The Organic Center 15th IFOAM Organic World Congress Adelaide, South Australia September, 2005 R. Mark Davis Chief Executive Officer The Organic Center Our Vision Conversion of agriculture to organic methods, improved health for the earth and its inhabitants, and greater awareness of and demand for organic products. Our Mission To generate credible, peer-reviewed scientific information and communicate the verifiable benefits of organic farming and products to society. Long-Term Goals 1. Expand the scope of research on the benefits of consuming organic food, as well as on organic production and processing methods and systems. Long-Term Goals 2. Accelerate the conversion of agriculture to organic methods by building demand for organic products. Long-Term Goals 3. Promote research and innovation that will create new and/or expand existing dimensions of the organic benefit, and develop strategic alliances with other research institutions. Long Term Goals 4. Serve as a clearinghouse for organic science information, tracking research, both past and current, analyze the results and make it available to promote environmental, public health and organic causes. Our Strengths · Creation of consumer-friendly summaries of hard-core science and research on the organic benefit. · Ability to tap expertise and forge teams composed of leading scientists in industry, academia, and private research institutes. Our Strengths · Helping public health and medical professionals understand how organic food can help prevent disease and promote well-being. Organizational Structure · 501(c)(3) Nonprofit - A Virtual Company · Board of Directors · Scientific & Technical Advisory Committee · Cooperating Scientists · Staff · Funding Demonstrable Outcomes · · · · State of Science Reviews (SSRs) Directly Funded Research Projects Product Specific Studies Proposal Preparation Grant Program Completed Reports Minimizing Pesticide Dietary Exposure Through the Consumption of Organic Food October 2004 Pesticide Exposure Findings Fruits and vegetables grown conventionally are: · 3 to 4 times more likely to contain residues than organic foods, · 8 to 10 times more likely to contain multiple residues, · contain residues that are 3 to 10 times higher, on average, compared to organic food. Completed Reports Elevating Antioxidant Levels in Food Through Organic Farming and Processing January 2005 Antioxidant Findings · Seven studies report careful, side-by-side comparisons of antioxidants in organic and conventionally grown food. · Antioxidant levels were on average about 1/3 higher in organic food compared to conventional. · Some organic food processing techniques can help preserve antioxidants in raw commodities, compared to methods used by conventional methods. Completed Reports Breaking the Mold: Impacts of Organic and Conventional Farming Systems on Mycotoxins in Food and Livestock Feed September 2005 Mycotoxin Findings · Nine studies allow 24 direct comparisons. · Mycotoxins were found in conventional samples about 50% more frequently at a little over twice the average level. · Organic systems help reduce fungal infections and mycotoxin formation, while some conventional practices ­ especially high N levels and sub-lethal doses of fungicide ­ can promote mycotoxin production. Current Directly Funded Studies A Comparison of Lycopene and Other Pytochemicals in Tomatoes Grown Under Conventional vs. Organic Management Systems ­ World Vegetable Center, Taiwan, Republic of China How can organic farmers increase the concentrations of lycopene in tomatoes? Current Directly Funded Studies New Approaches to Measure the Impact of Farming Systems and Technology on Food Quality ­ Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA Focus on analytical methods to determine how agricultural methods affect antioxidant levels in key fruits and vegetables. Current Directly Funded Studies A Comparison of Strawberry Fruit Quality from Organic and Conventional Farms ­ Washington State University, Pullman, WA An in-depth field study focusing on the impacts of organic farming systems on antioxidant levels, nutritional quality and sensory parameters. Consumer Education Key Messages ­ · Organic food delivers more nutrition per calorie consumed. · Organic food can increase fruit and vegetable consumption, especially among children. · Organic food can reduce pesticide exposure in fetal development. Consumer Education Key Messages ­ · Organic production methods often expand margins of food safety. · Organic farming is good for the environment, farmers and farm workers. Consumer Ads Alternative Medicine Special Edition "Food As Medicine" Sept. 2005 Consumer Outreach · Working with consumer packaged goods companies we license our logo and an educational message for placement on product packaging. To date, we have 1 million impressions in the marketplace and have a goal of 50 million impressions by the end of 2006. Traditional Medicinals Media Results Since our inception in 2002 we have garnered print, broadcast, and online media coverage in 50 publications, reaching over 12 million people. Summary · Just as we help consumers see what's inside their products, a look inside the Organic Center reveals an organization that delivers distinctive research, unique products, sustainable benefits, and demonstrable social outcomes. · Through hard-core science & strategic collaborations we are tilling new fields in organic research - closing the gap between what the industry has long known and what science has yet to prove. The Organic Center www.organic-center.org All reports are down loadable from the website in PDF format Creating Healthy Demand for a Healthy PlanetTM