(FOA)-Organic
Transitions Program (ORG) (USDA-NIFA-ICGP-006740); May 16,
2019
Agency
US
Department of Agriculture (USDA) - National Institute of Food and Agriculture
(NIFA)
Description
NIFA
requests applications for the Integrated Research, Education, and Extension
Competitive Grants Program – Organic Transitions (ORG) for two funding cycles,
fiscal years (FY) 2019 or 2020, to solve critical organic agriculture issues,
priorities, or problems. Practices and systems to be addressed include those
associated with organic crops, organic animal production, and organic systems
that integrate crop and animal production. ORG strongly encourages
applicants to develop partnerships. Priority Areas for FY 2019 and
2020:
·
Priority
1: Document and understand the effects of organic practices including, but not
limited to: crop rotation; livestock feeding and management; livestock-crop
system integration; organic manure, mulch, and/or compost additions; cover
crops; effects of reduced or conservation tillage on soil health and fertility;
greenhouse gas mitigation; enhanced biodiversity; and understanding of weeds,
pests and diseases dynamics for better management.
·
Priority
2: Develop improved technologies, methods, models, and metrics to document,
describe, and optimize the ecosystem services and the climate variability
adaptation and mitigation ability of organic crop, livestock, and integrated
crop-livestock production systems.
·
Priority
3: Develop cultural practices and other allowable alternatives to substances
recommended for removal from NOP’s National List of Allowed and Prohibited
Substances. This may include effective substitutes or new technologies, cultural
practices, cultivars, or breeds that render the NOP-cited substance in question
less limiting to production under organic growing conditions. Studies of
alternatives should include evaluation of efficacy based on resulting
productivity, profitability, and natural resources stewardship effects.
·
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 systems, and develop practical
information and tools for producer use.
ORG
strongly encourages applicants to develop partnerships. It is expected that all projects will
integrate research, education and extension activities, as appropriate to
project goals, although some projects may be weighted more heavily than others
in one or more of these areas. However, all proposals should have
activities and impact in research and at least one of the other areas: education
and extension.
Announcement
Number
USDA-NIFA-ICGP-006740
Closing
Date
FY19:
May 16, 2019
FY20:
Feb 27, 2020
Link
to Full Announcement
https://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding-opportunity/organic-transitions-org
Contact
Information
Mathieu
Ngouajio
(202)
401-4895