Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative Request for Applications released

The Request for Applications for the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) was released today by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

The deadline for proposals is February 9, 2010.

OREI is the largest single source of organic research and education funding in the U.S. It emphasizes involving producers in developing project goals, implementing projects, and evaluating and disseminating results to the agricultural community. All fieldwork is required to be conducted on certified organic or transitional land.

NIFA anticipates that approximately $19 million will be available to fund OREI projects in fiscal year 2010. In 2009, a total of $16.9 million was granted to fund 26 projects. Eight of these projects received funding in excess of $1 million. Information on previously funded projects can be found at OREI abstracts.

The 2010 Request for Applications introduces a new proposal type: eXtension proposals to “develop content for or otherwise support the eOrganic and other existing eXtension Communities of Practice (CoP) or to establish a new CoP to ensure that information reaches potential adopters as quickly as possible.” These projects may be conducted for a period up to five years and a maximum request of $1 million.

Other proposal types include Integrated Projects, Conferences, and Research and Extension Planning. See the full Request for Applications for more details on each proposal type and the requirements for applying. It is online at OREI RFA

There is a cost share requirement that may be waived under certain conditions.

Only electronic applications may be submitted via Grants.gov. Program administrators encourage applicants to register with the Grants.gov system well before the applications are due and to submit proposals before the deadline to allow time for correction of technical errors identified by Grants.gov.

This is a Special Edition in a series of occasional bulletins providing selected information on organic research programs, positions, funding, and reports, as well as news about SCOAR itself. Original items may be reproduced with attribution to OFRF. These reports are sent via email to registered SCOAR participants. For previous bulletins, registration and other information about SCOAR, see http://ofrf.org/networks/scoar.html