FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, June 9, 2026 — The Organic Farming Research Foundation, International Fresh Produce Association, Organic Farmers Association, the Organic Trade Association, and the National Organic Coalition are proud to have led a letter sent to the Senate Agriculture Committee today about the importance of supporting organic research, specifically the Organic Agriculture Research Extension Initiative (OREI) and the Organic Transitions Program (ORG), in the Farm Bill.

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 are critical to advancing innovation, productivity, and long-term competitiveness within the organic market, 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 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). 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 letter was supported by major brands, such as Mondelez Global LLC, Driscoll’s, Organic Valley, Stoneyfield Organic, and United Natural Foods, Inc.. It was also supported by 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. Of course, 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 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.

View the sign-on letter.

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About Organic Farming Research Foundation
The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF), headquartered in Santa Cruz, California, with a remote team based across the U.S., works to foster the improvement and widespread adoption of organic farming systems. OFRF cultivates organic research, education, and federal policies that bring more farmers and acreage into organic production. For more information about OFRF, please visit our website: www.ofrf.org.

Media Contact:
Ashley Dulaney, Communications Director, OFRF
ashley@ofrf.orf, ‪(518) 310-6771‬‬
P.O. Box 440, Santa Cruz, CA 95061