Organic agriculture is not just a method for growing our food and fiber, it is a proven solution to many of the challenges facing U.S. agriculture today. It reduces dependence on imported synthetic inputs, strengthens rural and urban economies, and builds resilience to a changing climate through supporting healthy soils and agroecological systems. But, despite its rapid growth and growing importance, public investment in organic agriculture programs has not kept pace.
At the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF), we believe that strategic, science-based policies can unlock the full potential of organic farming. That is why we have developed a new set of Policy Priorities designed to align research investments with market opportunities, enhance technical and financial assistance for organic farmers and farmworkers, and strengthen the incentive structures that reward sustainable stewardship of our natural, social, and economic resources.
By embracing these policies, Congress and the USDA can ensure that organic agriculture continues to be a thriving part of the United States’ food system; creating economic opportunities, empowering producers, and delivering environmental benefits far beyond the farm.
Bridging the Research Investment Gap to Drive Innovation and Resilience
Organic agriculture is the fastest-growing sector in the United States’ food market, accounting for over 6% of total food sales and 15% of all produce sales. Despite this growth, organic research receives less than 2% of USDA’s research funding, and less than 1% of the Agricultural Research Service’s research budget. Simultaneously, public agricultural research funding has declined by 20% since 2000, even though every $1 invested generates over $20 in economic benefits. Private funding has attempted to fill this gap, but it often prioritizes proprietary technologies over public welfare.
This underinvestment slows the ability of U.S. farmers to keep up with demand, increasing our national reliance on imported organic goods and products. Public research funding is vital to closing the domestic supply gap and ensuring that communities across the United States benefit from the economic growth of the organic sector. Increasing federal investments in organic agriculture research will drive innovation, improve resilience to agronomic and economic disruptions, and ensure U.S. farmers have access to high quality science-backed tools.
