** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** CHICKPEA (CICER ARIETINUM L.) IS A VERSATILE, CLIMATE-RESILIENT, AND SALT-TOLERANT PULSE CROP THAT WILL BECOME AN EXCELLENT NEW WINTER CASH CROP FOR SOUTHEASTERN ORGANIC PRODUCERS. PULSES PROVIDE SOIL HEALTH AND NITROGEN BENEFITS TO CROPPING SYSTEMS AND ARE A SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF PLANT-BASED PROTEIN. CHICKPEAS CAN GROW AS A WINTER CASH CROP IN THE SOUTHEAST, FROM UPSTATE TO THE COAST, REPLACING ACREAGE LEFT FALLOW OR PLANTED WITH COVER CROPS. CULTIVARS BRED FOR CONVENTIONAL PRODUCTION ARE OFTEN UNSUITABLE FOR ORGANIC PRODUCTION, AND ORGANICALLY GROWN PULSE CROPS HAVE LOWER PROTEIN, MAKING ORGANIC PULSE PROTEINS MORE EXPENSIVE. INCREASING CROP PRODUCTION COSTS AND DECREASING COMMODITY PRICES MEAN ORGANIC GROWERS ARE EXPLORING NEW CROP OPTIONS. OUR LONG-TERM GOAL IS TO DEVELOP SHORT-SEASON CHICKPEA CULTIVARS FOR ORGANIC PRODUCTION WITH HIGHER PROTEIN QUALITY AND SUPERIOR MILLING PROPERTIES, SENSORY QUALITIES, AND ADAPTABILITY TO ORGANIC RICE/VEGETABLE SYSTEMS. THIS PROJECT IS BUILT ON OREI, GOOD FOOD INSTITUTE (GFI), AND SC DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE-FUNDED PROJECTS TO ESTABLISH A BREEDING PIPELINE FOR THE PUBLIC RELEASE OF PROTEIN-BIOFORTIFIED ORGANIC CHICKPEA CULTIVARS FOR SOUTHEASTERN STATES. PROJECT OBJECTIVES ARE TO (1) DEVELOP PROTEIN-ENRICHED ORGANIC CHICKPEA VARIETIES USING ON-FARM FIELD TRAILS (PARTICIPATORY BREEDING), (2) COMBINE GENOMIC INFORMATION AND TRAIT DISCOVERY TO ENABLE THE BEST GENOTYPE-TO-PHENOTYPE MAPPING, AND (3) DEVELOP ON-FARM EDUCATIONAL AND EXTENSION ACTIVITIES USING THE GOING ORGANIC PLATFORM. THIS PROJECT IS ALIGNED WITH THE OREI GOALS TO (1) DEVELOP AND IMPROVE ORGANIC AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION, BREEDING, AND PROCESSING METHODS; (2) DETERMINE DESIRABLE TRAITS; (3) ON-FARM RESEARCH; AND (4) DEVELOP NEW AND IMPROVED SEED VARIETIES FOR ORGANIC AGRICULTURE.