Organic Trade Association hails $300M USDA investment to support transition to organic

The USDA has announced it will invest up to $300 million in a new Organic Transition Initiative. According to a statement from the USDA, the initiative, which is part of the USDA Food System Transformation Framework, will “provide comprehensive support for farmers to transition to organic production”. 

Organic Trade Association (OTA) CEO and Executive Director Tom Chapman described the investment as “historic” as it “increases options for American farmers to ‘adopt practices that are both good for their businesses and the climate.” 

The USDA said: “Organic production provides producers with the ability to demand a premium in the marketplace and thus take home a greater share of the food dollar; there can also be climate and environmental benefits.”

The OTA’s CEO said “The USDA’s new Organic Transition Initiative will jumpstart that growth by making the organic transition process more accessible and impactful; particularly for beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, who experience unique challenges to accessing resources and support programmes.”