Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 011901
The Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program - Organic Transitions (ORG) is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA/Assistance Listing 10.303. Its central aim is to strengthen the U.S. organic sector by funding coordinated projects that combine research, extension, and higher education in ways that make organic crop and livestock producers more competitive. The program is also intended to help producers who are adopting organic practices, which includes those transitioning into organic production or integrating organic methods into their operations. In practical terms, ORG supports work that not only generates useful knowledge, but also delivers that knowledge to producers and trains the next generation of professionals who will work in organic agriculture.
This opportunity is structured as an integrated program, meaning proposals are expected to connect multiple components rather than focusing narrowly on a single activity. Research elements typically address production challenges and opportunities in organic systems, extension components focus on moving findings into real-world use through outreach and technical assistance, and education components build skills and capacity through curricula, training, and experiential learning. The competitiveness emphasis signals that NIFA is looking for projects that can measurably improve outcomes for organic operations, such as better productivity, resilience, market readiness, or reduced barriers during adoption and transition, while remaining grounded in organic principles and the realities of farm management.
Eligibility is limited and specific. Applications will only be accepted from colleges and universities as defined in 7 U.S.C. 3103, as well as 1994 Institutions and Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities. In other words, the lead applicant must be an eligible institution of higher education within the categories spelled out in the authorizing statutes and program rules. While the lead institution must meet eligibility requirements, award recipients are allowed to subcontract with organizations that are not eligible to apply directly, as long as those partners are necessary to conduct the project and the subcontracting arrangement is approved by NIFA. This creates room for collaborations with nonprofits, producer groups, private sector technical experts, or other entities that can contribute specialized capabilities, field access, or implementation support.
The funding instrument is a grant, with an award ceiling of $1,000,000 per award. NIFA expects to make approximately eight awards under this funding opportunity, suggesting a competitive process with a limited number of larger, more comprehensive projects rather than many small awards. The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA ICGP 011901, and the original application closing date is July 13, 2026. The opportunity was created on June 12, 2026. Applicants should anticipate that proposals will be evaluated not only on technical merit and scientific rigor, but also on how well the project integrates research, education, and extension to produce tangible benefits for organic and transitioning producers, and on whether the project plan is realistic, collaborative, and capable of delivering results at scale.
Overall, this ORG opportunity is designed for university-led teams that can pair strong applied research with credible outreach and education strategies, producing practical tools, knowledge, and training that directly help organic agriculture compete and grow in the United States.Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 011901
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program – 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 2026-06-12.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-13. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Organic Transitions (ORG) grant opportunity?
The Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program - Organic Transitions (ORG) is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA/Assistance Listing 10.303. It funds coordinated projects intended to strengthen the U.S. organic sector by improving the competitiveness of organic crop and livestock producers and supporting producers adopting organic practices.
What is the main purpose of the ORG program?
The central aim is to strengthen the U.S. organic sector by funding projects that combine research, extension, and higher education in ways that help organic producers be more competitive. The program also supports producers who are adopting organic practices, including those transitioning into organic production or integrating organic methods into their operations.
What kinds of producers does ORG aim to help?
ORG is intended to benefit organic crop and livestock producers as well as producers who are adopting organic practices. This includes operations transitioning into organic production and operations integrating organic methods into their management.
What does it mean that ORG is an "integrated" program?
ORG is structured as an integrated program, meaning proposals are expected to connect multiple components rather than focusing on a single activity. Projects are expected to combine research, extension, and education in a coordinated way so that knowledge is generated, delivered to producers, and used to build training and workforce capacity in organic agriculture.
What components are expected in an ORG proposal?
Proposals are expected to integrate:
- Research to address production challenges and opportunities in organic systems
- Extension to move findings into real-world use through outreach and technical assistance
- Education to build skills and capacity through curricula, training, and experiential learning
What outcomes does NIFA appear to be looking for?
The program emphasizes competitiveness, meaning funded projects should aim to measurably improve outcomes for organic operations. Examples of outcomes described include better productivity, improved resilience, stronger market readiness, or reduced barriers during adoption and transition, while staying grounded in organic principles and practical farm management realities.
Who is eligible to apply as the lead applicant?
Eligibility is limited. Applications will only be accepted from colleges and universities as defined in 7 U.S.C. 3103, as well as 1994 Institutions and Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities. The lead applicant must be an eligible institution of higher education within the categories specified by the authorizing statutes and program rules.
Can non-eligible organizations participate in a project?
Yes. While the lead applicant must be an eligible institution, award recipients may subcontract with organizations that are not eligible to apply directly, as long as those partners are necessary to conduct the project and the subcontracting arrangement is approved by NIFA. This can allow collaboration with nonprofits, producer groups, private sector technical experts, and other entities.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $1,000,000 per award.
How many awards does NIFA expect to make?
NIFA expects to make approximately eight awards under this funding opportunity, indicating a competitive process with a limited number of awards.
What is the application deadline?
The original application closing date is July 13, 2026.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on June 12, 2026.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA ICGP 011901.
What does ORG fund in practical terms?
ORG supports work that generates useful knowledge and ensures that knowledge reaches producers through extension and outreach, while also training the next generation of professionals through education activities. The program is designed to produce practical tools, knowledge, and training that directly help organic agriculture compete and grow in the United States.
How will proposals likely be evaluated based on the description provided?
Applicants should anticipate evaluation based on technical merit and scientific rigor, as well as how well the project integrates research, education, and extension to produce tangible benefits for organic and transitioning producers. The description also emphasizes the importance of a realistic project plan, collaboration, and the ability to deliver results at scale.
Does the program focus only on organic farms already certified?
No. The program is intended both for organic producers and for producers adopting organic practices, including those transitioning into organic production or integrating organic methods into their operations.
Is ORG intended for small, single-focus projects or larger coordinated efforts?
Based on the integrated structure and the expectation of approximately eight awards with an award ceiling of $1,000,000, the opportunity is framed around larger, coordinated projects that connect research, extension, and education rather than narrowly focusing on a single activity.
What kinds of partners might be subcontracted to support an ORG project?
The description notes that, with NIFA approval, award recipients can subcontract with non-eligible entities that are necessary to conduct the project. Examples mentioned include nonprofits, producer groups, and private sector technical experts, as well as other organizations that provide specialized capabilities, field access, or implementation support.
What is the broader goal of ORG for the organic sector?
The broader goal is to help organic agriculture compete and grow in the United States by supporting university-led teams that pair applied research with credible outreach and education strategies, producing results that can be used by organic and transitioning producers.
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