Rodale Institute

We are demonstrating the power of organic food to prevent and reverse disease, working to create economic vitality by training tomorrow’s farmers, and demonstrating the power of regenerative organic agriculture to reverse climate change. We aim to help people to make informed choices about their health and food. We aim to make organic farming the norm through leveraging our work to transition farmland to regenerative organic practices. Together with our philanthropic partners, we can harness the power of organic agriculture – rooted in regenerative practices, empowered farmers, and engaged communities – to help heal the planet and transform lives.

To increase the Rodale Institute’s ability to extend its global leadership in conducting independent science and developing real-world solutions, we are embarking on an ambitious fundraising campaign. We are committed to leveraging the full spectrum of our resources, knowledge, and talents to make organic farming not simply an option, but the norm. As the birthplace of organic farming in North America, this is not only our mission, but our responsibility.

Our rigorous research helps us uncover the most effective, efficient, and regenerative organic agricultural practices. We know that what we learn in managing our own farm must translate into simple, cost-effective practices that make it easy for both new and established farmers to choose organic agriculture. We know that organic farming is not without challenges. For example, the resources and energy that organic farmers invest in soil health is often negated by tilling, which disrupts beneficial ecosystems within the soil. The Rodale Institute took this seemingly intractable problem head on. The result? An innovative, one-of-a-kind tool for no-till farming that allows farmers to preserve the delicate balance of nutrients and organisms critical to healthy soil. Our farming systems trials have already shown that organic practices that include no-till methods produce competitive crop yields, can reduce damage in drought years, improve water quality, and, of course, enhance soil health. Equipped with this knowledge, organic farmers can create measurable change.

Our research in functional areas such as composting, water treatment, and pest management helps us understand how to ground both existing farms and the farms of the future in the core principles of regenerative, sustainable organic agriculture. And our commitment to research in newer areas – vertical farming, hemp as a crop – demonstrates our dedication to pushing beyond conventional boundaries to find the path forward that will have the greatest benefit to the world.

With the potential to influence nearly every farming practice, the research conducted at the Rodale Institute will be the catalyst for change in farming and food production across the globe. With healthy soil, we can have a healthy world.

Since 2019, we have launched three regional organic centers to replicate our science within varied climates and soil types and drive the adoption of organic practices in these regions. Ultimately the purpose of these regional campuses is to transition more acres and help meet our overall goals. In 2019, we launched our farmer consultancy program, providing on the ground services to assist farmers in transitioning to organic. After 6 months of the program, we have over 65 farms in transition across the United States. This represents the potential for nearly 30,000 acres to be transitioned over the next few years. In addition to providing rigorous science, and technical assistance to farmers, we sponsored the Organic Farmers Association, providing voice to Organic Farmers in the USA and supporting policies that will allow farmers to be successful.