For their third MOU, finalized in 2025, The Organic Center and FFAR pivoted research and extension programming to a primary focus on low organic uptake regions, particularly in the Southeastern US. One major goal is to improve networking and resources that enable more collaborative and impactful research, farmers support, and public education of the benefits of organic farming. This work will run from April 2025 to the end of 2027, with a plan to invest $1.4M into that period.

Specific goals for this work include:

1. Continue developing the network and convening opportunities to expand the impact of the in-person convening event held in conjunction with PAWC 2024.
2. Build research resources for faculty and students at academic institutions.
3. Increase the quantity and quality of outreach and extension to organic, transitioning and organic-aligned farmers and consumers.
4. Build professional development for students and young professionals to better prepare them for work in the organic sector.
5. Increase the visibility of resources and opportunities for funding, professional development, and networking for students, faculty, farmers and other agricultural professionals.
6. Measure and share the impact of our funded work to date and communicate outcomes broadly to share the value of this kind of public-private partnership.

Cultivating the Future of Organic in the Southeast U.S.

Virtual and in-person convenings provide a guiding light for our work in the Southeast:

In 2023, FFAR, Clifbar, Tuskegee University and The Organic Center co-hosted a virtual convening  with a specific focus on the Southeast region of the United States. The objectives of the event were to:

1. Gather information about the current organic regional landscape.
2. Engage with a wide range of organic and organic-aligned stakeholders such as researchers in the 1890s (HBCUs) community, farmer groups, and other federal and non-federal partners.
3. Create a dynamic space for discussion.
4. Identify barriers to organic production in the Southeast as well as opportunities for organic research, with a focus on underserved farmers.

The invitation-only event culminated in a publicly available recording of the event, a report, and a successful conference grant application to the USDA OREI program, led by Tuskegee, which helped support an in-person convening to expand the thought work started in the virtual event.

The 2024 in-person event “Cultivating the Future of Organic Agriculture in the Southeastern U.S.: How Advancing Equity and Inclusion Will Strengthen the Organic Movement “ was again co-hosted by FFAR, Tuskegee University, Mondelēz International (formerly Clif Bar), and The Organic Center. Held in conjunction with the Professional Agricultural Workers Conference (PAWC) in Montgomery, Alabama, from November 15–17, 2024, the event brought together stakeholders from across the Southeast, including organic and organic-aligned producers, researchers from 1890 land-grant universities, small- and mid-sized farmers, farmer organizations, and non-profit leaders.

The convening featured panel discussions with producers, nonprofits, and government representatives, followed by breakout sessions to examine the most pressing challenges and opportunities for organic growers in the region.

This dialogue built upon the momentum of a December 2023 virtual convening, which identified critical themes for advancing the Southeastern organic sector:

• Consumer education and market development
• Communication and effective outreach
• Increased access to research and funding opportunities

The discussions highlighted the importance of advancing equity and inclusion, expanding market access, and building regionally specific research and technical assistance networks to strengthen organic production in the Southeast.

The event culminated in a final report, which summarized outcomes and provided recommendations for continued collaboration and capacity building across the region.

Download the Cultivating the Future of Organic in the Southeast Report (PDF)