Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF), in partnership with the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR), is pleased to award Kanalani Ohana Farm a 2021-22 Organic Research grant. OFRF’s grant program funds research on organic production systems and disseminates these research results to organic farmers and agricultural research communities. The 2021/22 grant cycle prioritized farmers, early career researchers and Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) applicants, and awarded research projects focused on climate mitigation and building on-farm resilience.
Kanalani Ohana Farm will research organic farming system options for control of Coffee Leaf Rust on five organic farms in Kona, Hawaii. Colehour Bondera (MS and MEd) is a second generation farmer and will serve as research project lead. Their research team will test a systems-level approach to Coffee Leaf Rust management by increasing microbial biodiversity, using on-farm and island-made inputs, and sequestering more carbon through increased soil organic matter. This project was conceived, developed, and will be carried out by organic farmers. University of Hawaii organic system faculty will assist with analyses.
As a result of OFRF’s research, education, and outreach efforts, thousands of farmers have received pertinent research and training information. Results from all OFRF-funded projects are available to access for free in an online database.
Thank you to FFAR and our research partners for making the 2021/22 organic research grant program possible.