OCIA Research & Education Micro Grants

Call for Proposals

Grants can be for any of the following areas that involve organics, and benefit multiple producers, processors and/or consumers.

  1. Organic Research
    1. Crop and/or livestock production, storage improvement, processing improvement
    2. Marketing of organic products
  2. Organic Education
    1. Development of educational material (i.e. student related, producer related consumer related, web related, etc.)
    2. Development of programs supporting organic agriculture (i.e. various types of camps, community gardens, grocery store taste tests, presentations to interested parties, etc.)
  3. Other ideas supporting/promoting organic agriculture
    1. Subject to Board approval

Criteria

Typical grants would be in the range of $300 to $1,500, on a first come - first served basis provided projects meet requirements. The intent is to spread grant awards among as many regions as possible. Therefore, there may be limitations on the number of grants given within any one region. Proposals must support organic agriculture in some form. A progress report or final report is due by December 31. The final report should be no more than two pages (see time frame below).

Submission of proposals (must be legible)

Download the application, fill it out and send to Angela Tunink via email, fax or letter, at the address/number below:

Angela Tunink

Executive Director

OCIA Research and Education, Inc.
1340 N. Cotner Blvd.
Lincoln, NE 68505

Phone: (402) 477-2323 Ext. 320
Fax: 402-477-4325
Email: atunink@ocia.org

Research & Education

  • Project results must have the capability of being repeated by other individuals who may want to apply the concept to their circumstances.
  • The final report becomes the property of OCIA R&E, which reserves the right to distribute it to appropriate venues.
  • On-farm field research should include a control or check treatment, or compare at least two different treatments or variables so valid conclusions can be made.

Documentation of Final Report

  • Must include a summary of the results of the project.
  • Referencing of material, bibliography

Personal training MAY NOT be an acceptable micro grant project proposal.

Distribution of Funds

Majority of grant money (75%) is released upon acceptance of proposal. Remainder of money (25%) will be released once a final report, meeting board approval, is submitted.