Organic Farming Research Group Launches In-Depth Study Of The State Of Organic Agriculture

A nonprofit organization that sponsors organic farming research has launched a broad research effort to examine all of the possible benefits of organic agriculture. The Organic Farming Research Foundation says it has hired a team of researchers that plans to release findings in the spring of 2011. Initially, researchers will scour existing scientific literature and analyze data. Research leaders include Carolyn Dmitri, a former USDA economist who will review the scientific literature, and Loni Kemp, an agriculture policy analyst who will synthesize results and make policy recommendations. The researchers also hope to identify gaps in research on organic farming that might point to future studies. “The time is right for a comprehensive assessment of the state of organic research and policy regarding the benefits of organic production,” Dimitri said.