A new report outlines several ways organic agriculture should benefit from the next farm bill.
The Natural Resources Defense Council, the Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems at Arizona State University, and Californians for Pesticide Reform published the report, called Grow Organic: The Climate, Health, & Economic Case for Expanding Organic Agriculture.
The report, according to a news release, says the next farm bill should:
- Expand organic production by supporting organic transition;
- Ramp up federal resources that promote organic innovation, success and accessibility;
- Ensure racial and Indigenous justice and equitable participation in organic agriculture;
- Use true cost accounting to identify agricultural investments that benefit the public;
- Create stable organic markets through public procurement;
- Reward organic management and ecosystem services in agricultural policies;
- Educate the public about the benefits of organic;
- Invest in regional supply chains to meet the growing demand for organic;
- Strengthen organic rules and enforcement;
- Integrate organic throughout public institutions.
“Expanding organic agriculture is an investment in our future, one that could ultimately produce significant returns,” Kathleen Merrigan, executive director for the Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems at Arizona State University, said in the release. “When we account for the true costs of our current farming systems — including health, environmental, social and economic impacts — the value of organic farming is undeniable. This report lays out where we need to go.”
