Rodale Institute

Rodale Institute (the "Institute"), located in kutztown, Pennsylvania, is an innovative 501(c)(3) nonprofit, located in kutztown, pa, dedicated to advancing regenerative agriculture through rigorous independent research, direct farmer support initiatives, consumer education, and workforce training programs. Widely recognized as the birthplace of the organic movement in the us, today Rodale Institute is recognized as a prestigious agricultural research and education nonprofit, and a trusted partner of farmers, corporations, and state and federal governments and agencies, promoting and advancing regenerative organic agriculture for over 70 years. [cont. On sch o.] The work of the Rodale Institute, since its start in 1947, is grounded in the principle that healing people and the planet begins with healthy soil. As the global leader in regenerative organic agriculture, our mission is to advance groundbreaking research and best-in-class education that enables farms and farmers to transition to regenerative organic agricultural practices, thereby improving the health of the world's soil and securing the global food supply. Rodale Institute is where optimism meets science. The science is clear: healthy soil means healthy food and healthy people. In addition, healthy soil is the single largest catalyst to help heal the planet.the world is at a critical inflection point. The rise in environmental pollution and chronic diseases, increased frequency of extreme weather events, and a changing climate require us to reckon with how we feed the world. As we enter our 75th year, we are committed to providing the research, consulting, and education necessary to catalyze change in our food, agriculture, and healthcare systems. Guided by our five-year strategy, rooted in four key areas: growth, infrastructure, people (internal), and people (external); Rodale Institute influences a broad swath of the agricultural industry and is dedicated to helping farmers thrive! The research, education, and consulting conducted at the Rodale Institute is the catalyst for change in all areas of food and fiber production across the country and around the world.rodale Institute is committed to conducting rigorous research designed to uncover the most effective, efficient approaches that will enhance the management of regenerative organic agroecosystems. Shared with farmers and consumers worldwide, our research acts as a catalyst for change in food systems around the globe. Through long-term comparison trials between organic and conventional systems conducted side by side, along with various short-term projects across different climate zones in Pennsylvania, we support a wide range of growers in overcoming field challenges while addressing ecosystem health and human concerns. Rodale Institute has three main areas of focus that guide the research that we do:-bolster organic agriculture by developing integrated pests, diseases and weed management techniques as alternatives for chemical applications and facilitate the transition to organic.-assist growers in enhancing the resiliency of agricultural ecosystems to withstand extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change.-help solve food insecurity by providing research around growing nutrient-dense foods.the Institute's 350+-acre organic farm and research facility serves as a living laboratory, an educational campus and a gathering place for the community. The farm is the site of many of the Institute's research projects; farming systems trial ("fst"), the longest-running, side-by-side comparison of conventional and organic grain systems, vegetable systems trial ("vst") a long-term food nutrition experiment, soil health and hemp project and many more. As an example of Rodale Institute's research influence, data from fst has shown that organic systems can outperform conventional production in times of drought and has comparable yields with conventional under good conditions.education is critical to the mission of Rodale Institute. The world needs more regenerative organic farmers. 95 million acres of farmland are poised to change hands in the next decade. In the united states, organic sales have topped $62 billion annually, and continue to grow. Yet only approximately 1% of u.s. cropland is certified organic. We have a need for more organic farmers, as well as beginning farmers. Today, there are 6x as many farmers over 65 as under 35. That is why Rodale Institute is helping farmers transition to organic, while training the next generation of organic leaders. At Rodale Institute, we're invested in giving new farmer trainees and advocates the tools they need to succeed. We offer hands-on, virtual, and classroom-based educational opportunities to new farmers through several farmer education and fellowship pathways. Our education philosophy is built on the concept that our work becomes a "destination for inspiration" training both existing farmers and new farmers to become educated regenerative organic farmers as well as reaching out to educate consumers that drive the market and policy makers that incentivize farmer behavior. Rodale Institute is invested in helping new farmers get established in organic agriculture, working with conventional farmers to transition to organic, and teaching existing organic farmers the most effective organic growing practices. An established authority on organic production methods, Rodale Institute offers internships to beginning farmers, including special programs for military veterans, as well as workshops and online courses to the public to make regenerative organic growing methods more accessible and more widespread.rodale Institute consulting simplifies the process of transitioning to regenerative organic farming systems. Backed by 75+ years of science, our regenerative organic consulting service launched in 2019 to accelerate the shift from conventional to organic agriculture practices and production. We put trained agronomists and certification experts on farms in a one-on-one mentorship and personalized coaching model to advise transitioning farmers. Our consultancy focuses on 4 core areas:-technical assistance for farmers-market/buyer discovery and connection-translating research into practical advice-connecting agricultural communitiesrodale Institute's consultancy has two distinct advantages in its service to farmers: 1) we have a national presence that can held a broad geographic constituency; and 2) our consultants have diverse expertise which can help solve farmer's most pressing needs. Our results have been tremendous, with over 33,000 acres in transition since 2019 and 4000 acres having completed transition.in addition to the headquarters in kutztown, pa, Rodale Institute also operates nine satellite locations. Six regional resource centers serve as hubs for organic research and education throughout the u.s. and the world. These hubs meet the needs of farmers in their own communities, including regionalized research on pests, diseases, weeds or fertility, as well as field days and extension. Hubs are located in California, midwest (Iowa), southeast (Georgia), pacific northwest (Washington), Pennsylvania (pocono), and europe (parma, italy). Additional campuses include an organic farm at a st. luke's university hospital network location, the historic Rodale Institute founders farm in emmaus, pa, and a certified organic vegetable farm on cornwall manor's senior living facility campus.