NOC Champions Bills to Increase Funding for Organic Research
The National Organic Coalition has signed onto and expressed strong support for two bills aimed at increasing federal organic research funding and activities. NOC is advocating for the inclusion of these provisions in the 2023 Farm Bill:
The Organic Science and Research Investment Act (OSRI Act) – a bill introduced on July 13, 2023, by Senators Fetterman, Booker, Brown, Casey, Gillibrand, King, Welch, and Wyden. This legislation would increase the resilience of U.S. agriculture, create economic opportunity for producers, and result in improved ecological vitality of the landscape by increasing Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) mandatory funding levels and by directing USDA to increase organic agriculture research conducted and funded by USDA. The bill also provides first-time Congressional authorization for the Researching the Transition to Organic Program (RTOP), currently known as the Organic Transition Research Program (ORG). Learn more.
The Strengthening Organic Agriculture Research (SOAR) Act – a bi-partisan bill introduced on May 25, 2023, by Representatives Newhouse, Panetta, and Pingree. The SOAR Act would provide stair-stepped budget increases to OREI, from $60 million in 2024 to $100 million in 2028. The bill also provides first-time Congressional authorization for the Researching the Transition to Organic Program (RTOP), currently known as the Organic Transition Research Program (ORG). Learn more.
Consumer demand for organic products is soaring and organic products make up a growing share of the marketplace, partly due to increased investment in organic research over the past five years. For this growth to continue, organic producers must be given their fair share of resources dedicated to agricultural research.
“The National Organic Coalition strongly supports the OSRI and SOAR Acts. We appreciate the work of Congressional leaders to champion organic research. Research is key to tackling the many challenges farmers face and organic research benefits all farmers. In fact, many of the farming practices embraced by organic farmers, such as cover cropping and other regenerative agricultural practices, are now being adopted across the board to protect soil health and natural resources.” Abby Youngblood, National Organic Coalition