Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Consumption of organic produce in the United States has increased exponentially these last ten years to $52 billion. High demands in organic products in the U.S. are met only by imports. These imports could be reduced if organic agriculture activities are strengthened in the Southeast. The Southeast lags the rest of the nation in certified organic production as none of the states in the Southeast is among the top ten states with certified acreage. This situation represents an unfilled niche, and hence, an economic opportunity for small-scale producers and BIOPOC communities. One of the major reasons the Southeast lags is that it offers little infrastructure to support small-scale family farmers. Therefore, the goal of the project is to strengthen organic agriculture infrastructure. Thus the objectives of are to: 1) bring researchers, extension personnel, and successful organic growers around the country to engage researchers at 1890 schools (in the Southeast) and farming communities, especially the BIPOC communities in the Southeast using a system-based approach to advance their understanding of organic issues and 2) facilitate collaboration, knowledge sharing, innovation, and networking among farmers, researchers, suppliers, and policymakers to overcome challenges, and seize market opportunities presented by the growing organic agriculture industry. Tuskegee University and its partners will organize and implement the conference outcomes. Outputs of the conference will be posted on project partners' websites and published in organic farmers' association bulletins in the Southeast and serve as a backbone of any future initiative to strengthen organic agriculture production in the Southeast.
Animal Health Component
0%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
0%
Applied
50%
Developmental
50%
Goals / Objectives
The goals of this proposed conference are two-fold: 1) to seek greater collaboration among ten 1890 schools in the SE (Tuskegee University, Alabama A&M University, Alcorn State University, Delaware State University, Florida A&M University, Fort Valley State University, North Carolina A&T State University, South Carolina State University, Southern University, Tennessee State University) in order to obtain and disseminate meaningful and relevant research information that supports and engages farming communities and especially the BIPOC communities to transition to organic agriculture and 2) to promote and strengthen organic agriculture infrastructure in the SE.
Project Methods
Tuskegee University is proposing a two-day conference to be organized in partnership with Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research, Clif Bar, The Organic Center, and Oregon State University. The Professional Agriculture Workers Conference (PAWC) will co-host the conference in conjunction with its 87th annual conference in Montgomery, Alabama. The PAWC conference is the largest gathering of 1890 schools, sustainable BIPOC farmers in the country, and federal employees and is therefore, a perfect venue to engage many farmers to identify major constraints and challenges hampering transition to organic production in the region. The PAWC is a conference committed to a world that values and promotes equal opportunity equitable access to information and technology for sustainable development of communities and natural resources.