Organic News

Rodale Institute receives $4.1 million in grants for organic research, farmer training, and new science center

The Rodale Institute recently received a $1 million donation from the GIANT Company to support organic research and farmer training and a $3 million grant from the state of Pennsylvania for a new state-of-the-art Science Center. GIANT Company’s funds came from the company’s Healing Our Planet campaign that invited consumers to round up the dollar […]

California approves $5 million for Organic Transition Program

California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) has been pushing for more help for farmers transitioning to organic production, through creation of an Organic Transition Program. In June, the governor approved a 2022-2023 state budget allocating $5 million for grants, technical assistance, education, and outreach to support farmers and ranchers to transition to organic. Funds will also […]

Did Sri Lanka’s transition to organic farming cause political crisis?

With the Sri Lankan president forced to resign and the country in economic shambles, did a sudden ban on chemical fertilizers play a role? Although right-wing herbicide proponents claim it did, David LaBorde of the International Food Policy Research Institute sees it otherwise. He noted that while Rajapaksa’s abrupt ban on chemical fertilizers did jolt […]

Organic expands “carbon farming” to much more than storing carbon, IFOAM says

The EU branch of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) wants to recognize organic’s status as a “carbon farming” practice, beyond its ability to store carbon in soil. “Practices…common in organic farming are already contributing to higher soil carbon stocks…while providing benefits for soil health, water quality, and biodiversity protection,” said Jan Plagge, IFOAM Organics […]

Syngenta CEO blasted for comments saying that organic farming is contributing to global hunger

In a move that the Syngenta boss says is “in no way linked to Syngenta’s business objectives,” CEO Erik Fyrwald recently called for an abandonment of organic farming to focus on increased yields to avert rising global food insecurity. The solution, in his view, is for rich countries to improve yields to better feed the […]