Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative - OREI Research Projects with Extension and/or Education Components
Grant Opportunity Analysis
The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is inviting applications for the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) for Fiscal Year 2026, with a total funding pool of $65 million. This grant opportunity aims to support integrated research, education, and extension projects that address critical issues in U.S. organic agriculture, including on-farm research, organic practices, post-harvest handling, and animal production systems. Eligible applicants must provide a 100% matching contribution and involve stakeholders in projects conducted on USDA-certified organic land or facilities. The application deadline is May 14, 2026, at 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time, and interested parties can direct inquiries to grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov.
Eligible Applicants
Applications may only be submitted by the following entities:State Agricultural Experiment StationsColleges and universitiesUniversity research foundationsOther research institutions and organizationsFederal agenciesNational laboratoriesPrivate organizations, foundations, or corporationsIndividuals who are United States citizens or nationalsA 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.