Organic Growth Puts America's Universities to the Test

Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) Assesses How Universities Will Meet Economic Demand with Future Organic Farmers

SANTA CRUZ, Calif., May 1, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) announced today the release of the first Organic Land Grant Assessment Report, measuring research, education and outreach in the federally funded Land Grant system.  The system, initiated by President Abraham Lincoln's visionary Land Grant Law, includes universities, research stations and Cooperative Extension. 
(Full report http://ofrf.org/publications/2012-LGU-Assess.pdf)

In the past decade, the organic food industry has more than quadrupled in growth, and OFRF sheds light on America's ability to meet growing consumer demand with trained organic farmers and useful research.  Conducting the first and only national assessment of the Land Grant system's organic activity, OFRF scored each institution on 8 points including maintaining organic research land, cultivating student organic farm, offering an organic minor, major or certificate, and employing a dedicated organic faculty or staff member.

The Top Six campuses scoring a perfect '8' include:  Colorado State University, University of Florida, Michigan State University, University of Minnesota, University of Tennessee (the newest addition to organic), and Washington State University.  Five years ago, Washington State University was the first in the country to offer students a major in organic agriculture.  Today, eight Land Grant Universities provide students this opportunity. 

"We look to the Land Grant system to be responsive to public needs, economic growth, rural communities, and ultimately, access to healthy, safe food," said Maureen Wilmot, Executive Director of OFRF.  "While land dedicated to organic research has nearly doubled from 2003 to 2011, and universities providing organic programs have grown from zero to eight, public universities must do a great deal more in order to meet the growing needs of organic demand."

Rich in data, OFRF's Organic Land Grant Assessment illuminates the need for public investment in organic research and education in order to prepare the U.S. for future organic food production challenges.  The quantitative data provides tools to drill deeper into answering questions including:  What elements of organic research are most relevant to the urgent needs of organic farmers?  What programs best train future organic farmers?  To what degree do student organic farms build organic awareness and consumption?              

The information gathered for this report yielded a vast amount of state-specific data on organic programs.  Daily, OFRF experiences demand for this information from farmers, scientists, students, organic advocates, policy makers, industry representatives, funders, and citizens.  OFRF plans to organize and present state-specific information and make it accessible to all interested parties.

About the Organic Farming Research Foundation

The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) has a very clear vision -- that organic farming will be the leading form of agriculture for healthy people who thrive on a healthy planet. OFRF sponsors organic farming research and education projects and works to create federal farm policy bringing more farmers and acreage into organic production. Founded in 1990, OFRF is the leading non-profit, national champion of the American organic family farmer in America. For more information, see www.ofrf.org and find us on Facebook!

Contact Info:
Denise Ryan
External Relations Director
(831) 426-6606
[email protected]

SOURCE Organic Farming Research Foundation