From the Director

Growth in Biologically Integrated, Organic Systems in California

Two important milestones this winter have shaped SAREP’s strategic response to progress and change in sustainable agriculture in California. First, the second year reporting from current Biologically Integrated Farming Systems (BIFS) projects has been received (see "Project Update") and SAREP has compiled the results into a biennial report transmitted to the State Legislature under provisions of AB 1998, a bill carried by Assemblywoman Helen Thomson in 1998. The BIFS report documents elimination and large reductions in high-risk agrichemicals in several production systems. For example the walnut BIFS project (P.I.: Joe Grant) demonstrated that by the use of pheromone-based mating disruption technology for codling moth control, 83 percent of enrolled growers eliminated the use of organophosphate insecticides in 2000. Seventy-five percent of enrolled growers planted cover crops as a cornerstone of a biologically integrated production system for walnuts. In the prune BIFS project (P.I.: Gary Obenauf), 33 enrolled farms demonstrated complete elimination of winter diazinon application. In its first year, the apple BIFS project (P.I.: Janet Caprile) reported a 59 percent reduction of organophosphate use and a 92 percent reduction of carbamate use for codling moth control. On 1,330 acres of enrolled rice BIFS acreage (P.I.: Randall Mutters), average herbicide use is less than half of county averages. The strawberry BIFS (P.I.: Carolee Bull) has reported the first evaluation of commercially available strawberry cultivars (mostly UC patented varieties) for performance under non-fumigated, certified organic production conditions. Altogether these BIFS projects report a more than 40 percent increase in enrolled growers in 2000 over 1999 participation.

The results continue to demonstrate the acceptance and strength of the research and extension partnership model promoted by the BIFS grants program in our farm communities. Farmers, researchers, agricultural professionals, and community members, funded and organized as management and outreach teams, can take rapid steps to implement the biological integration of production systems for major California commodities. SAREP Associate Director Jenny Broome and I have recently estimated that over seven percent of the planted area of California SAREP-funded BIFS project commodities have been served by these partnerships [see California Agriculture 54(4): 26-35]. Given the growth in BIFS and BIFS-type partnerships, we have documented that California’s farmers and ranchers are increasingly playing a critical role in the stewardship of California’s environment, and that numerous innovative growers are now advancing in the biological integration of their production systems. Growth in organic production and acreage has also accelerated in California, with California’s farmgate share of organic sales estimated in excess of $200 million. We predict that over the next 25 years, biologically integrated and organic production systems will constitute the majority of California’s farms and ranches, and California growers will maintain a preeminent role in the worldwide agricultural sustainability movement.

Now for the bad news. At this time, no new state BIFS program funds are in the pipeline to support new projects and commodity partnerships. The continuation of a successful extension and demonstration model with clear environmental and community benefits is at risk. California’s farmers and ranchers, under multiple economic, environmental, and social pressures, need support for innovation from our public institutions.

The second milestone this winter is the final version of the National Organic Program rule, which was issued in the Federal Register with an adoption date of February 20, 2001 (an 18-month phase-in period is contemplated). National organic standards are now in place. Although debate about the rules and accommodation to a national materials list, labeling requirements, and USDA accreditation of certifiers will continue, clearly these rules constitute a major passage toward maturation of the organic production industry. Given the rapid growth rate of organic production experienced recently in California, we predict that an increased number of new entrants into the organic industry will experience challenges adhering to production systems processes and requirements of the rule. According to a recent publication of the Organic Farming Research Foundation (State of the States: Organic Farming Systems Research at Land Grant Institutions 2000-2001) “…a coordinated, concerted effort to optimize organic systems with science-based information is still lacking at the land grant level [in California].” Organic production is expanding on a very limited research and extension base. Although SAREP’s recent RFP offered specific project funding for “optimizing organic production,” this research investment into organic methods lags far behind organic product sales in magnitude. How will we respond to this contradiction? Under SAREP’s strategic plan, a group of UC faculty, specialists, and farm advisors will convene an organic farming workgroup and seek ratification by UC ANR this spring. SAREP will collaborate with the workgroup in the creation of new resources for county-based programs, strengthening grants programs, sponsoring extension and annual scientific meetings, and other activities in targeted support of organic growers. The organic production industry has arrived. A coordinated, well-funded University of California organic farming research and extension project is long overdue.—Sean L. Swezey, director, University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program.