A longtime advocate for, and researcher of, organic agriculture, Rodale Institute is launching the Organic Farmers Association, which it says will be the first U.S. group speaking solely for organic farmers. The USDA reported last week that there are 12,818 certified organic farms covering 4.36 million acres, a small share of the 2.07 million farms and 912 million acres of farmland in the country.
“A lot of organic farmers are still isolated in their communities,” said Rodale executive director Jeff Moyer. In its announcement, Rodale said the organization will “provide a voice for organic farmers on policy issues, help organic farmers network and share information, and serve as a resource center for organic farmers to succeed.”
Advocacy efforts will be led by Elizabeth Kucinich, a member of the Rodale board and a former policy director at the anti-GMO Center for Food Safety.