Jul 15, 2021

Organic Farming Research Foundation grant process open through Aug. 20

OFRF announced July 13 it had begun accepting letters of intent for its research grant program.

Letters of intent are being accepted through 5 p.m. PST Friday, Aug. 20. In the two-step granting process, a subset of letter-writers are asked to submit full proposals. Projects are funded up to $20,000, and most projects are only funded for one year.

Special attention this year is being given to projects related to climate change.

“We recognize climate change is one of the most pressing challenges for farmers, ranchers, and society as a whole,” OFRF wrote on its website and in a newsletter. “Therefore, we are prioritizing research that maximizes the potential for organic agriculture to be part of the climate solution OFRF will fund projects for up to $20,000 for one year of research. Submissions must fall under at least one of the six research priority areas: soil health focus; weed, pest, and disease management focus; resilient cultivars focus; livestock and poultry focus; social science focus; and/or resilience focus.”

The group said it would continue its “support for farmer-led research” while prioritizing applications from early career researchers and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).

“We believe it is critical to foster the next generation of researchers and support historically underserved and marginalized communities, while also ensuring all farmers have the most up-to-date and science-based information,” the group wrote. “OFRF is reserving half of our grants for BIPOC applicants.”

Early career researchers are defined as “pre-tenure faculty, postdoctoral associates, graduate students, and/or researchers that have received their MS or PhD within the past seven years (graduation year 2014).”

Above, peppers are labeled during the breeding process for an OFRF-funded project.