-driven.

Eligibility is restricted. Applications may only be submitted by colleges and universities that meet the definition in Section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (NARETPA). The opportunity also recognizes specific institution types included through later amendments, including Hispanic-serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACUs), 1994 Land-Grant Institutions, and research foundations maintained by otherwise eligible colleges or universities. The notice is explicit that failing to meet eligibility requirements by the application deadline can lead to the application being removed from consideration or, even if reviewed, deemed ineligible for an award.

From the provided opportunity details, this is a discretionary grant (CFDA 10.303) administered by USDA NIFA under funding opportunity number USDA NIFA ICGP 006740. The listed maximum award amount is $500,000. The opportunity record shows an original closing date of May 16, 2019, and a creation date of April 2, 2019.

• The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Organic Transitions" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.303.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2019-04-02.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-05-16. (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 $500,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 006740

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