WASHINGTON – After learning about Connecticut’s organic farming production from local farmers and organic agriculture researchers during a recent meeting at the University of Connecticut, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) today urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prioritize organic research in agriculture research grants. In a letter addressed to USDA Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack, Murphy emphasized that despite growing consumer demand for organic products, the federal government spends less than 1% of the main federal agriculture research grants —the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative and the Specialty Crop Research Initiative—on organic agriculture research. Murphy also highlighted the benefit of organic research to conventional farmers across the nation, who could apply the research to grow their businesses.

“I write today to urge you to prioritize organic research as you award agriculture research grants in FY 2016 and would encourage you to prioritize organic agriculture research in your FY 2017 budget,” wrote Murphy. “According to the Organic Trade Association sales in organic products increased 11.5% in 2014 from the previous year. However, investment in organic projects in hallmark agriculture research programs is not keeping pace with demand. In order to help meet growing consumer demand, federal investment in agriculture research must include robust support for organic agriculture research projects.”

Murphy continued, “It is also important to note that organic research often benefits conventional farmers as well. For example, all farmers can benefit from research on using crop rotations to break pest cycles or non-herbicide methods of weed control, even if the research is targeted to organic systems. Robust federal investments in organic research are critical for supporting existing farmers and making it easier for new farmers to make the transition to organic to help this growing market.”

The full text of the letter is available online or below:

The Honorable Thomas J. Vilsack

Secretary of Agriculture

U.S. Department of Agriculture

1400 Independence Avenue SW

Washington, DC 20250

Dear Secretary Vilsack,

Thank you for your continued leadership on behalf of our nation’s famers—both large and small. I write today to urge you to prioritize organic research as you award agriculture research grants in Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 and would encourage you to prioritize organic agriculture research in your FY 2017 budget.

While I was disappointed the omnibus spending bill did not fully fund the President’s request for important research programs such as the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), I was ultimately proud to support a budget that increased AFRI funding from FY 2015 levels and continues important appropriated funding for the Organic Transitions Program and mandatory funding for programs like the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI). These critical investments affirm the importance and the value of growing agriculture research and development. This increase will help support ongoing research being done in my home state of Connecticut. However, as USDA awards grants in FY 2016 it is critical that AFRI and SCRI grants support organic agriculture research projects.

In order to help meet growing consumer demand, federal investment in agriculture research must include robust support for organic agriculture research projects. It is clear that consumer demand for organic food is high. According to the Organic Trade Association sales in organic products increased 11.5% in 2014 from the previous year.

However, investment in organic projects in hallmark agriculture research programs is not keeping pace with demand. According to the Connecticut based National Organic Coalition, the percentage of AFRI funding supporting organic research was 0.1% from 2010-2014. Further, only 2% of SCRI grants supported organic research projects in this same period, which is particularly alarming given that this research supports products like fruits and vegetables, a sector in which demand for organic products is particularly high.  

It is also important to note that organic research often benefits conventional farmers as well.   For example, all farmers can benefit from research on using crop rotations to break pest cycles or non-herbicide methods of weed control, even if the research is targeted to organic systems.  

It is clear that consumer demand for organic products will continue to grow.  Robust federal investments in organic research are critical for supporting existing farmers and making it easier for new farmers to make the transition to organic to help this growing market.  

 

Sincerely,

Christopher S. Murphy

United States Senator