The Organic Science and Research Investment Act is a bill that would provide much needed support to help Ohio’s organic farming industry address everything from production hurdles to water and soil management. The bill would specifically expand funding for research agencies and universities and ensure the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) invests in organics research.
The legislation has been endorsed by the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA). OEFFA is one of the oldest and largest organic certification agencies in the country. They applaud Senator Sherrod Brown for his leadership on the Organic Science and Research Investment Act of 2023. They believe that the increased research investments and coordination across the many USDA agencies will help farmers overcome production hurdles and implement holistic approaches to farming that result in better water management, water quality, soil health and resilience.
The bill would require USDA’s research agencies to better coordinate on organic research and extension, ensuring that the USDA 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 and has provided more than $7 million for organics research at the Ohio State University. And finally, 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 Organic Science and Research Investment Act would be a significant investment in Ohio’s organic farming industry. It would help farmers overcome production hurdles, improve water management and soil health, and develop new organic varieties of crops and livestock. The bill would also help to ensure that organic farming remains a viable option for farmers in Ohio and across the country.
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Categories: Ohio, Crops, Government & Policy