For Immediate Release:
May 27, 2010 |
Contact: |
Ted Quaday
Communications Director
831-426-6606 x111
ted@ofrf.org |
OFRF Achieves Grant Program Milestones
As It Celebrates 20th Year Advancing Organic Farming
SANTA CRUZ, CA – The Organic Farming Research Foundation achieved two milestones this spring as its Board of Directors awarded more than $97,000 in grant funding to five research and education projects. The awards move OFRF over the 300 mark in total grants made and place its total project funding at over $2.5 million.
“In our 20th year, achieving these two milestones simultaneously gives us a tremendous feeling of satisfaction,” said OFRF Executive Director Bob Scowcroft. “The need to continue supporting organic farming research is clear, and we are pleased to maintain our leadership in providing organic farmers with some of the tools they need to achieve success.”
Projects receiving support in the latest grant round included educational workshops to encourage farmer-to-farmer information sharing on production techniques and to aid organic farmers in conservation and food safety efforts. Funded research projects will look at integrated approaches to pest management in strawberries, Brussels sprouts, soy and diverse grains.
“Pursuit of more effective, more efficient organic production techniques continues to interest our proposal review team,” said Jane Sooby, OFRF grants program director. “Our latest round of grants is diverse, providing some direct farmer education and a look at promising new techniques for pest management.”
The foundation administers a competitive grants program as part of its mission. Proposals on organic seed and breed development are now being encouraged. Growers, researchers, and educators should review project proposal guidelines at ofrf.org/grants/apply.html. Contact Grants Program Director Jane Sooby at jane@ofrf.org or 831-426-6606, ext. 107 to learn more.
Additional information on OFRF’s Spring 2010 Grant Awards
Jo Ann Baumgartner, Watsonville, CA; Wild Farm Alliance, $15,000 to create and distribute an organic farmer’s guide on food safety and biodiversity in organic farm systems. Contact: wildfarms@earthlink.net, 831-761-8408.
Jennifer Miller, Boise, ID; Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides, $5,100 to support expanded farmer-to-farmer learning through two, day-long workshops. Contact: jmiller@pesticide.org, 208-850-6504.
Carol Shennan, Santa Cruz, CA; University of California Santa Cruz, Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, $49,132 (3-year-fruit grant) to seek integrated disease and weed management systems for organic strawberries. Contact: cshennan@ucsc.edu, 831-459-4181. (Note: A special partnership with the Stretch Island Fruit Company has supported OFRF’s fruit research and education grants since 2008.)
John Tooker, Pennsylvania State University, Department of Entomology, $13,638 to study mixed soy and wheat cultivars as an insect pest management strategy in organic systems. Contact: tooker@psu.edu, 814-865-7082.
Sean Swezey, Santa Cruz, CA; University of California Santa Cruz, Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, $14,235 to look into integrated biological approaches to controlling key pests in organic Brussels sprout production. Contact: findit@ucsc.edu, 831-459-4367.
About the Organic Farming Research Foundation
Founded in 1990, the Organic Farming Research Foundation is celebrating 20 years advancing organic agriculture. OFRF sponsors organic farming research and education projects, disseminates the results to organic farmers and others interested in adopting organic production systems. The foundation also educates the public and policymakers about organic farming issues. The majority of OFRF’s board members are organic farmers. Learn more at {CLICKTHRU1}.
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