The National Organic Coalition (NOC) has released a robust platform of recommendations to advance organic agriculture in the 2023 Farm Bill. Increasingly, consumers are eager to purchase organic products to reduce exposure to pesticides and preserve ecosystems. In many sectors, the growing demand for organic products has outstripped U.S. farmers’ ability to meet that demand

NOC’s priorities for the Farm Bill are focused on closing that gap by increasing reimbursement rates for organic certification costs, providing more robust technical assistance and support to existing and transitioning organic producers, supporting regular updates to organic standards to respond to evolving science and consumer expectations, and expanding organic research to keep pace with the growing organic sector.

“We have an incredible delegation of farmers, retailers, companies, and advocates who are converging in D.C. this week to share our vision for how organic agriculture can contribute to rural economies and to the health of communities,” said Abby Youngblood, Executive Director at the National Organic Coalition. “Organic agriculture is a systems-based approach to growing food that has scientifically proven benefits. Now is the time to ramp up support to help farmers produce food using organic practices and to increase tools and resources for organic producers who contribute to the well-being of ecosystems and communities.”

On March 22, NOC members have crisscrossed the Capitol to meet with fifty Congressional offices, including seventeen Senate and House Agriculture Committee members. The message was that organic agriculture is a regenerative system and reducing barriers to organic food production will contribute to resiliency, economic opportunities, and the preservation of natural resources.

Follow NOC on social media (Facebook @NationalOrganicCoalition and Twitter @NationalOrganic) for live updates on Congressional meetings.

Source: Organic Insider