$6.1 MILLION IN GRANT AWARDS ANNOUNCED FOR CDFA’S ORGANIC TRANSITION PILOT PROGRAM

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SACRAMENTO, November 29, 2023 – The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation (OEFI) is pleased to announce $6.1 million in grants to four organizations through a new competitive grant program, the Organic Transition Pilot Program (OTPP). 

The Organic Transition Pilot Program comes by way of two $5 million appropriations, from the Budget Acts of 2022 and 2023. The program provides support to farmers and ranchers who are preparing land for organic certification. The program is designed as a block grant, administered through awards to organizations that demonstrate the expertise and collaboration needed to disburse financial and technical assistance and provide business planning to producers. 

The pilot program has a strong emphasis on equity. Awarded organizations will direct at least 50% of financial and technical assistance to Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers.

“We are excited to provide these grants to organizations that are experts in this field and that can guide farmers and ranchers through the transition to organic production, which involves a learning curve,” said CDFA Deputy Secretary for Climate and Working Lands Virginia Jameson. “These grants will also help the state advance the goal set by the state’s 2022 Scoping Plan to increase organic agriculture to 20% of all cultivated acres by 2045.”  

The 2022 Scoping Plan is a statewide document that sets out California’s pathway to carbon neutrality, including substantial contributions from the agricultural sector.  

Financial assistance disbursed to farmers and ranchers will be spent on a wide range of eligible expenses for making the transition to organic farming, including field-preparation awards to help build soils for successful organic production.  

CDFA accepted applications from July 21, 2023, through September 15, 2023. Resource Conservation Districts, non-profit organizations, Universities of California, California State Universities, California community colleges, and California Native American Tribes were eligible to apply for $500,000 to $2,000,000 in funding. When the projects begin, the awarded organizations will perform outreach and identify producers to assist in the organic transition. 

More information is available at the program website: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/otp/ If you have questions about the Organic Transition Pilot Program, please email cdfa.oefi_otp@cdfa.ca.gov. 

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