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

The Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program – Organic Transitions (ORG) aims 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. The program focuses on priority areas such as soil health, greenhouse gas mitigation, biodiversity, and climate change adaptation. Applicants are expected to develop partnerships, engage stakeholders, and provide applied production information to producers. • Priority areas include documenting the effects of organic practices on soil health, developing improved technologies for ecosystem services, and overcoming barriers to organic transition. • Eligible applicants include colleges and universities, with a focus on small- or mid-sized institutions and those serving high-risk, under-served, or hard-to-reach audiences. • Applications should integrate research, education, and extension activities, with a plan for evaluating and documenting project success. • The program encourages a systems approach, indigenous traditional ecological knowledge, and the development of cultural practices and allowable alternatives to substances recommended for removal from the National Organic Program’s National List.