From sustag@beta.tricity.wsu.eduFri Feb 10 16:41:40 1995 Date: Thu, 9 Feb 1995 19:27:47 -0800 (PST) From: "Tom Hodges (moderated newsgroup)" To: Principles of Sustainable Agriculture Subject: repost:Org. Rsch. Foundation (fwd) [There will be two more posts following on this post. TH] ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 9 Feb 1995 20:55:45 -0500 From: Mdlip@aol.com To: thodges@beta.tricity.wsu.edu Subject: repost:Org. Rsch. Foundation This posting introduces the Organic Farming Research Foundation. OFRF is a national organization founded by and for organic farmers to fund on-farm research of organic methods. OFRF is now on-line (temporarily through the AOL account of its newest staff member, but soon with its own internet address). Here is a copy of OFRF's Goals and Objectives. Look for successive postings regarding our grant-making program, our new policy analysis project, our national survey of certified organic farmers, and other activities. Looking forward to hearing from you. Mark Lipson, OFRF Policy Program Coordinator ORGANIC FARMING RESEARCH FOUNDATION PO Box 440, Santa Cruz, CA 95061 ph:408-426-6606; fax 408-426-6670; email Statement of Goals January 1995 Purpose "To foster the improvement and widespread adoption of organic farming practices." Mission 1. To sponsor research related to organic farming. 2. To disseminate research results to organic farmers and to growers interested in adopting organic production systems. 3. To educate the public and decision-makers about organic farming issues. Long-Term Goals 1. Develop and periodically update a farm-directed research and education agenda to guide the Foundation's programs and influence the national debate on agricultural research priorities. 2. Establish and support ongoing grant-making programs and sponsored projects to fulfill the Foundation's research and education mission. 3. Promote interactions and cooperation among farmers, researchers, educators and the organic industry. 4. Play a leading role in the network of organic, sustainable and ecological farming research and education organizations. 5. Maintain an active Board of Directors with national representation and recognition. 6. Build an endowment fund of six million dollars by 2003. 7. Participate in policy initiatives which support grower-directed, organic on-farm research programs. 8. Maintain a full-time, professional managerial and technical staff with a centralized office operation. 1995 Goals and Objectives A. Organizational Development 1. Establish and implement formal endowment and gift giving program; --clarify legal and tax protocol for various gifts to OFRF, --develop and implement management criteria for each type of activity, --sponsor three major fundraising events in 1995, --publish endowment brochure and begin $1,000,000 endowment campaign. 2. Cultivate Board and Staff excellence and continuity; --develop and circulate board training package for new members, --identify useful workshops and seminars for staff and board members, --maintain process for board self-evaluation including possible board retreat, --add half-time support staff and increase Program Coordinator to 75% time, --initiate development of technical program and add technical program staff, --seat committee chairs and add new members, --draft and approve each committee's 1995 goals and objectives, --implement strategic integrated planning by identifying 1996-1998 long-range goals and objectives, --develop protocol to help support farmer initiated on-farm research projects. B. Program Development 1. Review and update OFRF's Research and Education priorities; --implement National Research Policy Analysis Project, --draft and begin work on 1995 National Organic Farmer's Survey, --investigate relationship between crop health and product nutrition, --review other research programs to maintain maximum effectiveness in OFRF's grantmaking, --explore alternative marketing innovations such as CSA's and Co-ops, --improve technical capabilities and follow-up monitoring of OFRF funded projects. 2. Develop and expand Board-sponsored research and education programs; --publish a minimum of two Information Bulletin newsletters, --sponsor three independently funded research and/or education projects, --sponsor second Business and Regulatory conference, --investigate cost-effective techniques for organic farmers. 3. Expand competitive grant-making program for on-farm research and education; --solicit applications through announcements, events and personal contacts, --fund a maximum of $100,000 of research and education projects in 1995. 4. Establish appropriate communication systems with both conventional and organic information networks; --identify core network of peer organic agriculture associations and institutions for on-going information exchange, --maintain media, institutional and individual mailing lists, --participate in other conferences and symposia as appropriate.