The bill aims to coordinate and expand organic agricultural research, appointing an initiative and expertise to oversee it, addressing climate change impact, and encouraging partnerships with educational institutions. It also includes provisions for identifying traditional ecological knowledge and cultural practices, authorizing specialized research grants, and allocating funds. Furthermore, it seeks to amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 by conducting an economic impact analysis, examining various agriculture operations' impacts on rural and urban communities, and would allocate $10,000,000 annually for this purpose from 2025 to 2030.
Organic Science and Research Investment Act of 2025
This bill expands Department of Agriculture (USDA) support for organic agricultural research.
USDA must establish the Coordinating and Expanding Organic Research Initiative for USDA resources dedicated to organic agricultural research. Every five years, the initiative must survey USDA's organic agricultural research and produce a report, including findings and recommendations on expanding research and increasing project coordination and effectiveness. USDA must take the findings and recommendations into consideration when preparing USDA's annual budget recommendations.
In carrying out its work, the initiative must consult with the National Organic Standards Board and land-grant colleges and universities. In preparing each report, the initiative must consult organic and conventional farmers, ranchers, handlers and the organizations that serve them.
The bill also reauthorizes the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative through FY2030 and increases funding for the initiative. Further, eligible grant projects are expanded to include (1) facilitating the identification and adoption of traditional ecological knowledge and cultural practices, and (2) identifying how organic agriculture can adapt to and mitigate climate change.
The bill also reauthorizes, and extends funding for, USDA's organic production and market data initiatives through FY2030. The Economic Research Service must conduct an economic impact analysis of organic agricultural management conducted in accordance with the National Organic Program.
USDA may make competitive grants to support research, education, and extension activities relating to the transition from nonorganic production systems into organic agricultural production systems.
