I am writing to you today to encourage you to speak up for increased funding for organic agriculture research in the Farm Bill. The organic market is experiencing explosive growth. In 2025, organic sales reached $76.6 billion, a 46% increase from $52.5 billion in 2018. By 2030, sales are projected to grow by nearly 44%, eclipsing the $100 billion mark for the first time in market history. Furthermore, certified organic products now make up 6% of U.S. food sales and over 15% of produce sales.

However, less than 2% of USDA research dollars are dedicated to organic agriculture research. This lack of funding helps explain why the number of organic farms has remained stagnant and why certified organic acreage is declining. 

The Organic Agriculture Research Extension Initiative (OREI) provides the lion’s share of dedicated organic research dollars. This program is a Farm Bill program, so without increased funding, it is unlikely that organic research support will catch up with the growth of the organic market or organic’s market penetration in the broad food industry.

The other dedicated organic research program is the Organic Transitions Program, which received first-time authorization in the House Farm Bill and was renamed to the Researching the Transition to Organic Program (RTOP) with level funding. We hope you will ask the Senate Agriculture Committee to include the Chairman Thompson-supported Rep. Vindman Amendment #102 in the Farm Bill, with increased authorized funding, so we can transition more acreage in our state and capitalize on the growing organic market.

I urge you to raise your voice in support of organic research, particularly OREI, to the Senate Agriculture Committee to help ensure that organic research funding keeps pace with market changes.