As 2016 rolled into 2017 many of us made resolutions, pledging to lose weight, eat healthier, support a worthy cause, or forge deeper connections in the coming year. While most start out with good intentions, it's not always easy to live up to our expectations.
With looming political uncertainty, and concerns over a deeply divided America, we all prepare to face changes and challenges in the coming year. As we forge ahead with hope, determination, and dedication one thing that we cannot abandon is our food system. Our food system is integral to our bodies, our communities, and our planet. Food is a language spoken by every culture, and organic food seeks to embrace diversity and biodiversity while promoting a food system that leads to c safe, healthy, and resilient communities, ecosystems, and economies for today and for future generations.
On April 5th, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, National Coalition for Food and Agricultural Research, Supporters of Agricultural Research Foundation, and the AFRI Coalition are partnering to convene an Agricultural Research Congressional Exhibition and Reception in Washington D.C.
The Organicology conference in Portland, Oregon the first week of February offered education, workshops, and networking opportunities for thousands of organic enthusiasts and stakeholders. The conference included discussions on a broad array of topics, from business and marketing issues to the transition and growth of organic farmland. Much of the talk revolved around the opportunity for increasing organic production in the U.S. in order to fulfill growing demand currently being met with imported product. Opportunity abounds, but not without serious challenges. Hearing directly from farmers and everyone along the supply chain at this conference, the message was clear. We all need to work together on solutions that will move us toward a significant increase in organic agriculture in the U.S.
OFRF welcomed 90 farmers, researchers, and students from around the world to the Organic Agriculture Research Symposium in Kentucky on January 25-26, for presentations and discussion on organic agriculture topics ranging from soil health and pest management to social science and organic transition.
On January 18th, USDA released the 
The Soil Health Institute released its 
The USDA recently announced a sweeping reinvention of its Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), including several changes related specifically to organic agriculture. CSP is designed to support farmers and ranchers as they actively manage and expand conservation activities on their agricultural land.