Screening butternut breeding lines at WSU in collaboration with the Organic Seed Partnership.
Washington State University is actively supporting the expanding organic agriculture sector in the state by:
- Education – providing undergraduate and graduate education in organic agriculture
- Research – supporting research that addresses the diversity of production in the state
- Outreach – helping citizens find information and experts regarding organic agriculture
History
Washington State University has a solid history of involvement with organic farming. One of the first organic studies (David Holland and Stephen Kraten, 1970s) compared energy usage by organic and conventional grain production systems. In 1980, the USDA Study Team on Organic Farming (led by Bob Papendick, USDA-ARS researcher based at WSU Pullman) produced “Report and Recommendations on Organic Farming”. In 1981, the first organic farming symposium at the American Society of Agronomy national meetings (organized by Lloyd Elliott and Dave Bezdicek, WSU) led to the publication of “Organic Farming: Current Technology and Its Role in a Sustainable Agriculture,” available from the American Society of Agronomy as an ASA Special Publication.
Current Status
Today, Washington State University continues to play a key role in organic research and education. In 2002, the CSANR published a survey of organic research and education at WSU that identified almost 50 faculty and staff who were involved in organic research and education projects. Also in 2002, the CSANR received federal funding for its Organic Research program. In 2003, an organic working group was formed at WSU with the purpose of increasing research, networking and outreach opportunities and impacts. In 2007, WSU began offering a new undergraduate Organic Agriculture Systems major.
WSU Organic Land
The WSU Organic Working Group set the goal of establishing certified organic land or organically managed land at every WSU research facility. At this time, 25 acres are certified organic and 3 acres are transition to organic and used for research purposes at four locations in the state. An additional 100 acres are certified organic and leased for commercial production. More details.