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Diversity is essential to sustainability of organic farms, to improve and maintain soil health, manage diseases and pests, and sustain whole-farm economic viability in spite of climate change and market instability. However, the need for an adequate return per acre has worked against diversity on many organic farms, leading to shortened and simplified rotations on vegetable farms that often precludes crop rotation and sufficient use of cover crops.

Nearly all varieties grown by organic farmers were bred under non-organic management. This project will develop new varieties and add value and knowledge in the production and marketing of specialty food grain crops to improve organic farm economics with the goals of increasing their utilization and enhancing the biodiversity and sustainability.

The long-term goal of this multi-region, integrative project is to provide organic growers, processors, and consumers with new knowledge about food grains that will lead to economically rewarding and sustainable organic farms. Specifically, the objectives for this project are to:

1) Evaluate germplasm and develop new varieties of small grains with high market value including food quality wheat, emmer, spelt, einkorn, naked barley, rye, and naked oats for desirable grain processing, culinary characteristics, and nutritional quality.

2) Address two critical production issues for organic value-added grains: winter survival and disease-free seeds.

3) Assess and increase opportunities for local and regional organic grain market demand, aggregation, and distribution.

4) Develop a comprehensive outreach program that connects key stakeholders in organic grains supply systems to each other and with the resources they need.

Cornell University

10.307 - Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative

Institute of Food Production and Sustainability (IFPS) [USDA - NIFA]

Ithaca, New York 14850-2820 United States

Single Zip Code

Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (USDA-NIFA-ICGP-009743)