2022 National Organic Research Agenda: 

Understanding Organic Grower Needs 

and Challenges Across the U.S.

Brise Tencer, Executive Director

National Organic Standards Board

October 26 2022

Sacramento, CA
Organic Farming Research Foundation

Mission: To foster the 

improvement and widespread 

adoption of organic farming 

systems.

Vision: Organic farming as the 

leading form of agriculture, leading 

to healthy and resilient people, 

ecosystems, and economies.

Education

Advocacy

Research 
Advancing On-Farm Research

• 30+ years of research grant-making:

• > $3 million for 355 projects

• Farmer-led research, early career 

researchers, BIPOC applicants

• Small grants seeding bigger 

investments

• Research topics basied on farmer 

identified needs.

• Research addressing climate change 

mitigation and resiliency
Outreach and Education

s

• Annual Organic Agriculture 

Research Forum

• Database of research findings

• Outreach to ensure research 

outcomes reach farmers 
Science-based Educational Resources
Cooperative Agreement with USDA National Institute of 

Food and Agriculture (NIFA)

Analysis of 197 research funded 2015-2021

130 Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) projects

67 Organic Transitions (ORG) projects 
NOSB Broader Research Priorities are Being Addressed 

in Multiple USDA-funded Organic Research Projects

NOSB Research Priority Priority 

since 1

No. 

projects 2

Systems approach to disease IPM for organic fruits and vegetables 2014 38

Organic no-till and reduced-tillage systems 2014 18

Assessing and overcoming barriers to transition to organic 2018 45

Assessing and optimizing ecosystem services from organic practices 2019 52

Optimizing cover crops to meet fertility needs 2019 39

Climate mitigation and resilience through organic practices 2020 28

1

 NOSB priorities for 2014 – 2021 were reviewed. Date shown is first year priority was cited. 

2

 Number of OREI and ORG projects funded 2015-2021 that addressed this priority. 
NOSB Specific Specific Challenges that some

OREI and ORG-funded research projects have addressed

NOSB Research Priority Priority 

since

No. 

projects

Prevention and management of parasites in organic livestock 2014 7

Methionine for organic poultry – natural sources, systems approach 2014 2

Decomposition and soil health effects of biodegradable film mulch 2016 3

Invasive exotic pests (e.g., Spotted Wing Drosophila) 2017 6

Trials of National List synthetics vs natural materials, cultural controls 2018 8

Invasive weeds (creeping perennials, exotic species) 2020 8

Evaluation of commercial microbial inoculants, soil conditioners, etc 2020 4

Biodiversity, pathogens, and food safety in organic systems 2020 8
Research gaps – Some NOSB Priorities Have Not Been 

Adequately Addressed in OREI and ORG

NOSB Research Priority Priority 

since

No. 

projects

Alternatives to bisphenol A (BPA) to line cans for organic products 2014 1

GMO material in organic compost, breeding lines, seeds, and crops 2014 4

Low-chlorine and non-chlorine sanitizers 2015 0

Breeding livestock for organic systems, outdoor life, living vegetation 2017 3

Increasing access to organic foods 2018 1

Nutritional value and nutrient density of organically grown food 2018 1

Organic production methods for nursery stock 2019 0
What is the National Organic Research Agenda 

(NORA)?

• National survey of organic and 

transitional producers

• Over 1,000 survey responses 

• 16 focus groups

• Most robust reporting of challenges 

faced by domestic organic producers to 

date

• Roadmap for OFRF, researchers, 

Congress, and USDA
Map of Respondents
Geographic Distribution of Respondents 

Compared to National Data
Findings Organized by USDA SARE 

Regions
Findings also looked at Ag-Eco Regions

Based on USDA production regions (Aillery et al., 2005).
Motivations for Transitioning to Organic
Marketing Region/Scale

Transitioning Producers Rely on Local Sales
Marketing Region/Scale

Tranistioning Producers Rely on Direct-to-Consumer
Organicng growers are leaders in soil and

climate stewardship.

Cover crops and green manures used by 88% of respondents
Frequency of implementation of soil health management practices 

varies among the Agro-Ecological Regions
Beginning vs Experienced 

Farmers

Transitioning 

Farmers

Frequency of Implementation of Soil Health Practices
Use of Organic Input for Nutrients

Certified Organic Transitioning
Frequency of use of Organic inputs by organic farmers across six agro-eco regions
1. Controlling Weeds

2. Managing Production 

Costs

3. Maintaining Adequate 

Yields

4. Managing Soil Fertility 

and Crop Nutrition

5. Controlling Insect Pests

Top 5 Production 

Challenges of Certified 

Organic Respondents
Diverse Production Challenges Shared

In Focus Groups
Managing Soil Fertility and Crop Nutrition 

(cited as a challenge by 43% of respondends)
Production Challenges

SARE Region VS Ag-Eco Region
BIPOC Production Challenges

Identifed by BIPOC respondents

Each production 

challenge is rated as a 

“substantial challenge” 

by a greater percent of 

BIPOC respondents 

than non-BIPOC folks

Difference up to 24%
Beginner vs Experienced Grower 

Production Challenges
Top 5 Production Challenges

of Transitioning Respondents: 

1. Controlling Weeds

2. Finding Organic Crop 

Varieties/Seed

3. Managing Production Costs

4. Minimizing Adverse Impacts of 

Tillage

5a. Seed Production/Seed Saving

5b. Managing Soil Fertility & Crop 

Nutrition

5c. Adapting to Climate Change
Non-Production Challenges 

for Certified Organic 

Producers
BIPOC Non-Production Challenges

Every challenge is 

rated as substantial by 

a greater percent of 

BIPOC respondents 

than non-BIPOC folks.

Differences of 11-32% 
Top Five Non-Production 

Challenges for

Transitioning Respondents
Concerns in Organic Agriculture

Top Five Concerns for

Certified Organic Respondents

1. Organic Fraud and Integrity of the Label

2. Industrial Organic

3. Crop Contamination (GMO, pesticide drift)

4. Imbalance of Domestic Supply and Demand

5a. Lack of Skilled Labor

5b. Availability of Organic Research Funds
Preferred Sources of Information
Recommendation: Increase Organic Research Funding 

to Address Production Needs of Organic Producers

A history of under-investment in organic 

agriculture research and a lack of crop cultivars 

for organic systems have hindered successful 

adoption of organic practices 

Even though the 2018 Farm Bill increased annual OREI funding to $50 million effective in 

2023, total USDA investment in organic remains below 2% of its total annual research 

budget, yet organic products are 6% of the market share in the US food system.
OREI and ORG have made substantial progress in addressing 

farmer identified technical assistance needs.

But Substantially More investment is Needed. 

Technical Assistance Need % of Certified 

Organic

% of 

Transitioning No. projects

Organic weed, insect pest, and disease management 74 89 80 

Soil fertility and management of crop nutrients 65 74 60

Soil conservation and soil health 60 60 40

Securing sales channels 54 85 26

Production assistance 43 76 83

Labor needs 41 32 0

Business and financial planning 41 44 7
Recommendation: Increase Resources and 

Outreach to Translate Research into Practice
Additional Recomendations

● Increase Federal Support for USDA Certified Organic 

Production and Organic Transition

● Recognize organic as a meaningful player in climate 

change solutions

● Build Racial Equity and Support BIPOC Producers in 

the Organic Sector
Questions and Answers

Brise Tencer

OFRF Executive Director 

Brise@ofrf.org

https://ofrf.org/research/nora/

Thank you for listening! 

Thelma Velez

Research and Education Proprograms Manager

Thelam@ofrf.org