Research

For more than twenty years, OFRF has been facilitating research for some of the most innovative entrepreneurs in America- organic farmers. Investment in research has never been more important as we experience tremendous consumer demand for organics. Please explore the organic innovation we invest in every day at OFRF.

Current Grants

"Contamination Avoidance and Testing Protocols” Project Laura Parker Montrose Montrose, Colorado Education and Outreach

$10,966
Spring
2012
This project is funded in partnership with Clif Bar Family Foundation under the Seed Matters Funding Initiative

Contamination from genetically engineered (GE) crops poses serious risk to organic seed integrity, impacting the viability of organic farmers and credibility of organic products. Organic seed is the most critical link to producing organic products free of GE contaminants. The Contamination Avoidance and Testing Protocols Project (CATP) seeks to provide organic seed farmers with a Farmer’s Manual with protocols offering guidance on seed contamination avoidance, seed practice adherence standards, and case studies that showcase “best practices.”

"Contamination Avoidance and Testing Protocols” Project

Developing “Organic-Ready” Maize Populations with Gametophytic Incompatibility Year 2 Frank Kutka Dickinson Dickinson, North Dakota Research

$12,000
Spring
2012
This project is funded in partnership with Clif Bar Family Foundation under the Seed Matters Funding Initiative

The purpose of this five-year breeding project is to reduce transgenic contamination of organic corn grown in the USA by introducing genes that do not accept pollen from other corn varieties—including genetically modified varieties--into a number of modern corn populations. Thirty-seven populations and lines are currently in the development pipeline.

Developing “Organic-Ready” Maize Populations with Gametophytic Incompatibility Year 2

Breeding day-neutral strawberry cultivars for organic production in the Pacific Northwest Patrick Moore Puyallup Puyallup, Washington Research

$11,200
Spring
2012
This project is funded in partnership with Clif Bar Family Foundation under the Seed Matters Funding Initiative

This award continues OFRF support for a breeding effort to develop strawberry varieties that produce fruit over a 4-5 month period in the Pacific Northwest. In contrast, June-bearing strawberries only produce fruit for about one month. Increasing the availability of local, organic, high-quality strawberries from late spring to mid-fall will increase demand, overall consumption, and value of this crop.

Breeding day-neutral strawberry cultivars for organic production in the Pacific Northwest

Organic Science Fridays

Growing Organic Beans, Counting Organic Beans

This is part 2 of the 3-part series "From the Ground Up: What Does It Mean to be Certified Organic?"

Many people don’t know that part of the organic certification process is keeping good records of farming activities. I’ve spoken with farmers who resist this, saying things like, I’m a farmer, not a bookkeeper. Some even see it as a stumbling block to pursuing certification.

From the Ground Up: What Does It Mean to be Certified Organic?

This is the first of a three part series.

The Spirit of Organic

At the heart of organic certification is what many farmers, researchers, and advocates call the “spirit of organic.” This spirit is described by the USDA National Organic Program, which defines organic agriculture as a production system that is managed to respond to site-specific conditions by integrating cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity.

So, what does it mean to be certified organic? At its essence, it means that when farmers and ranchers grow food and fiber products in accordance with the organic rules and principles, they become stewards of our soil, our water, and the very lives of the myriad plant and animal species on our planet.