Organic Fertilizer: Achieving the Promise

The fertilizer application method plays a significant role in determining the effectiveness of organic fertilizers.

Growing food insecurity, climate change-related instability in agriculture, and continued reliance on harmful chemicals threaten the food system. The time has come to focus more attention and resources on time-tested solutions, and organic agriculture is a great place to start.

The world needs more organic agriculture for its health, economy, and climate.

Organic agriculture relies on principles and values that center on ecological diversity, natural materials, and healthy soils, as opposed to conventional agriculture, which uses fossil fuel-intensive pesticides and fertilizers that harm human health and pollute air, water, and soil. Organic farming and ranching require following a set of scientifically supported practices rooted in Indigenous knowledge of ecosystems and now defined by federal law. These practices treat farming and nature as a system that is interconnected both above and below the ground.

Reducing emissions and building resilience with organics

Organic agriculture reduces greenhouse gas emissions by avoiding most fossil fuel-based inputs, promotes healthy soils, diversifies food crops, and supports wildlife habitats and biodiversity. According to research, organic farming emits fewer nitrous oxides than conventional farming because it avoids chemical fertilizers and pesticides commonly used in traditional agriculture. Organic livestock also emits fewer methane gases than conventional CAFOs.

Organic agriculture increases resilience in a changing climate by creating healthy soils that retain water and store carbon, stabilizing the food supply in the face of droughts and other extreme weather events.

Protects and promotes health with organic products

Farmers and communities in the vicinity of conventional farms are much less likely to be exposed to pesticides from organic agriculture, which can cause serious acute and chronic health issues. A significant portion of the chemicals and other substances allowed in nonorganic foods are also avoided by organic producers, and fertilizer and waste contamination of waterways is also minimized.

Organic Contributes to Prosperity and Revitalizes Communities

Organic farming creates economic vitality and growth for farmers. In the U.S., researchers have identified "organic hotspots" where organic farming increases jobs, lowers unemployment and spurs agricultural business growth. Organic agriculture is becoming more profitable and productive for young farmers, enabling them to stay in business and expand production for local and regional markets.

Achieving the full potential of organic farming requires federal (and state) support

Federal investments in technical assistance, research, and marketing have not kept pace with the consistent, rapid growth of the organic sector. For example, in 2021, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) only spent 2 percent on organic research.

Farmers and ranchers are increasingly interested in sustainable practices and resilience in the face of climate change, which is why organic funding has long been overdue in the Farm Bill and across the federal government. There is a need to expand existing organic farming and ranching programs, develop new ones, and ensure that organic farming and ranching are for everyone, including producers and communities of color who federal agricultural policies or food systems have disadvantaged. The report offers detailed policy recommendations for maximizing organic agriculture's potential.

Organic certification is a long, challenging, and financially risky process. Typically, little government support is available, and the organic transition needs more help, especially for BIPOC. Achieving organic certification also requires an equitable share of public funding for research, technical assistance, and other agricultural investments.

Organic agriculture must address unique and significant roadblocks faced by BIPOC producers, which must be addressed to ensure the organic sector represents and serves diverse communities. In the Southeast, among tribal nations, and among non-English-speaking farmers, Congress and USDA should prioritize an array of targeted services.

Leverage government purchasing power to expand organic markets and improve healthy food access. Every government food program and agency buying guide should prioritize organic products.

Currently, the benefits and burdens of public investment are primarily based on private economic benefits for businesses rather than environmental, health, and social harms. The USDA should instead analyze the complete cost-benefit profile of policies to better align public investments with their intended outcomes.

With federal government regulation and minimal public policy support, organic production has already outpaced conventional production, growing at a rate far exceeding expectations after 20 years. A national organic policy is an essential investment for the future.