OFRF Announces New Grant Round for Funding Organic Research

The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) has released a request for proposals (RFP) for its 2014 grant cycle. Proposals for funding organic farming research are due on May 15, 2014. Since its grant program began in 1992, the OFRF has given out more than $3,000,000 in grants to a wide spectrum of researchers and farmers to conduct cutting-edge research on best practices in organic farming and food systems. 

The OFRF particularly encourages farmers, ranchers, scientists and extension personnel to apply for funding. More information can be found at the OFRF website: http://www.ofrf.org/research/grants/request-research-and-education-and-outreach-proposals.

The OFRF expects to give away approximately $60,000 this grant round. Decisions on the new rounds of applications will be made in November 2014, and applicants will be notified of the results in December. Here are the four research projects that were funded in January 2014, for a total of $59,000. 

Organic Seed Production and Improvement Training Program for Vermont

Increasing the availability of quality organic seed, including addressing the issue of contamination by genetically engineered crops. Lynda Prim, Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT), Vt.

Snap Beans With Enhanced Nitrogen-use Efficiency for Organic Production– Year 2

Improving nitrogen-use efficiency and reducing nitrate-based soil amendments for snap bean production. James Nienhuis, University of Wisconsin Madison, Wis.

Can Organic Garlic Seed Stock be Created Disease-Free From the Production of Garlic Bulbils? 

Developing a commercially viable organic hardneck garlic seed stock that is pest- and disease-free. Fred Forsburg, Honeyhill Farm, N.Y.

Managing Indigenous Seed-Inhabiting Microbes for Biological Control Against Fusarium Pathogens in Corn

Exploring the potential of indigenous seed-inhabiting microorganisms to provide heritable resistance against disease. Lucas Nebert, University of Oregon, Eugene, Ore.Outcomes and results of OFRF-funded research are available on its website, www.ofrf.org/research