Organic farming groups urge Senate to protect USDA organic research programs in new farm bill
The groups argue that continued investment in OREI and the Organic Transitions Program is essential as the U.S. organic market is projected to surpass $100 billion by 2030.
The Organic Farming Research Foundation, International Fresh Produce Association, Organic Farmers Association, the Organic Trade Association and the National Organic Coalition say they are proud to have cosigned a letter sent to the Senate Agriculture Committee today regarding the importance of supporting organic research, specifically the Organic Agriculture Research Extension Initiative (OREI) and the Organic Transitions Program (ORG), in the Farm Bill.
According to a news release from The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF), these National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) programs are the only two dedicated organic research programs under the USDA.
OREI is the flagship competitive grant program dedicated to organic agricultural research. It supports research, education, and extension programs that enhance the ability of established organic producers and processors to grow and market high-quality products.
ORG awards competitive grants to improve the competitiveness of organic livestock and crop producers, as well as those who are adopting organic practices, through research, extension, and higher education.
Both programs, OFRF argues, are critical to advancing innovation, productivity, and long-term competitiveness within the organic market, which is projected to grow from $76.6 billion in 2025 to over $100 billion by 2030. They also produce valuable resources for non-organic farmers interested in adopting organic practices.
The Senate’s version of the farm bill will build off the progress the House farm bill made for organic research, most notably, reauthorizing OREI and providing first-time authorization for the Organic Transitions Program, which was renamed to the Researching the Transition to Organic Program (RTOP), according to the OFRF release. The latter was a great accomplishment because the program was previously receiving funding as an unauthorized program. Since OREI is already a farm bill-derived program, this means that both dedicated organic research programs are now tied to the farm bill, and any changes to either program must effectively be done through the once-in-five-year legislative vehicle.
The group says its letter was also supported by major brands, such as Mondelez Global LLC, Driscoll’s, Organic Valley, Stoneyfield Organic, and United Natural Foods, Inc., and a wide array of farm groups and research organizations, such as the Texas International Produce Association, the “Tri-Societies”, Society of Nematologists, and Arizona State’s Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems. There was also great support from organic groups across the country, like the Iowa Organic Association, Pennsylvania Certified Organic, California Certified Organic Farmers, the Northeast Organic Farming Association-Interstate Council, and others.
All of this shows, the groups write, that there is broad acknowledgment across the food and agricultural space that more dedicated organic research is needed to ensure organic farmers have the best tools and practices to capitalize on the explosive growth in the organic market.