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1989 - Interest in organic farming is growing markedly despite a remarkable lack of institutional support and information for organic farmers.  Bob Scowcroft and a group of farmers at California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) agree on a need for a nonprofit foundation to promote organic research and education for farmers. The CCOF Board approves a farmer steering committee to develop the idea and prepare incorporation documents.

1990 - In April, the Organic Farming Research Foundation is established as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and its mission is to foster the improvement and widespread adoption of organic farming practices. Organic farmer Mark Nielson is selected as its first president. Bob Scowcroft, executive director of California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), agrees to guide OFRF‘s development, and Erica Walz is hired part-time to staff the new organization. OFRF supports CCOF education and research.

1991 - OFRF continues to support CCOF’s educational activities, in particular a column called Science You Can Use, published in the CCOF newsletter. OFRF also supports CCOF’s Growers Practices Database, tabulating for the first time information about the production practices of organic farmers. To encourage public education about organic, OFRF establishes a journalism award and recognizes journalist Linda Baker for her article The Deep Rooted Truth about Organic Farming.

1992 - OFRF’s competitive grants program is established with six funded projects and $14,400 in grants awarded. Peach grower Carl Rosato from Oroville, California is among OFRF’s first grant recipients with an award to study methods to control Peach Brown Rot. OFRF continues to support CCOF’s educational work and together we hold our first fundraising event, hosted by Fetzer Vineyards.

1993 - OFRF hires Bob Scowcroft as executive director, and the organization relocates from the CCOF office to Bob’s house for a short time. OFRF conducts the first-ever nationwide survey of certified organic farmers, to find out about their information needs and research priorities.  OFRF hosts its first regulatory conference in Berkeley, California. The conference underscores the value of bringing organic industry members and supporters together to discuss key issues and share common ground.

1994 - Due to our growing program activities, OFRF finally establishes its first real office space.

1995 - OFRF makes its 50th grant, conducts its 2nd National Organic Farmers Survey, and publishes its first Information Bulletin, which conveys the results of OFRF-funded research to certified organic growers throughout the nation. OFRF initiates development of policy activities to complement our grantmaking, recognizing that federal support for organic will create real change in agriculture. Mark Lipson is hired to lead OFRF’s policy program.

1996 - Mark Lipson begins scouring the USDA’s Current Research and Information System database, seeking signs of agricultural research pertinent to organic farming.

1997 - OFRF publishes Mark Lipson’s seminal work Searching for the “O-Word”, a landmark report revealing that there is virtually no research underway (less than 0.1 percent) through the USDA that examines organic production methods. The results give rise to OFRF’s on-going campaign to gain a Fair Share of research dollars for organic research.

1998 - Draft National Organic Standards are released by the USDA and OFRF joins the organic community in challenging plans to allow the use of genetically engineered crops, municipal sewage sludge and irradiation in organic production.  OFRF initiates the Scientific Congress on Organic Agriculture Research (SCOAR) to share information among organic researchers.

1999 - OFRF makes its 100th grant and surpasses the half-million dollar mark in total funds granted.  Results of OFRF’s Third National Survey of Organic Farmers are published with farmer demographics and policy priorities covered in addition to research and information needs. OFRF hires Jane Sooby to coordinate OFRF’s grantmaking and research activities.

2000 - A Final Organic Rule is issued, and USDA publicly acknowledges OFRF’s significant role in the enabling legislation and as a resource for organic farmers. OFRF’s Mark Lipson is appointed to the 38-member USDA Advisory Committee on Agricultural Biotechnology. The first steering committee meeting of the Scientific Congress on Organic Agriculture Research (SCOAR) is convened. OFRF hires Don Burgett as development coordinator to help support our burgeoning programs.

2001 - OFRF approves its 150th research and education grant, and the U.S. EPA engages in a funding partnership with OFRF in support of regional pest management grants. OFRF’s pivotal report, State of the States: Organic Farming Systems Research at Land Grant Institutions 2000 – 2001 is published. The report highlights organic programs at the nation’s agricultural universities, but notes that a nominal 151 of the 886,000 research acres in the system are certified organic.

2002 - OFRF surpasses the $1 million mark in total grant dollars awarded and leads the effort in Washington, DC to secure guaranteed funding for organic farming research in the 2002 Farm Bill. Fifteen million dollars in mandatory funding over five years is approved for the Organic Research and Education Initiative.

2003 - OFRF approves its 200th grant for organic research and education. In Washington, OFRF facilitates the development and launch of the bipartisan Organic Caucus in the House of Representatives.

2004 - Total grant dollars for organic research and education surpass $1.5 million. USDA acknowledges OFRF’s important role in creating and funding its new Integrated Organic Program as it provides $4.5 million in support to research, education and extension projects around the country.

2005 - OFRF reviews its grant program with an eye toward refocusing its research and education efforts, reviews impact of its investment in organic knowledge, then begins work on developing a National Organic Research Agenda.

2006 - OFRF launches the Organic Farmers Action Network to increase grower awareness and involvement in organic farming policy issues. More than 600 organic farmers register to participate in the first two months.

2007 - A collaborative team of Jane Sooby, Jonathon Landeck, and Mark Lipson research and write the National Organic Farming Research Agenda. The agenda is published in January. OFRF enters into a three-year agreement with Stretch Island Fruit Company to support organic fruit research. The Organic Farmers Action Network grows to 1,300 participants.

2008 - OFRF passes $2 million milestone in grant dollars awarded.  OFRF joins with Midwest Organic and Sustainable Agriculture Educational Services (MOSES) to present a three-day Midwest Organic Research Symposium.  More than 2,300 participants are now involved in the Organic Farmers Action Network.

2009 - OFRF Policy Program sees major payoff for its farm bill work as the Natural Resources Conservation Service initiates a new $50 million Organic Initiative to encourage organic transition, and help existing producers transition new acres. OFRF encourages producers to participate. OFRF sends organic farmer Dale Coke to testify before the domestic policy subcommittee of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform regarding the Leafy Greens agreement.

2010 - Grant dollars awarded surpass $2.5 million with total grants given crossing the 300 threshold. Policy activity focuses on cooperative activity with Natural Resources Conservation Service to improve implementation of the Organic Initiative. Planning begins for involvement in 2012 Farm Bill advocacy.