Jul 31, 2023

Bill would boost organic research, priorities at USDA

The Organic Science and Research Investment Act seeks to promote organic research priorities at the USDA and through expanded funding at research agencies and universities.

Sens. John Fetterman, D-Pa., Bob Casey, D-Pa., Peter Welch, D-Vt., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., introduced the Organic Science and Research Investment Act in mid-July.

The bill will require USDA’s research agencies to better coordinate on organic research and Extension, ensuring that the department considers organic research priorities in its budget justification to Congress and studies the feasibility of certifying more research land as organic. The bill will also increase funding for the USDA’s Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI), which supplies grants to universities and other research institutions for organics research. The bill will build on the Biden administration’s organic research work by creating a statutory grant program to support producers as they transition to organic production.

The bill is endorsed by more than 60 organizations, including the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and Organic Farming Research Foundation.

“I’m proud to introduce this bill to expand resources for Pennsylvania’s critical organics industry,” Fetterman said. “Our farmers are some of the best in the world, and we have to support them in every way possible.

“We’re one of the top organic-producing states, and we need to keep it that way,” Fetterman said. “Earlier this year, our state government invested $1.8 million to help conventional farms transition to organic farming, and I’m going to fight like hell to make sure the federal government’s part in supporting organic research and our small farmers gets there too.”

Casey released a statement on the growth in organic agriculture.

“A meaningful federal investment in this vital industry would create jobs in rural areas and market opportunities for our family farmers,” he said in the statement.

“It’s important that we support research into this emerging industry, and the tools needed to transition to organics,” Welch said in a statement.

“By prioritizing organic research and helping support farms’ transition to organic production, we can bolster the sector and ensure the availability of high-quality organic food for all families,” Booker said in a statement.

According to a statement from Brown, for every dollar invested in ag research, there is a $20 return.

“That’s why the Organic Science and Research Investment Act is so important,” he said in the statement. “It will increase investments in organic agriculture research so that our organic farmers can be more productive, profitable and resilient, and so more Ohio families can put organic food on their table.”