As demonstrators seek accountability from Wall Street, a dark horse rises from our amber waves of grain with a message of economic growth–the organic farmer. The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) collected and reviewed American scientific research on organic farming in an effort to help policy makers understand the true value of organics. In addition to the usual environmental and human health benefits, one of the features that has been so far undersold is that of economic stability and growth.
Organic food and beverage sales have grown from $1 billion in 1990 to $26.7 billion in 2010. And sales for organic fruits and vegetables in 2010 increased 11.8% over 2009, despite the slow economy.
The report highlights the community-level economics as well, echoing Rodale Institute findings on profitability. Organically-managed fields at the Rodale Institute were three times more profitable than the conventionally-managed fields. The report pools information from studies on dairy, apples, grain crops and more, including USDA research. In fact, organic farms average higher sales and higher operating profit than the average for all U.S. farms, according to U.S. census data.
And organic farms are job creators. According to the report, 96 percent of organic operations nationwide are planning on either maintaining their current number of employees or actually increasing employment opportunities on their farms in 2011. "As our country as been dramatically affected by the worst economic downturn in 80 years, the organic industry has remained in positive growth territory and has come out of the recession hiring employees, adding farmers, and increasing revenue," write the OFRF report authors.
The tidbit that is equal parts frustrating and hopeful is all this prosperity has taken place with very little support from our government. Whether they know it or not, it has been the American people who have driven the overwhelming success of organic agriculture. "Americans are getting back to our roots and realizing that we’ve been sold a bill of goods by corporate agribusiness," says Mark Smallwood, Rodale Institute Executive Director. "People are seeking good, authentic products that not only feed their bellies, but nourish their souls and support a local, healthy economy."
With the Farm Bill up for modification in 2012, now is the time for our policy makers to catch up with the people. “To date, only modest public resources have been directed toward funding and support of programs for organic farming. We would like to see that change immediately," says Maureen Wilmot, OFRF Executive Director.
Read the full OFRF report Organic Farming for Health and Prosperity.
Read more of the Rodale Institute findings on profitablity.
