Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 006464
The Organic Transitions Program (ORG) is a competitive grant opportunity run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) that focuses on making organic agriculture more successful and scalable in the United States. Its central purpose is to fund integrated projects that help organic crop and livestock producers stay competitive, while also supporting farmers and ranchers who are in the process of adopting organic practices. In practice, this means NIFA is looking for proposals that do more than generate research results on a shelf; projects are expected to translate science into usable knowledge, decision support, and real-world improvements on farms.
A key theme of the program is strengthening the environmental benefits that organic farming systems can provide. ORG explicitly prioritizes work connected to soil conservation, pollinator health, and climate change mitigation, including efforts that address greenhouse gas emissions. Applicants are encouraged to design projects that can document, improve, or expand these services in organic systems, whether through field-based trials, systems comparisons, management innovations, or measurement and modeling approaches that help producers and advisors understand outcomes and tradeoffs.
Another strong priority is practical education and outreach. The program places value on developing educational tools and resources for Cooperative Extension personnel and other agricultural professionals who advise producers on organic production. The goal is to make it easier for trusted advisors to support organic decision-making with credible, up-to-date information, including regionally appropriate recommendations and training materials that can be adopted broadly.
ORG also highlights the need for innovation in organic-compliant management options, especially as certain materials may be recommended for removal from the National Organic Program (NOP) National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. Because organic production has strict rules about inputs, the program is interested in cultural practices (management methods such as rotations, habitat management, mechanical strategies, timing, and other systems approaches) and other allowable alternatives that can replace restricted or potentially removed substances while keeping production viable and effective.
Project structure expectations are clear: proposals should integrate research, education, and extension in ways that match the project goals. While one component may be emphasized more heavily depending on the problem being addressed, every project is expected to include a meaningful research component plus at least one of the other two components (education or extension). In other words, a proposal should not be research-only; it needs an intentional pathway for getting results into the hands of students, professionals, producers, or communities, with measurable impact.
Eligibility is limited. 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), as amended by later legislation (including provisions in the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008). If an applicant does not meet these eligibility requirements by the deadline, the application can be rejected or ruled ineligible for funding even if it is reviewed.
From the posted opportunity details, this is a discretionary grant program under CFDA 10.303, administered by NIFA. The funding opportunity title is "Organic Transitions," and the opportunity number is USDA NIFA ICGP 006464. The original closing date listed is March 29, 2018, and the opportunity record was created on January 8, 2018. The listing does not provide an award ceiling or the expected number of awards in the provided data, so applicants would typically need to consult the full request for applications or program page for budget limits, project duration, and other submission requirements.Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 006464
- 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 2018-01-08.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-03-29. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Organic Transitions Program (ORG) - FAQs
What is the Organic Transitions Program (ORG)?
The Organic Transitions Program (ORG) is a competitive grant opportunity run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It is focused on making organic agriculture more successful and scalable in the United States by funding projects that support organic crop and livestock producers and those transitioning to organic practices.
What is the main purpose of ORG funding?
The central purpose is to fund integrated projects that help organic producers stay competitive and that support farmers and ranchers adopting organic practices. Projects are expected to translate science into usable knowledge, decision support, and real-world improvements on farms, rather than producing research results with no clear pathway to use.
What types of projects does ORG expect to fund?
ORG emphasizes integrated projects that connect research with real-world application. Examples of approaches described include field-based trials, systems comparisons, management innovations, and measurement and modeling efforts that help producers and advisors understand outcomes and tradeoffs in organic systems.
Does ORG focus only on organic farms that are already certified?
No. ORG is designed both to support organic crop and livestock producers and to support farmers and ranchers who are in the process of adopting organic practices.
What environmental priorities does ORG highlight?
ORG explicitly prioritizes work tied to strengthening the environmental benefits of organic farming systems. The opportunity highlights soil conservation, pollinator health, and climate change mitigation, including efforts that address greenhouse gas emissions.
How can a project address climate change under ORG?
Based on the opportunity description, projects may address climate change mitigation by documenting, improving, or expanding climate-related ecosystem services in organic systems, including work connected to greenhouse gas emissions and approaches that help producers and advisors understand outcomes and tradeoffs.
Is education and outreach required or just encouraged?
Education and outreach are strong priorities within ORG. The program places value on developing educational tools and resources, especially for Cooperative Extension personnel and other agricultural professionals who advise producers on organic production.
Who is the target audience for the educational resources encouraged by ORG?
The opportunity specifically calls out Cooperative Extension personnel and other agricultural professionals who advise producers on organic production, with an emphasis on credible, up-to-date information and regionally appropriate recommendations.
What does ORG mean by "integrated" projects?
ORG expects proposals to integrate research, education, and extension in ways that match project goals. While one component can be emphasized more than others depending on the problem, every project is expected to include a meaningful research component plus at least one of the other two components (education or extension).
Can an ORG proposal be research-only?
No. The opportunity states that a proposal should not be research-only. Each project must include a meaningful research component and must also include at least one additional component: education or extension.
What is ORG looking for in terms of real-world impact?
ORG is looking for projects that move beyond publishable findings and instead produce usable knowledge, decision support, training materials, or other outputs that lead to real-world improvements for producers, students, professionals, and/or communities.
What types of management innovation does ORG emphasize?
ORG highlights innovation in organic-compliant management options, especially in cases where certain materials may be recommended for removal from the National Organic Program (NOP) National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. The opportunity points to cultural practices and other allowable alternatives that can replace restricted or potentially removed substances while keeping production viable.
What are examples of "cultural practices" mentioned in the opportunity?
The opportunity describes cultural practices as management methods such as rotations, habitat management, mechanical strategies, timing, and other systems approaches.
Why does ORG mention the NOP National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances?
Because organic production has strict rules about inputs, ORG is interested in developing organic-compliant strategies that can replace inputs that may become restricted or potentially removed from the National List, while maintaining effective and viable production.
Who is eligible to apply for ORG funding?
Eligibility is limited to colleges and universities that meet the definition in Section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (NARETPA), as amended by later legislation (including provisions in the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008).
What happens if an applicant does not meet eligibility requirements by the deadline?
The opportunity states that if an applicant does not meet the eligibility requirements by the deadline, the application can be rejected or ruled ineligible for funding even if it is reviewed.
Which federal agency administers this opportunity?
This opportunity is administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
Is this a discretionary grant program?
Yes. The posted details describe ORG as a discretionary grant program.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 10.303.
What is the official funding opportunity title?
The funding opportunity title is "Organic Transitions."
What is the funding opportunity number?
The opportunity number listed is USDA NIFA ICGP 006464.
What was the original closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed is March 29, 2018.
When was the opportunity record created?
The opportunity record was created on January 8, 2018.
Does the listing include the award ceiling or expected number of awards?
No. The provided listing does not include an award ceiling or the expected number of awards in the provided data.
Where would an applicant typically find budget limits, project duration, and submission requirements?
Because those details are not included in the provided listing data, applicants would typically need to consult the full request for applications (RFA) or the program page for budget limits, project duration, and other submission requirements.
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| Resident Instruction Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 006469 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 006469 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Women and Minorities in STEM Fields Apply for USDA NIFA WAMS 006470 Funding Number: USDA NIFA WAMS 006470 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Secondary Agriculture Education Challenge Grant Program Apply for USDA NIFA SAECP 006488 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SAECP 006488 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Alaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Education Competitive Grants Program (ANNH) Apply for USDA NIFA AHSI 006489 Funding Number: USDA NIFA AHSI 006489 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $1,450,000 |
| Hispanic-Serving Institutions - Education Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA HSI 006509 Funding Number: USDA NIFA HSI 006509 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Alfalfa and Forage Research Program (AFRP) Apply for USDA NIFA OP 006532 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 006532 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| FY 2018 Farm Business Management and Benchmarking RFA Apply for USDA NIFA FBMB 006530 Funding Number: USDA NIFA FBMB 006530 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Supplemental and Alternative Crops Competitive Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA OP 006533 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 006533 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Agriculture Risk Management Education Apply for USDA NIFA ARPA 006535 Funding Number: USDA NIFA ARPA 006535 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Crop Protection and Pest Management Competitive Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA CPPM 006536 Funding Number: USDA NIFA CPPM 006536 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $1,150,000 |
| AgrAbility - Assistive Technology Program for Farmers with Disabilities Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 006537 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 006537 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $180,000 |
| Higher Education Challenge Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA CGP 006538 Funding Number: USDA NIFA CGP 006538 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Specialty Crop Block Grant Program – Farm Bill Apply for USDA AMS TM SCBGP G 18 0003 Funding Number: USDA AMS TM SCBGP G 18 0003 Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| 1994 Tribal Colleges Extension Grant Program Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 006539 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 006539 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grant Program Apply for USDA NIFA RHSE 006542 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RHSE 006542 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Veterinary Services Grant Program (VSGP) Apply for USDA NIFA VSGP 006543 Funding Number: USDA NIFA VSGP 006543 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Apply for OAO 012 Funding Number: OAO 012 Agency: Office of Partnerships and Public Engagements Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Special Research Grants Program - Aquaculture Research Apply for USDA NIFA SRGP 006544 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SRGP 006544 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| 1994 Tribal College Extension Special Emphasis Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 006546 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 006546 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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