ARS | Publication request: ORGANIC AGRICULTURE: INNOVATIONS IN ORGANIC MARKETING, TECHNOLOGY, AND RESEARCH

Submitted to: Crop Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: June 22, 2006
Publication Date: September 21, 2006
Citation: Bull, C.T., Greene, C., Kotcon, J.B., Oberholtzer, L. 2006. Organic agriculture: innovations in organic marketing, technology, and research - introduction to the proceedings. Crop Management. DOI:10.1094/CM-2006-0921-01-PS

Interpretive Summary: Organic agriculture is one of the fastest growing sectors of the U.S. agricultural economy. The USDA Organic Agriculture Workshop, held on October 6-7, 2005, identified key obstacles and explored new opportunities for continued growth in the organic sector. Additional research targeting the identified factors will help this sector of the agricultural economy continue to grown.

Technical Abstract: Additional research and education is needed to provide the U.S. organic agricultural sector with the tools necessary to meet growing consumer demand for organic products. The papers presented at the USDA Organic Agriculture Workshop, held on October 6-7, 2005, identified key obstacles and explored new opportunities for continued growth in the organic sector. In particular, obstacles and opportunities in the following areas are discussed in the associated papers: 1) Challenges Facing a Second Green Revolution; 2) Producer Options and Obstacles; 3) Market Growth; 4) Broadening the Education Infrastructure in Organic Agriculture; 5) Measuring and Communicating the Benefits of Organic Food Production; and 6) Building a Research Base for Organic Production.