Organic Farming Research FoundationOrganic Farming Research Foundation How OFRFOFRF and SARESARE
Can Nurture and GrowOrganic Agriculture Together
by Jonathon Landeck, Deputy Executive by Jonathon Landeck, Deputy Executive DirectorDirector
OFRF Mission: Foster the widespread improvement and adoption of organic farming systems)
* New focus on “systems” rather than “practices.” Need to cultivate alternatives to an input-substitution paradigm
* National Organic Research Agenda
“Organic Farmer First” to promote and highlight organic producer knowledge in research, education, and policy advocacy
Working Assumption: That alleviating production constraints would give rise to widespread adoption.
* Need to analyze best approaches to spur adoption. Is this a role for SAREIs this a role for SARE??
OFRF’s Mission and Values
OFRF’s Structure & Scope
• National organization
• Grants & advocacy
(more $$ for organic R&E)
• Majority of board is organic farmers
• 260+ R&E grants made
OFRF Grantmaking*
Region % Grants % $$West 52 51
Northcentral 13 14
Northeast 15 18
South 11 5* OFRF data is from 2006
% Grants & avg grant sizeFarmers (15%): $ 5,181
Researchers (67%): $ 6,525
Non-profits (18%): $ 5,284
OFRF Grantmaking Typology “Crop” % Grants % $$
Vegetables 47 47Grains 12 17ApplesApples 1010 9 9Fruit (other) 10 Fruit (other) 10 7 7Tomatoes 5 4Livestock 4 6Herbs 4 4GrapesGrapes 3 3 2 2StrawberriesStrawberries 2 2 2 2CitrusCitrus 1 1 1 1Mushrooms 1
0.4
“Topic” % Grants % $$Insects 23 19Weeds 13 13Disease 13 13EducationalEducational 12 12 9 9Systems 12 12Fertility 8 8Breeding 6 9Cover crops 5 7Food quality 4 6Livestock 2 2Economics 1 1
OFRF R&E Directives
1. Organic producers should set the research & education agenda
2. Fund research that has practical applicability to large numbers of organic farmers
3. Address nexus of research issues associated with organic farming & the environment
4. Leverage partnerships with producer organizations, commodity commissions, corporations
Organization Funding level
Non-profits, other groups
Land grant
Businesses, consultants
Individuals
SARE Producer grants
$1,000-$20,000
Farmer groups
No No Yes
SARE R&E grants
$20,000-$200,000
Yes Yes No Yes
SARE PDP grants
$30,000-$100,000
Yes Yes No Yes
IOP $500,000 (est.)
Yes Yes Yes Yes
OFRF Up to $15,000
Yes Yes Yes Yes
Funding Profiles (SARE, IOP, OFRF)
OTHER KEY COMPARATIVE ELEMENTS (Producer Grants): SARE vs OFRF SARE will fund demonstration projects. OFRF does not. SARE requires producers to partner w/technical consultant. OFRF does not. SARE has a larger pool of funds to draw from than OFRF.
Questions to Consider
1. How can SARE better use information generated from OFRF-funded research to spur adoption?
2. How can SARE leverage OFRF grantmaking to augment the impact of SARE funding?
3. How can SARE contribute to the development of a Social and Economic Organic Research Agenda?
Thank You !Jonathon Landeck
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