As Clif Bar alum and previous director of agricultural policy and programs Matthew Dillon likes to say, “Organic farming really isn’t farming like your grandpa used to. It’s not just little boutique farms doing a couple acres of veggies. There’s a much bigger picture out there; organic has the potential to be a major catalyst for positive change, improving our environment and the quality of food for consumers. But organic needs to continue to innovate to achieve these greater goals.”
Consumers share Matthew’s passion. In 2021, organic sales grew by 13% with a record high of $63 billion spent on organic food, according to the Organic Trade Association. And in a recent industry survey, more than 82% of U.S. households stock organic food in their kitchens.
This is all great news. Except that organic crop research has not kept up with consumer demand. In fact, despite organic’s rapid growth in the market, organic agriculture receives less than 1 percent of total public spending on agricultural research.
So why does this matter? Research is a key driver of innovation in the agricultural sector. It’s where we find new crop varieties that yield greater amounts of nutritious food. And where we find breakthroughs in pest control, soil enrichment and water conservation. These innovations also yield direct economic benefits to farmers, rural communities and consumers. In organic research, we also find the roots of connecting healthy people to a healthy planet.
Yet today, the vast majority of our nation’s agricultural research is focused on conventional agriculture, which is reliant on toxic chemicals and synthetic pesticides.
In order for organic farming to continue to thrive and meet this growing consumer demand for organic food, the sector must also continue to innovate. This disparity in organic research compared to conventional agricultural is why Clif has spearheaded a $10 million investment and has funded 5 endowed chairs focused on organic research.