Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program Organic Transitions

The Fiscal Year 2025 Organic Transitions (ORG) Program, issued by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), is a competitive grant program designed to address critical challenges in organic agriculture. The program focuses on supporting integrated research, education, and extension activities that improve the competitiveness of organic producers and those transitioning to organic practices. It emphasizes climate-smart agriculture, ecosystem services, soil health, and addressing production and economic barriers. The program aligns with USDA goals of fostering sustainable agricultural systems, enhancing natural resource stewardship, and supporting rural communities. For fiscal year 2025, approximately $7,500,000 is available for funding. Individual awards will range from $20,000 to $1,000,000, with a maximum project duration of four years. The deadline to apply is March 6, 2025, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. The program aims to advance organic agriculture by addressing stakeholder needs and solving pressing challenges. Projects must focus on improving soil health, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing biodiversity, and providing tools to overcome barriers to organic transition. Priority areas for 2025 include documenting the effects of organic practices on soil and ecosystem health, developing methods to optimize ecosystem services, identifying alternatives to prohibited substances under the National Organic Program, and addressing challenges during the transition to organic farming. All fieldwork must take place on USDA-certified organic land or facilities, though research on transitional land is allowed with proper justification. Projects must integrate research with education and extension to ensure knowledge reaches farmers, extension agents, and the broader organic community. The program funds projects that apply a systems approach, combining research findings with outreach and education for practical application. Successful proposals must include measurable outcomes, evaluation plans, and clear strategies to disseminate findings to producers and stakeholders. The inclusion of diverse partnerships, such as collaboration with minority-serving institutions, small- to mid-sized universities, and non-governmental organizations, is strongly encouraged. International collaborations are also allowed if they address critical issues in U.S. organic agriculture. Projects that involve stakeholder input, such as farmers or advisors, throughout the planning and implementation phases are prioritized. Eligibility for the ORG program is limited to colleges and universities as defined under U.S. law, including land-grant institutions, 1994 tribal colleges, and Hispanic-serving agricultural institutions. Applicants may subcontract with other organizations when their involvement is essential to project success. A one-to-one non-federal cost match is required unless a waiver is granted. Waivers may be provided if the project has broad applicability across commodities or focuses on minor agricultural commodities with scientifically important outcomes. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov and follow USDA guidelines. Proposals must include a 21-page project narrative outlining objectives, methods, evaluation plans, and expected outcomes. Additional components include a data management plan, budget justification, and mentoring plan if funding for students is requested. Applicants must clearly demonstrate project relevance, stakeholder involvement, and feasibility, with emphasis on delivering results that are transferable to organic producers. Proposals are evaluated through NIFA’s peer-review process, which assesses technical merit, relevance, feasibility, and anticipated impacts. Reviewers will consider how well projects address program priorities, stakeholder needs, and the integration of research, education, and extension components. Highly meritorious projects that meet the criteria for Centers of Excellence may receive additional priority during funding decisions. NIFA expects to fund approximately eight awards under this program, with successful projects beginning no later than September 30, 2025. Applicants are encouraged to review the program’s funding priorities and eligibility requirements carefully. All questions regarding the application process or program details can be directed to NIFA program staff, whose contact information is provided in the request for applications. For updates and additional resources, applicants should consult the ORG program page on the NIFA website.