Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative

The Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (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, mitigate and adapt to climate change, build resilience of the organic farming system, and protect water and other resources. Priority concerns include biological, physical, and social sciences, including economics. Consistent with 7 U.S.C. 5925b, OREI has eight goals: 1.) Facilitating the development and improvement of organic agriculture production, breeding, and processing methods; 2.) Evaluating the potential economic benefits of organic agricultural production and methods to producers, processors, and rural communities; 3.) Exploring international trade opportunities for organically grown and processed agricultural commodities; 4.) Determining desirable traits for organic commodities; 5.) Identifying marketing and policy constraints on the expansion of organic agriculture; 6.) 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; 7.) Examining optimal conservation, soil health, and environmental outcomes relating to organically produced agricultural products; and 8.) Developing new and improved seed varieties that are particularly suited for organic agriculture.

Applications may only be submitted by the following entities:
1.) State agricultural experiment stations;
2.) Colleges and universities;
3.) University research foundations;
4.) Other research institutions and organizations;
5.) Federal agencies;
6.) National laboratories;
7.) Private organizations, foundations, or corporations;
8.) Individuals who are United States citizens or nationals; or
9.) A group consisting of two or more of the entities described in subparagraphs(1) through (8).

Applications are subjected to a system of peer and merit review in accordance with section 103 of the Agricultural Research, Extension and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7613) by a panel of qualified scientists and other appropriate persons who are specialists in the field covered by the proposal. Within the limit of funds available for such purpose, the NIFA Authorized Departmental Officer (ADO) shall make grants to those responsible, eligible applicants whose applications are judged most meritorious under the procedures set forth in the NOFO. Reviewers will be selected based upon training and experience in relevant scientific, extension, or education fields, taking into account the following factors: (a) The level of relevant formal scientific, technical education, or extension experience of the individual, as well as the extent to which an individual is engaged in relevant research, education, or extension activities; (b) the need to include as reviewers experts from various areas of specialization within relevant scientific, education, or extension fields; (c) the need to include as reviewers other experts (e.g., producers, range or forest managers/operators, and consumers) who can assess relevance of the applications to targeted audiences and to program needs; (d) the need to include as reviewers experts from a variety of organizational types (e.g., colleges, universities, industry, state and Federal agencies, private profit and non-profit organizations) and geographic locations; (e) the need to maintain a balanced composition of reviewers with regard to minority and female representation and an equitable age distribution; and (f) the need to include reviewers who can judge the effective usefulness to producers and the general public of each application. Evaluation Criteria will be delineated in the Competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

From 30 to 60 days.

Contact the National Program Leader (NPL) regarding dates for specific deadlines, start and end dates, and range of approval/disapproval time.