Dear Colleagues,

USDA NIFA is soliciting proposals for the Crop Protection and Pest Management Competitive Grants Program, the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative, and the Organic Transitions Program.

1) Crop Protection and Pest Management Competitive Grants Program - Applied Research and Development Program to address critical state, regional and national integrated pest management (IPM) needs to ensure food security and respond effectively to other major societal pest management challenges.  

Research priorities include:

i. Development of individual tools and tactics needed for pest management systems (e.g., biocontrol, cultural/ physical/ mechanical control, host plant resistance, and particularly novel uses of chemicals, monitoring methods or decision support);

ii. Increased understanding of how interactions among tactics alter the effectiveness of pest management within agricultural, recreational, suburban, and urban ecosystems. Field-scale experiments over multiple seasons and/or locations are the desired experimental approach for ARDP proposals, where appropriate. The desired outcomes for new IPM practices include reducing initial pest populations, lowering the carrying capacity of the ecosystem for pests, increasing tolerance of hosts to pest injury, and/or providing tools for making management decisions, such as monitoring methods and action thresholds.

Visit the USDA NIFA CPPM web page (https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/crop-protection-pest-management) for more information.

Applications Due: February 15, 2024 at 2PM

Recommended Grant Amount: up to$200,000 for single state; or $325,000 for more than one state

Required Match: Match requirement may be waived if the applicable criteria is met

2) Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative funds research, education, and extension programs that enhance the ability of producers and processors who have already adopted organic standards to grow and market high quality organic agricultural products.

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.

Priorities for FY 2024:

1. Conduct advanced on-farm crop, livestock, or integrated livestock-crop research and development that emphasize observation of, experimentation with, and innovation for organic farms, including production, marketing, socioeconomic, and environmental

2. Develop and demonstrate educational tools for Cooperative Extension personnel and other professionals who advise producers on organic practices. Applications bringing end-users together with OREI-funded research, education, and extension teams are encouraged.

3. For both plant and animal-based organic products: evaluate, develop, and improve allowable post-harvest handling, processing, and food safety practices to reduce toxins and microbial contamination, while increasing shelf-life, quality, and other economically important characteristics.

4. Strengthen organic crop propagation systems, including seed and transplant production and protection, and plant breeding for organic production conditions, with an emphasis on publicly available releases.

5. Explore technologies that meet the requirements of the National Organic Program (NOP) and protect soil, water, and other natural resources.

6. Develop or improve systems-based animal production, animal health, and pest management practices to improve animal productivity, health, and welfarewhile retaining or enhancing economic viability, and mitigating the impacts of climate change.

7. Breed, evaluate, and select animal breeds and genotypes adapted to organic systems.

8. Develop undergraduate and/or graduate curriculum for organic agriculture. Education activities under this priority may include instructional delivery programs and experiential learning including student-farmer engagement for students enrolled in associate, baccalaureate, masters, or Ph.D. degree programs.

9. Identify marketing, policy, and other socioeconomic barriers to the expansion of organic agriculture in the United States and develop strategies to address them. Lobbying and advocacy activities are not appropriate under this priority

Visit the USDA NIFA OREI web page (https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/organic-agriculture-research-extension-initiative) for more information.

Applications Due: February 15, 2024 at 2PM

Recommended Grant Amount: Tier 1 Integrated Proposal 3 to 4 years (Approx. $3,500,000)

Tier 2 Integrated Proposal 3 to 4 years (Approx. $2,000,000)

Tier 3 Integrated Proposal 3 to 4 years (Approx. $1,000,000)

Curriculum Development Proposal 3 to 4 years (Approx. $750,000)

Conference Proposal 1 year (Approx. $75,000)

Planning Proposal 1 year (Approx. $50,000)

Required Match: Match requirement may be waived if the applicable criteria is met

3) Organic Transitions (ORG). The overall goal of the ORG program is to support the development and implementation of research, extension, and higher education programs to improve the competitiveness of U.S. organic livestock and crop producers, as well as those who are adopting organic practices.

Priority 1: Document and understand the effects of organic practices on soil health and fertility; greenhouse gas mitigation; enhanced biodiversity; and understanding of weeds, pests and diseases dynamics for better management to help systems adapt to climate change, build resilience of the organic farming system, protect water and other resources, and provide other ecosystem services

2. Priority 2: Develop improved technologies, methods, models, and metrics to document, describe, and optimize the ecosystem services and the climate change adaptation and mitigation ability of organic crop, livestock, and integrated crop-livestock production systems.

3. Priority 3: Develop cultural practices and other allowable alternatives to substances recommended for removal from NOP's National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances.

4. Priority 4: Overcome barriers to organic transition. Projects under this priority should address major barriers that limit the transition to organic agriculture in a specific region, crop, or animal production system and develop practical information and tools for producer use.

Visit the USDA NIFA ORG web page (https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/integrated-research-education-extension-competitive-grants-program-0 ) for more information.

Applications Due: March 7, 2024 at 2PM

Recommended Grant Amount: Up to $1,000,000

Required Match: Match requirement may be waived if the applicable criteria is met

Thank you.

Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)