ORGANIC CENTER FOR EDUCATION AND PROMOTION INC

To engage and develop partnerships with universities, research institutions, federal agencies, organic farmers, and food systems advocates that are working to improve and transform agricultural systems.
To stimulate and participate in research that will (1) fill knowledge gaps about the health and environmental benefits of organic farming and (2) increase the viability and sustainability of the U.S. agricultural system.
To empower consumers to make choices that will improve their health, the health of the environment and the health of their communities through education and outreach.
To serve as a resource for the public, policy makers, scientists, farmers and industry on the science supporting sustainable organic food and farming.
To strengthen and expand organic practices and commodities which reduce the use of toxic, synthetic chemicals and have clear benefits to human health and the environment.

Our strategies include:
Empowering the consumer: By communicating credible, evidence-based science that supports the health and environmental benefits of sustainable organic food and farming we empower the everyday consumer to make educated choices that support human and environmental health.
Providing access to information: By serving as a resource for the public, policy-makers, scientists, farmers and industry on the science supporting sustainable organic food and farming.
Advancing research: By facilitating, supporting and disseminating scientific research we aim to (1) foster a more complete understanding about the health and environmental benefits of organic food and farming and (2) improve the efficacy and sustainability of organic farming methods

The Organic Center’s science education programs are directed towards diverse audiences including consumers, policy makers, scientists, and industry members, and we have extensive capabilities for meeting our goals. We strive to empower consumers to support sustainable food systems by enabling them to make educated choices in the market place. We meet this goal by transforming evidence-based science that supports the health and environmental benefits of sustainable organic food and farming into forms that are easily understandable and which spark further interest and enthusiasm. Additionally, we serve as a resource to policy-makers, scientists, farmers and industry on research that is critical for decision-making. We meet this goal by actively disseminating in depth and up-to-date information about scientifically backed best practices in farm management, the health and environmental benefits of sustainable organic food and farming, and concerns that drive consumer choices. Furthermore, we facilitate interaction and communication among these diverse stakeholder groups. Our current outreach projects include:

The Organic Center Website: On our website we publish non-technical summaries of the most recent peer-reviewed scientific research, blogs on the science behind key issues in the field of organic agriculture, recipes which highlight commodity specific research findings, interviews with scientists to bring a spotlight on some of the most interesting, cutting-edge work that is being done in the organic field and fact sheets to provide the public with clear and concise information on the benefits of organic food and farming.

The Organic Center Newsletter: We publish bi-weekly newsletters for the public and industry with updates on current Organic Center projects and recently published science of interest.

Biannual Publications: We review, compile, and synthesize literature on current topics in human and environmental health as they relate to food systems to produce comprehensive and understandable publications on key topics of interest.

Farmer Focused Publications: We create and publish educational materials for farmers that are focused on improving agricultural sustainability and overcoming production challenges.

Workshops, Webinars and Presentations: We actively participate in grower meetings, industry events, and scientific conferences to educate, learn from and engage diverse stakeholders.

We have been able to accomplish several projects focused on human and environmental health. For example, here are some of our most recent projects:

Pesticide, Hormone, & Antibiotic Presence in Milk
This peer-reviewed and published project looks at the extent to which hormones, antibiotics, and pesticides used in milk production can be detected in retail conventional milk, as compared to organic milk. Specifically, cow’s milk was tested for a wide variety of growth hormones, pesticides, and antibiotics. Organic milk tested clean, with no detectable levels of synthetic residues, as compared to conventional milk where over 60% of samples showed contaminant resides. Results were highlighted in media outlets such as USA Today.

Farmworker Health
This project details the science on the health effects of occupational exposure to pesticides for agricultural workers and how the organic regulations reduce these exposures, providing a safer working environment on the farm. It also highlights techniques that are used on organic farms that can be incorporated by all farmers – regardless of farming system.

Combating the Development of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
The Organic Center released a report on organic food and farming as a tool to combat antibiotic resistance and protect public health. This report takes an in-depth look at the role of antibiotic use in conventional agricultural livestock production in contributing to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. It covers everything from mechanisms by which resistance develops in bacteria to how organic agriculture provides a simple and effective means to combat the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and to protect the health of consumers.

Pollinator Health
The Organic Center released a Pollinator Health report that documents the benefits of organic on pollinator populations. The publication reviews specific cases of pesticide impacts on pollinator health, and discusses the lesser-known benefits of organic farms, such as more diverse habitat for pollinators and an increase in food sources.

Next, we will focus projects on climate change, the organic benefits of products such as meat, and soil health.