Meet OGC Mission Fund Recipient: Organic Farming Research Foundation

The organic industry needs curious people asking smart questions. Look no further than Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF), the premier research, education and advocacy organization supporting our industry.

 OFRF is focused on promoting organic practices, improving soil health and increasing climate resilience, providing support to farmers in many ways. One of the ways it supports farmers is by creating the National Organic Research Agenda (NORA) report every five years, the organization is currently working on the newest edition. Due out this fall, the report is informed by surveys, listening sessions and conversations with farmers across the country, helping identify the biggest challenges and greatest needs for farmers. It’s also finishing work on the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) which is ending this month due to federal funding cuts.

 OFRF maintains an Organic Research Hub, which is a searchable database that takes research on organic practices and summarizes it for farmers. The Hub already includes almost 2,000 research projects and is growing rapidly.

 Now in its third year, the Farmer-Led Trials program takes a cohort of about 10 farmers every year and provides money and one-on-one coaching sessions to help them design a strong research project to address production challenges. Traditional research can take a very long time and sometimes farmers need immediate answers, especially with how the climate is changing. This program helps to bridge that gap.

 In addition to its research and education work, OFRF advocates for policies that support organic farmers, transitioning farmers and producers using organic practices. That work is especially important right now as the future of the Farm Bill remains uncertain. Unless Congress passes a newly reauthorized full Farm Bill or another extension before October 1, programs could face uncertainty, funding issues or temporary lapses.

 Looking ahead, OFRF is launching a professional society for organic researchers. An agriculture society like this hasn’t been created since the 1950s, long before organic standards existed. The goal is to support researchers already working in organic agriculture while encouraging new scientists to enter the field at a time when the broader research community faces significant challenges and investment in research is increasingly important.

 In 2025, OGC gave OFRF a Mission Fund grant. Partnerships & Development Director Leah Lawson shared that, “Those unrestricted funds are hands down the most important grants for a nonprofit, especially in the last couple of years as federal grants have been up in the air. Our Farmer-Led Trials program is very important to us but finding consistent funding has been a little elusive. The unrestricted funds go towards programs like that, and it makes a huge difference to all the farmers that are connected to it.”

 OGC’s Mission Fund Grant Program supports organic farm viability, youth education, increased access to organic food and more. OFRF is just one of many organizations the Mission Fund supports. Find the complete list of grant recipients here.