OSRI Act reintroduced to expand research for organic agriculture
On April 11, several senators reintroduced the Organic Science and Research Investment (OSRI) Act to expand research and support for organic agriculture.
The bill is led by Sens. John Fetterman (D-PA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA), joined by Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Peter Welch (D-VT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Angus King (I-ME) and supported by more than 80 farm and food organizations across the U.S.
The OSRI Act focuses on increasing investment in organic research by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA), boosting farmer-led innovation and improving tools for a strong domestic food system, while also ensuring the USDA considers organic research priorities in its budget justification to Congress.
Additionally, the OSRI Act would build on existing organic research by creating a statutory grant program to support producers as they transition to organic production.
“I’m proud to introduce this bill to increase organics research within the federal government and at our leading research institutions to ensure our commonwealth can remain on the cutting edge of this growing industry. I’m grateful for Schiff’s partnership as we work to pass this crucial support for American farmers,” Fetterman states in a joint press release with Schiff on April 10.
Schiff adds, “America’s agriculture is the envy of the world, and agriculture research is essential to ensuring food and farm organizations have the resources they need to grow food affordably, safely and sustainably.”
According to the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF), this legislation comes at a pivotal moment for organic agriculture, and it is backed by strong grassroots support.
“The OSRI Act is timely and transformative legislation which lays the groundwork for a more resilient, economically vibrant and science-driven food system,” reads OFRF’s website. “It delivers targeted investments into organic agricultural research, helping address one of the sector’s most pressing challenges – the rise in organic imports.”
What is the OSRI Act?
This bill would make strategic investments into USDA-funded organic agriculture research, better equipping farmers to meet the growing demand for organic products and keep organic dollars circulating in rural and regional economies.
The OSRI Act strengthens federal commitments to organic agriculture through creating, coordinating and expanding the organic research initiative at USDA to assess and efficiently expand the agency’s organic research portfolio.
The bill notes an increase in funding for the Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) from its current budget of $50 million annually to $100 million by the end of the next farm bill and formally authorizes the Organic Transition Research Program to support farmers transitioning to organic practices and renaming the program to the Researching the Transition to Organic Program (RTOP).
“Doubling the farm bill support for the Organic Production and Market Data Initiative improves market transparency, supports market development investments and improves risk management tools,” OFRF reports.
Industry experts say directing the USDA’s Economic Research Service to evaluate the full economic, ecological and community impacts of organic agriculture is imperative at a time when food security and economic resilience are more important than ever, and the OSRI Act will ensure U.S. producers – not foreign suppliers – are meeting the needs of American consumers.
Rural opportunity
A core feature of the bill is its support for farmer-led research. The OSRI Act would require researchers to collaborate directly with farmers, helping ensure results at the farm level.
By funding methods like crop diversification and natural pest control, the act encourages environmentally-friendly practices and includes Traditional Ecological Knowledge, recognizing Indigenous farming wisdom.
“Every dollar invested in agricultural research returns $20 to the U.S. economy,” states the OFRF. “The USDA’s current investments into organic agricultural research are less than two percent of their total budget, while organic products make up over six percent of all U.S. food sales and over 15 percent of all U.S. produce sales.”
The OSRI Act is designed to course correct this imbalance, ensuring public investment better reflects the growing role of organic agriculture in the U.S. food system and economy.
Backed by science
Research studies have shown farmers greatly benefit when they lead on-farm research trials at their farms. Conducting local research allows them to address farm-specific questions and has historically supported the adoption and innovation of sustainable agricultural practices.
“Through OREI and the RTOP programs, the OSRI Act requires researchers to collaborate directly with farmers, ensuring real-world challenges shape research questions and that the solutions developed are practical, locally relevant and readily adoptable on farms of all sizes and types,” OFRF adds.
According to reports, nearly all of the farmers who have historically participated in OREI projects have been compensated for their participation, and this bill builds on the existing trust between researchers and communities, while also incentivizing future connections.
Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
