FiBL at the Agricultural Outlook Forum

The Organic Outlook Session provided an overview of current trends in organic production and consumption. Key topics included the U.S. regulation on Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE), which aims to protect the integrity of the organic supply chain, the use of federal support programs by organic farms, and global developments in the organic sector.
The session was organised and moderated by Sharon Raszap Skorbiansky, an economist at the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS), responsible for organic agriculture.

SOE implementation: Successes and challenges

Scott Rice of the Organic Trade Association (OTA) discussed the achievements and challenges experienced during the first year of SOE implementation in his presentation, "One Year of Strengthened Organic Oversight: Successes, Challenges, and Opportunities." He explained the rationale behind SOE, its key components, and the response from the industry. The regulation requires nearly all participants in the organic supply chain to be USDA-certified, mandates import certificates for all organic products, and integrates traceability and fraud prevention into standard business practices. According to Rice, while these measures have increased transparency, they have also posed challenges and opened new opportunities for growth within the U.S. organic sector.

Adapting crop insurance to organic farming needs

Julia Barton from the Organic Farmers Association addressed ongoing challenges for organic farmers, with a particular focus on crop insurance. She emphasised that organic farms are still at a disadvantage, as current insurance models do not account for the higher market prices of organic products. Unlike conventional farmers, organic producers are often under-compensated in the event of crop loss. The discussion centred on how to resolve these structural issues and better integrate organic farms into the crop insurance system.

U.S. organic agriculture in a global context

Joining virtually, Helga Willer from FiBL Switzerland presented the latest figures and analyses on global developments in the organic sector (see "The World of Organic Agriculture" press release). A key discussion point was the contrast between the U.S.'s low share of organic farmland – just 0.5 percent –and its relatively high market share of organic products, which stands at 6 percent, making it the world's largest organic market. The discussion identified a lack of government support for research and advisory services as one of the main reasons for this discrepancy.

Closing remarks by the Secretary of Agriculture

To close the conference, newly appointed Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins addressed the audience. She described the current state of U.S. agriculture as one of the most challenging in the past 50 years, citing a trade deficit of $45.5 billion and rising production costs. Rollins pledged swift action, announcing nearly $3 billion in financial aid. She acknowledged the pressures caused by rising labour costs and the potential impacts of stricter immigration policies. Additionally, she unveiled a $10 billion support package to help farmers cope with natural disasters and economic difficulties.

Further information

Contact

Helga Willer

Links

• organic-world.net: FiBL website on the statistical yearbook "The World of Organic Agriculture"
• usda.gov: Website of the Agricultural Outlook Forum
• wylr.net: Artikel "Agricultural outlook: USDAʼs annual forum forecasts future of agriculture since 1923"
• farmprogress.com: Artikel "Ag Secretary Rollins calls farm economy 'dire,' vows fast action"
• ota.com: Artikel "USDA Ag Outlook: OTA regulatory head updates on the new organic rules"
• ota.com: Website of the Organic Trade Association (OTA)
• organicfarmersassociation.org: Website of the Organic Farmers Association