Bob Scowcroft

Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) Executive Director Bob Scowcroft has announced that he plans to retire next spring. Scowcroft, 59, co-founded OFRF in April 1990 with a group of California-based organic farmers and has served as its sole executive director.

“After 20 years guiding OFRF, I have decided it’s time to step back and turn the reins of the organization over to new leadership,” Scowcroft said. “This is not a new development, nor a decision I made hastily. I informed our board of directors and staff about my plan more than four years ago, and they have planned accordingly.”

Scowcroft said evolving family considerations prompted his decision to retire, but he added he hopes to find new ways to contribute to the larger organic community in coming years.

OFRF Board President Deirdre Birmingham said the organization began developing a transition plan more than 18 months ago. She said OFRF will launch a national executive search in early August.

Deirdre Birmingham

Birmingham praised Scowcroft for working closely over the years with a board of directors comprised mainly of organic farmers, with researchers, educators and consumers also represented. She credited him with building a legacy that includes more than $2.5 million in grants made to support organic research and education, and a strong record of federal organic farming policy advances.

“Twenty years ago, Bob and his team at OFRF began building this organization from the germ of an idea that organic farmers needed research support to continuously improve their organic farm systems. Raising funds to support that research, while working in Washington to leverage federal backing for organics has proved an effective approach. Back then, there was virtually no federal support; today, the organic momentum is definitely building in federal policy and programs. We have Bob Scowcroft and OFRF to thank for that,” said Birmingham.

Birmingham said the foundation is operating under a strategic framework crafted over the past twelve months. It includes new program initiatives such as the development of a white paper looking at the potential multiple benefits of organic agriculture and a five-year research initiative known as Seed Matters™, which will encourage organic seed and breed studies. Participating in federal organic farm policy development and annual appropriations activity, plus advocacy on the 2012 Farm Bill round out OFRF’s more immediate program plans.  

“We are looking ahead, planning to honor Bob and his contributions to the organic movement by setting the stage for our next twenty years of success. Our white paper, our research support, and our farm policy advocacy add up to a strong program aimed at seeing organic farming become our leading form of agriculture,” Birmingham said.

OFRF plans to honor Scowcroft’s contributions to the organization and the organic movement during The Organic Summit in Boston on Wednesday, October 13. Details on the summit are available at http://bit.ly/ast1h5. Persons interested in learning more about OFRF’s executive director search should contact Deirdre Birmingham directly at deirdreb(at)mindspring.com. To follow-up on other elements of Scowcroft’s announcement, contact Ted Quaday, OFRF communications director, at ted(at)ofrf.org.