Ceres Trust wishes to announce the conclusion of its highly successful Organic Research Initiative. The program, which began in 2009, has funded sixty-five, largely 3-year, organic research projects at universities and agricultural organizations in the North–Central region, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. More than ten million dollars has been expended for this effort. The program will continue to administer its current grants through 2018.

The knowledge gained and shared through these unique projects has greatly enhanced the tools and understanding available to organic farmers, who are building a world of healthy food and ecosystems and stable planetary systems. Ceres Trust wishes to thank everyone who has worked together on this important initiative.

Organic Research and Outreach Report

To document the status of organic agriculture research and education in the Midwest, the Ceres Trust released the report, Organic Research and Outreach in the North Central Region, February 2015. This report contains state-specific details about current and past organic research, student organic farms, certified organic research land and animals, sources of organic research funding, dissemination of organic research results through field days, seminars, and publications, and more.

The report provides brief descriptions of recent and current organic research projects, peer-reviewed papers and extension publications, dating back to 2002 when US National Organic Program (NOP) regulations took effect. In addition, the report lists key contact people and describes academic courses, degree programs, and hands-on learning opportunities.