Organic Science and Research Investment Act of 2025
The Organic Science and Research Investment Act of 2025 would significantly expand and coordinate federal organic research and related activities. It creates a formal Coordinating and Expanding Organic Research Initiative to align and boost organic research across four agencies (the Agricultural Research Service, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the Economic Research Service, and the National Agricultural Statistics Service). The bill also broadens funding and program authority to support the transition to organic production, emphasizes Indigenous knowledge and climate-related goals, and requires an ongoing economic impact analysis of organic farming and certification. Overall, the measure aims to accelerate innovation in organic agriculture, improve data and guidance for producers, and assess economic and social effects of organic policies and markets. Key components include establishing a multi-agency advisory initiative, expanding grant programs to aid transitions to organic production (including partnerships with minority-serving institutions), increasing authorized funding for organic research through 2030, incorporating Indigenous traditional ecological knowledge, and mandating an economic impact analysis of organic farming and certification with public reporting and planning deadlines.
Key Points
- 1Establishment of the Coordinating and Expanding Organic Research Initiative to synchronize and expand organic research across ARS, NIFA, ERS, and NASS, with a diverse 12–18 member panel and a chair from the Office of the Chief Scientist. The initiative will coordinate organic research, review ongoing work, develop strategic plans, and produce periodic surveys and reports.
- 2Expanded duties and reporting requirements for the Initiative, including surveys of all organic-related research, annual (every 5 years) reports with recommendations to expand research, and ongoing consultation with the National Organic Standards Board, land-grant institutions, and organic/conventional producers and organizations. Budget recommendations from the Initiative must be considered in the Secretary’s annual budget.
- 3Organic Research and Extension Initiative enhancements, adding emphasis on Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge, tools to identify and adopt traditional knowledge, cultural practices related to organic materials, and climate change mitigation/adaptation within organic systems. Authorization of new, stepped-up funding through 2030 (and beyond), with specified annual amounts increasing to $100 million by 2030.
- 4Creation of the “Researching the Transition to Organic” program to fund competitive grants for research, education, and extension focused on helping non-organic production convert to organic. Prioritizes on-farm partnerships and involvement of 1890 and 1994 Institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, and Alaska Native-serving or Native Hawaiian-serving institutions. New funding: $10 million for 2026–2027; $20 million for 2028 and onward.
- 5Expansion of economic data work through a new or amended provision requiring the Economic Research Service to conduct an economic impact analysis of organic farming and certification, including regional variation and indirect effects on rural and urban communities. A plan is due within one year, with results due within three years. Funding set at $10 million annually for 2025–2030 (with a broader update from prior, lower funding).