Updates and a Laborious Take a look at Natural Agriculture Analysis within the 2024 Farm Invoice

As lively contributors within the 2023-2024 (and perhaps into 2025?) Farm Invoice course of, we work diligently to remain knowledgeable and lively in growing legislative proposals that have an effect on natural agriculture analysis, but in addition the natural ecosystem at massive. A part of what we do is take part in coalition foyer days, like earlier in Might the place OFRF joined members of the Natural Commerce Affiliation, like Stonyfield, to verify we’re all persistently engaged with legislators and the natural sector. Two important developments occurred the previous two months: Senator Stabenow unveiled the Part-by-Part (SBS) of the Rural Prosperity and Meals Safety Act, and the Home Agriculture Committee handed the Farm, Meals, and Nationwide Safety Act of 2024 (FFNSA). Now that the preliminary positions have been struck, we’re at a vital juncture in advocating for sturdy natural analysis programming.

Dana Bourne, sustainability program supervisor for Lactalis (Stonyfield)
and OFRF’s Govt Director, Brise Tencer on the OTA Natural Week in DC, Might 2024.

Regardless of some important enhancements included within the Senate SBS for the natural trade at massive, together with the Coordinating Natural Analysis Initiative, this framework doesn’t handle the vital want of elevated budgets for natural analysis packages. The FFNSA misses its mark even additional, solely offering flat funding for USDA’s Nationwide Institute for Meals and Agriculture’s Natural Analysis and Extension Initiative. Though the safeguarding of agricultural analysis packages is all the time necessary, flat funding at 2018 ranges is equal to an almost 25% reduce in this system’s efficient funds within the present financial system resulting from inflation. 

Natural farming techniques are inherently designed to boost native ecosystems by means of practices like cowl cropping, crop-livestock integration, and the usage of perennials. These strategies have been scientifically confirmed to extend soil natural matter, enhance soil construction, and foster sturdy microbial communities—all of that are important for long-term fertility and productiveness. Past ecological advantages, natural agriculture is an important financial driver for rural economies, producing greater revenues and supporting native companies at a charge far exceeding that of typical farming.

Regardless of natural merchandise making up 6% of the entire meals market and over 15% of the produce market, lower than 2% of USDA-REE businesses’ budgets are allotted to natural subjects. This persistent underfunding dangers stifling the expansion potential of the natural sector and jeopardizes the aggressive fringe of the US in international natural markets.

In mild of the demonstrated constructive impacts and the rising shopper demand for natural merchandise, we have now authored a letter that over 80 organizations have joined to reiterate the necessity for the next provisions within the upcoming Farm Invoice:

• An annual improve of $10 million for the Natural Analysis and Extension Initiative (OREI).
• Congressional authorization of the Researching the Transition to Natural Program, beginning at $10 million a 12 months and rising to $20 million within the third 12 months of the Farm Invoice.
• An elevated funds for the Natural Markets and Information Initiative, together with a mandated report on the financial impression of natural farming on communities.
• The creation of an Natural Analysis Coordinator place inside the Workplace of the Chief Scientist to boost the group and communication of natural analysis on the USDA.
• The inclusion of local weather change adaptation measures and the facilitation of Conventional Ecological Information, making certain the respect and consent of tribal communities, into legislative priorities for OREI.

As we navigate the legislative course of, it’s crucial that we, alongside our companions and policymakers, guarantee natural agriculture analysis receives the eye and funding it critically wants. We urge all supporters of sustainable agriculture to hitch us in advocating for a Farm Invoice that displays the importance of natural farming in at the moment’s meals system.

We’re grateful for the management proven by legislators like those that have cosponsored the SOAR act within the Home and the OSRI Act within the Senate addressing these points, and we sit up for seeing elevated collaboration to strengthen natural agriculture analysis.

We invite you to hitch us on this vital advocacy effort. Right here’s how one can become involved:

Contact your legislators: Urge them to help elevated funding for natural analysis packages. Use this simple Motion Alert from the Nationwide Natural Coalition!

Unfold the phrase: Share this weblog submit and details about the Farm Invoice together with your networks.

Keep knowledgeable: Comply with our updates on the Farm Invoice course of and different legislative developments affecting natural agriculture.

We’re grateful for the management proven by legislators who’ve co-sponsored the SOAR Act within the Home and the OSRI Act within the Senate. We sit up for elevated collaboration to strengthen natural agriculture analysis.

Eat properly and breathe deep,

Gordon

gordon@ofrf.org