The Organic & Non-GMO Report Newsletter

Biodiversity benefits from switching to organic take time to accrue

A Lund University, Sweden, study suggests that it takes several decades to reap benefits of growing organic crops on land previously using conventional practices. Researchers from Lund University wanted to know how long it takes biodiversity markers to recover after the switch to organic growing—and how significant the recovery would be. The study looked at […]

$3.34 million USDA grant will forward organic poultry industry

Nearly 2,000 farms comprise the U.S. organic poultry industry, according to 2021 data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. However, this sector still faces numerous obstacles, including disease management, feed availability, production efficiency, food safety, and effective marketing. University of Connecticut assistant professor Abhinav Upadhyay will lead a research team using a $3.34 million U.S. Department […]

Most consumers are unfamiliar or only slightly familiar with regenerative agriculture

By Steve Koppes Many members of the public lack familiarity with the farming methods known as regenerative agriculture, according to Purdue University’s August 2024 Consumer Food Insights Report (CFI). The survey-based report out of Purdue University’s Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability (CFDAS) assesses food spending, consumer satisfaction and values, support of agricultural and food policies, and trust in information […]

UK study calls for education differentiating “organic” and “regenerative” farming, to boost sustainable agriculture

Farmers are aware of a confusion among consumers regarding “organic” and “regenerative” farming practices—and a subsequent holdup in achieving a larger embrace of sustainable agriculture. A new study from England’s University of Reading argues that clarification of the different types of crop production would better protect the countryside with more organic farms, while also supporting […]

Microsoft invests in regenerative agriculture through Farmland LP investment

Regenerative ag is getting a major push from tech software giant Microsoft’s investment in Farmland LP (https://www.farmlandlp.com)—a fund manager that converts conventional commercial farmland to sustainable production. Microsoft dollars will go to Vital Farmland III, the fund’s $250 million real asset-based fund supporting the regenerative approach to climate-smart farming. One of the largest U.S. farm […]