Monthly Archives: September 2019

September 9, 2019 – On September 3^rd, OFRF hosted a research field day at the UC Santa Cruz Farm & Garden. Researchers and others from UCSC joined OFRF to talk with Congressman Jimmy Panetta about the highly innovative organic research taking place there, throughout his district, and across the U.S.

Carol Shennan, Professor and Head Researcher at the Shennan Lab began the tour with an introduction to her research on anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD), an alternative to using harmful fumigants such as methyl bromide. Dr. Shennan learned about ASD from colleagues in the Netherlands and Japan and wanted to try it here. Seed grants from OFRF were instrumental in helping Shennan and her team secure funding from the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) totaling $10.5 million to date. “OFRF provided the seed funding to start this research and that allowed us to apply for larger grants,” explained Shennan. “It’s very hard to get funding unless you have initial data, but it takes money to get that initial data and that’s where OFRF has been really helpful. The OREI program has been so important. It allowed us to do things that we could then expand in multiple directions.”

Just twelve years ago the idea that you could grow strawberries without methyl bromide was very ingrained. Today, it’s a different story. The amount of strawberries grown organically in California has gone from 0% thirty years ago to 13% currently, and the good news is that percentage should continue to increase. “Fumigants are one of the biggest culprits in pesticide drift issues, from a human health perspective as well as an ecological perspective, reduced fumigant use is a good thing,” emphasizes Shennan. ASD is used on 2000 acres of strawberries in California and is being tested for its application in strawberry nurseries, apple, almond, vegetable, and flower production systems in the U.S.

Congressman Panetta was able to witness first-hand the exciting work being done at UCSC and the economically viable alternatives to fumigants this research is providing. He acknowledged the importance of continuing support for organic research and extension not just for organic farmers, but those thinking about transitioning, in the process of transitioning, or looking to adopt more sustainable farming practices such as cover cropping.

Thank you to everyone at UCSC for participating in the field day!

Joji Muramoto, Cooperative Extension Organic Production Specialist at University of California Cooperative Extension

Stacy Philpot, Professor Alfred & Ruth Heller Chair in Agroecology

Daryl Wong, Farm Site and Research Lands Manager of CASFS

Daniel Press, Associate Dean of Social Sciences, Professor and Executive Director of Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems

Katharyne Mitchell, Dean of Social Sciences

Chantal Waite, Laboratory & Field Assistant at the Shennan Lab

Special thanks to Rod Koda from Shinta Kawahara Farm for joining us!

 Photos by Kelsey Grimsley & Vicki Lowell

September 6, 2019 – by Lola Dannehl-Schickman, Development and Partnerships Manager, OFRF

Introducing OFRF’s Featured Partner: OGEE

This month, I’m excited to highlight one of OFRF’s close partners, OGEE. An award-winning, 100% organic, cosmetic company, OGEE became OFRF’s first co-venture partner in 2016. Co-venture partnerships offer organic companies the opportunity to use OFRF branding on their products. By using our logo in their marketing, companies let consumers know they are dedicated to supporting the organic farmers who make their products possible. OFRF only offers this type of opportunity to companies with the highest organic integrity and we are proud of our partnership with OGEE.

Ten years before creating OGEE, Abbott Stark was making products for some of the world’s largest beauty brands. Stark witnessed firsthand the beauty industry’s reliance on petroleum-based conventional ingredients (which come with an extensive list of health concerns) as well as artificial and synthetic production processes that are resource-intensive.

Stark learned very early on in the beauty industry that much of what we apply to our skin is absorbed into the body. Already a health-conscious consumer who prioritized eating organic, Stark began applying the same criteria to beauty products as he did to his food. Unfortunately, he could not find brands that were both certified organic and offered the same visible skincare results as conventional brands. In this vacuum of quality organic beauty products, Stark created his own. “I decided to create a product that I wanted to use myself AND that I was proud to share with my mother, my sisters, and my friends,” says Stark.

OGEE hit the beauty scene with a “bang,” receiving accolades from magazines ranging from Allure to Vogue. Although ecstatic with OGEE’s success, Stark believes the organic industry needs a bigger voice to accelerate change, especially in the world of cosmetics and beauty. “It is still impossible to source most of the organic ingredients that we need,” says Stark, “certified organic feedstocks are minimal or completely nonexistent. At the same time, the demand for organic crops has skyrocketed, while the percentage of organic farmland has remained flat.”

That’s why OGEE partners with OFRF. OFRF supports farmers through grant-based research and increases the awareness of the benefits of organic agriculture through education at the federal level. According to Stark, “OFRF’s support for organic and transitioning farmers helps grow the organic supply chain, which directly impacts the accessibility of organic ingredients for companies like us. Finally, when a farmer transitions from conventional to organic, or a consumer switches from purchasing conventional to organic products, we all win because organic is better for our health and the environment we all share.”

If your company is interested in a co-venture partnership, please contact Lola Dannehl-Schickman at lola@ofrf.org.

OGEE strives to create a brand that connects the worlds of luxury and organic. Its founders searched the planet for the newest discoveries in naturally derived ingredients, such as cutting-edge Edelweiss Flower Plant Stem Cells and hero ingredient, certified organic Golden Jojoba Oil to promote healthy aging-well.

With recent articles about the toxicity of talc in most baby powders and absorption of chemical sunscreens at 20x the legal allowable level, we are reminded of the importance of aligning our beauty standards with the standards for selecting food. OGEE sets itself apart with organic certification by the NSF. 

With 700% growth in 2018, OGEE delivered certified organic, clinically effective products to new audiences, which the brand celebrated as a huge success because organic farming relieves the toxic burden on the environment on the environment that we all share. Additionally, OGEE relaunched in sustainable glass packaging in 2018.

For more information, visit ogee.com.

Thank you to our 2019 Partners

September 5, 2019 – By Carolyn Dimitri, Associate Professor of Food Studies, New York University, Board Member, OFRF​​​​​

Despite widespread opposition from researchers and members of Congress, along with questions of the legality of the move from the USDA’s inspector general, moving the Economic Research Service out of Washington DC and into Kansas City is well underway. Compounding the controversy is the bold statement of Mick Mulvaney, who, in early August, celebrated the move as an effective way to “drain the swamp.”

Throughout the years, ERS has been the first employer of newly minted PhD economists who typically begin working in late summer or early fall. This year, the new hires began working in Kansas City, after a short training period in Washington DC. While Kansas City is not a draw for current employees, the new researchers, particularly those who are millennials, may be attracted by the urban amenities and the low cost of living in Kansas City.

Some current employees were lucky and their jobs were considered “stay positions,” which reports suggest number 76. Some with DC-based positions have opted to find work in other federal agencies, rather than stay at ERS. Of those with “go positions,” few agreed to make the move to Kansas City, with reports suggesting that at least half of the ERS staff have either found new positions or will retire. According to my sources (I used to work at ERS, and have spoken with many of my former colleagues), the bulk of those unwilling to relocate are senior staff with deep institutional and specialized agricultural knowledge.

The deep reduction in staff will leave wide knowledge gaps in areas including organic agriculture, conservation programs, animals, and crops. The agency is currently recruiting new staff to work in both Washington and Kansas City, but the needs are so great that they are unlikely to be able to hire enough knowledgeable and skilled people to keep the agency research afloat. In order to fill their needs, there is speculation that ERS will allow senior staff to retire, and then apply for part-time limited term positions. These workers would mentor junior researchers, as well as perform needed research, analysis, and outlook.

One remarkable aspect of the ERS staff is their continued commitment to the agency and the work they have conducted over the years. Of those I spoke with, including both researchers and managers, there was a strong expression of concern regarding ERS’S reputation and its legacy. Furthermore, these individuals were willing to do their part to preserve the agency, even though it was clear that this administration does not value ERS’s contribution to US agriculture.