Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) – USDA Funding
Posted by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Type: Funding
Application Deadline: May 14, 2026
The purpose of this program is to fund high‑priority integrated projects that enhance the ability of producers and processors who have already adopted organic standards to grow and market high‑quality organic agricultural products, and to increase resilience in American farming systems. 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. Projects should plan to deliver applied production information to producers. Fieldwork must be done on certified organic land or on land in transition to organic certification, as appropriate to project goals and objectives. For this program, a land/facility is not considered organic unless it has received USDA certification. Refer to USDA National Organic Program for organic production standards.
OREI has eight goals that are legislatively-defined by the Farm Bill:
- Facilitating the development and improvement of organic agriculture production, breeding, and processing methods;
- Evaluating the potential economic benefits of organic agricultural production and methods to producers, processors, and rural communities;
- Exploring international trade opportunities for organically grown and processed agricultural commodities;
- Determining desirable traits for organic commodities;
- Identifying marketing and policy limitations on the expansion of organic agriculture;
- Conducting advanced on-farm research and development that emphasizes observation of, experimentation with, and innovation for working organic farms, including research relating to production, marketing, food safety, socioeconomic conditions, and farm business management;
- Examining optimal conservation, soil health, and environmental outcomes relating to organically produced agricultural products; and
- Developing new and improved seed varieties that are particularly suited for organic agriculture.