[CED/CD/EAT] Fw: 2026 USDA-NIFA Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) | Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) | OREI Research Projects with Extension and/or Education Components ($50, 000 - $3, 500, 000), et al.

[Martin, Edward C - (ecmartin)]

Please share as appropriate.

Ed


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From: Patten, Kim J - (kjpatten) <kjpatten at arizona.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2026 8:43:32 AM
To: Staten, Michael E - (statenm) <statenm at arizona.edu>; Hunt, James E - (jeh) <jeh at arizona.edu>; Martin, Edward C - (ecmartin) <ecmartin at arizona.edu>
Cc: McCormack, Jen E - (jenmack) <jenmack at arizona.edu>; Bennett, Meg - (megbennett) <megbennett at arizona.edu>
Subject: FW: 2026 USDA-NIFA Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) | Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) | OREI Research Projects with Extension and/or Education Components ($50,000 - $3,500,000), et al.


Hi Mike, Jim, and Ed,



I know you all are generally all over these but if you’d like proposal development support, please feel free to reach out to Drs. McCormack and Bennett.



Best,

kim



From: Gonzalez Jr., Roberto - OPPE, CA <roberto.gonzalez at usda.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 4:59 PM
To: Ogden, Kimberly L - (ogden) <ogden at arizona.edu>; Staten, Michael E - (statenm) <statenm at arizona.edu>; Hunt, James E - (jeh) <jeh at arizona.edu>; Judge, Sangita - (sangita) <sangita at arizona.edu>; Patten, Kim J - (kjpatten) <kjpatten at arizona.edu>; Coffey, Courtney - (ccoffey) <ccoffey at arizona.edu>; Mars, Matthew M - (mmars) <mmars at arizona.edu>; Cheu, Elliott C - (echeu) <echeu at arizona.edu>; RDSFellow <RDSFellow at arizona.edu>; Teemant, Marie - (marieteemant) <marieteemant at arizona.edu>; Hitt, Greg M - (ghitt) <ghitt at arizona.edu>; Martin, Edward C - (ecmartin) <ecmartin at arizona.edu>; Bennett, Meg - (megbennett) <megbennett at arizona.edu>; Adair, Brian - (brianadair) <brianadair at arizona.edu>; Ridpath, Lindsay G - (ridpath) <ridpath at arizona.edu>; Bennett, Meg - (megbennett) <megbennett at arizona.edu>; Chamblee, Jennifer Mae - (jchamblee) <jchamblee at arizona.edu>; Diaz De La Rubia, Tomas - (tddlr) <tddlr at arizona.edu>
Subject: [EXT] 2026 USDA-NIFA Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) | Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) | OREI Research Projects with Extension and/or Education Components ($50,000 - $3,500,000), et al.



External Email



________________________________

[NIFA Banner]



Funding Opportunities
Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI)

USDA NIFA's Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) program <https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.nifa.usda.gov%2Fgrants%2Fprograms%2Forganic-agriculture-research-extension-initiative-orei-program%3Futm_content=%26utm_medium=email%26utm_name=%26utm_source=govdelivery%26utm_term=/1/0101019ce850566b-7833893a-d84e-4edd-98f5-9f6f6b168ed6-000000/hxIzSEchjpW4jK4HpgR2F4tx6Sckm4OVwu39yhB4xbg=448> funds projects that enhance the ability of producers and processors who have adopted organic standards to grow and market high quality organic agricultural products. Priority concerns include biological, physical, and social sciences, including economics. OREI is particularly interested in projects that emphasize research, education, and outreach that assist farmers and ranchers with whole-farm planning by delivering practical research-based information.

Three Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) are now available under OREI –                          each with its own application:

  *   OREI Research Projects with Extension and/or Education Components                            ($50,000 - $3,500,000)
  *   OREI Planning Projects for Assistance in Development of Future OREI Proposals Requiring Multiregional or Regional Coordination ($5,000 - $50,000)
  *   OREI Workshop Projects ($5,000 - $75,000)

Why three separate NOFOs?

OREI is publishing through eRA, NIFA's new grants management system, which is designed to have one set of review criteria per NOFO. This change helps standardize NOFO structure, streamline submission and review, and improve post-award data management — making the process clearer for applicants. All three OREI NOFOs share the same application deadline, so applicants should review each one carefully to identify which best fits their project.



Estimated Total Program Funding

$65,000,000

Deadline

May 14, 2026



Eligibility

Applications may only be submitted by the following entities:

  1.  State Agricultural Experiment Stations
  2.  Colleges and universities
  3.  University research foundations
  4.  Other research institutions and organizations
  5.  Federal agencies
  6.  National laboratories
  7.  Private organizations, foundations, or corporations
  8.  Individuals who are United States citizens or nationals
  9.  A group consisting of two or more of the entities described in items (1) through (8).

Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project by an eligible entity.



Read the NOFOs<https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.nifa.usda.gov%2Fgrants%2Fprograms%2Forganic-agriculture-research-extension-initiative-orei-program%3Futm_content=%26utm_medium=email%26utm_name=%26utm_source=govdelivery%26utm_term=/3/0101019ce850566b-7833893a-d84e-4edd-98f5-9f6f6b168ed6-000000/jXAYstJKm4LT7mrT0BsM2kwNeT5rY9G8Hque2XOvhuY=448>



________________________________

USDA NIFA invests in and advances high-impact agricultural research, education, and Extension to solve the Nation’s pressing challenges, grow U.S. agricultural innovation and competitiveness, fuel rural prosperity, and develop the future agricultural workforce.

________________________________
________________________________



FOR EXAMPLE



Grant Number

Proposal Number

Grant Title

State Name

Grantee Name

Award Dollars

Program Name

Program Area Name

2024-51300-43174

2024-03304

>From Seed to plate: Improving produce safety and supporting organic leafy green production using natural biocontrol strategies

CONNECTICUT

UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT

$3,300,000.00

Organic Agriculture Research & Extension Initiative

Integrated Res., Educ., & Ext. Competitive Grants Program



Non-Technical Summary: Organic crop production is a rapidly growing agricultural sector. However, organic growers face several challenges including the need to maintain integrity of organic produce (microbial safety). Particularly, the lack of defined antimicrobial pre-harvest interventions and limited post-harvest approaches for organic produce. Hence, this multi-regional (AL, CT, HI, MA, NH, PA, RI, TX, VT), multi-institutional, multidisciplinary proposal designed with stakeholder input aims to develop natural, eco-friendly, biocontrol approaches for improving organic leafy green production, focusing on (1) microbial safety and sustaining crop yields, (2) product quality, and (3) consumer perception and cost-benefit analysis. Project results will be disseminated to scientific groups, the community, organic growers, and stakeholders through conferences, workshops, social media, and webinars. Moreover, instructional material will be developed to train the next generation of the workforce in organic production. The program staff consists of a combination of young, mid- career, and senior scientists with expertise in organic crop production, agriculture economics, sensory evaluation, food safety, post-harvest handling, biological controls in food safety, vegetable production extension, produce safety extension and education. Taken together, the proposed integrated research, extension, and education activities will improve the sustainability and viability of organic crop production to meet food security challenges in the US and globally.



Objectives: The project aims to develop natural, eco-friendly, biocontrol approaches for improving organic leafy green production, focusing on (1) microbial safety and sustaining crop yields, (2) product quality, and (3) consumer perception and cost-benefit analysis. Project results will be disseminated to scientific groups, the community, organic growers, and stakeholders through conferences, workshops, social media, and webinars. Moreover, instructional material will be developed to train the next generation of the workforce in organic production.



Grant Number

Proposal Number

Grant Title

State Name

Grantee Name

Award Dollars

Program Name

Program Area Name

2024-51300-43048

2024-03307

>From Field to Market: Expanding Experiential Learning for Undergraduates in Organic Agriculture, Emphasizing Diversification, Finances, and Marketing

MINNESOTA

SAES - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

$679,815.00

Organic Agriculture Research & Extension Initiative

Integrated Res., Educ., & Ext. Competitive Grants Program



Non-Technical Summary: Land grant universities can play an important role in developing an educated workforce that is prepared to address the multi-faceted components of organic production. Stakeholders, including current students and organic farmers, value multidisciplinary instruction and opportunities to put skills to practice. At the University of Minnesota, we have nationally recognized research and teaching programs focused on plant and animal science for undergraduate students specifically within organic production frameworks, however there are no cross-disciplinary activities connecting these two academic programs. Like many student farm programs across the country, our current curriculum in organic agriculture is plant production-oriented and lacks opportunities for students to learn more about the financial management aspects of these systems. We will address this by working across departments to update and expand our current discipline-specific curriculum into a more holistic framework supporting diversified organic production systems. We will integrate organic plant and animal production systems while providing students with valuable skills in financial management and marketing. This approach better reflects the realities of small-scale, organic farms in the upper Midwest and will better equip our undergraduate students with the leadership skills and knowledge needed to support and launch new organic farms. The objectives of this proposal are to 1) expand organic agriculture curriculum for undergraduate students at the University of Minnesota; 2) disseminate new resources and knowledge beyond Minnesota to students at other institutions and to the broader organic educator community; and 3) reinforce connections between the Student Organic Farm and outreach and Extension programs in organic agriculture.



Objectives: The overarching goal addressed in this proposal is to foster undergraduate education, leadership skills and professional development to benefit the organic agriculture industry in Minnesota and beyond. The organic industry is the fastest-growing segment of U.S. agriculture, with farmers and ranchers selling $11.2 billion in certified organic products in 2021 (USDA NASS 2022). To continue to meet the expanding increase in consumer demand for organic products, it is critical that barriers to production and marketing are addressed. In large part, this entails access to technical resources and education centered on organic production systems. The Organic Farming Research Foundation's comprehensive National Organic Research Agenda report for 2022 identified the "clear need for more extension personnel and other service providers trained specifically in organic farming systems" (Snyder et al. 2022). Lack of technical assistance was identified as a key challenge for organic systems nationwide, and recommendations in the report include building the capacity of Extension, NRCS, and other agricultural professionals to serve the organic farming sector (Snyder et al. 2022). Organic programs at land grant universities are well positioned to do this. Organic production systems are complex in nature and rely on a basic understanding of soil science, nutrient cycling, integrated insect/weed/disease management, landscape and habitat management, biodiversity, and ecosystem services; concepts related to the biological and ecological components of organic production. However, production is only one component in building a thriving, long-lived organic farm business. To be successful, farmers need to be skilled at managing budgets and finances, recordkeeping, marketing, risk management, use of technology, and interpersonal skills. Organic farmers, particularly those who are beginning or transitioning to organic production, need reputable sources of information and training to manage these complex farm businesses efficiently. University programs in organic agriculture can play an important role in developing an educated workforce that is prepared to address the multi-faceted components of organic production. Additionally, well-designed programming can help build leadership and professional skills among students and provide opportunities for shared learning with leaders in the organic farming community. The University of Minnesota (UMN) is a national leader in organic agriculture, both in research and teaching. Our current undergraduate curriculum in organic horticulture on the St. Paul campus includes a formal course with a laboratory component, HORT 3131 Student Organic Farm Planning, Growing and Marketing (taught by Co-PI Grossman). This course is a requirement for students in the 'Organic and Local Food Production' track of our Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems major, and a popular elective for other undergraduate programs in our college. HORT 3131 provides hands-on learning with labs that take place on the UMN Student Organic Farm (SOF). In addition, all undergraduate students in our college are required to complete an internship and 6-7 students per year complete summer internships at the SOF. The SOF was formed by student initiative in 2004 as a space for experiential learning on campus (Markhart 2006). Originally a 1-acre plot of certified organic land on the edge of the UMN research plots maintained by the MN Agricultural Experiment Station on the St. Paul campus, the SOF now encompasses the organic systems plan for 5.5 acres of organic land used for research while still maintaining 1 acre of annual vegetables for student learning. In addition, the SOF manages "The Commons," a 0.5 acre gathering space with plaza, perennial fruit and native wildflowers used for field days, workshops, and other community events. The SOF sells produce to the campus community via three distinct marketing channels from July through September, including the UMN farmers market (Minneapolis campus) organized by our campus wellness center, the Campus Club restaurant, and at our farm stand on the nearby St. Paul campus. Revenue from farm sales (~$20k/year) helps offset the costs of materials and supplies, field plot maintenance, and greenhouse fees, while also providing wages for undergraduate student interns. Traditionally, the UMN organic curriculum has focused on the production of annual vegetable crops. Our curriculum does not include livestock production, or the economic aspects of farming as a business. Although business management is more frequently included in traditional agriculture curricula at the university level, few instructors report including business management skills and concepts in their organic agriculture courses (Jabbour and Pellissier 2019). Similarly, organic livestock production has not been prioritized within organic programming at universities, with an outsized focus on specialty crops (Jabbour and Pellissier 2019). Colleagues in the Dept. of Animal Science at the UMN including Co-PD Johny recently received a curriculum development grant from the OREI program (2023-51300-40911) to address this gap and develop new courses in organic animal production. The objectives in this proposal will complement these activities while allowing expansion of our current curriculum in organic horticulture. The integration of vegetable production knowledge and animal production, financial literacy, and marketing basics is critical for small farm business management. We will pilot our proposed curriculum on the UMN SOF by uniting these interdisciplinary ideas in an enriched student experience. The hands-on learning modules developed here will be validated by students enrolled at the UMN, then scaled up and made available to other institutions via development of an online course. In addition to serving undergraduates students, the SOF provides a valuable space for demonstration, outreach, and extension events to reach the larger organic grower community, allowing us to extend our deliverables beyond the university walls. In 2023, for example, 75 community members, many self-described as "beginning" or "aspiring" farmers, attended a fruit and vegetable organic field day on the UMN St. Paul campus, which included tours and extension education about the SOF. Those who attended the field day reported they would attend another UMN event (75%), use UMN Extension online resources (60%), and reach out to UMN Extension with a question (41%). We recognize a critical need for basic knowledge related to organic agriculture among a broader audience of undergraduate students, emerging farmers, extension educators, and other technical assistants within and external to our state. Our team has developed three objectives to address these educational needs: Objective 1: Expand organic agriculture curriculum for undergraduate students at the University of Minnesota Objective 2: Disseminate new resources and knowledge beyond Minnesota to students at other institutions, and to the broader organic educator community Objective 3: Reinforce connections between the Student Organic Farm and outreach and Extension programs in organic agriculture.




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