Getting Back to Basics: Farming’s Organic Future
John Reganold, Ph.D.
Regents Professor of Soil Science
Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
The Rainier Club, Seattle
820 4th Avenue
Seattle
Registration: 11:30 a.m. Lunch Program: Noon-1:30 p.m.
Reservations: $30 per person (includes lunch)
Organic farming techniques are proven to be profitable, environment friendly, resource conscious, healthy, and socially responsible. Sales of organic foods in the U.S. have grown at least 20 percent a year for the past decade, according to a 2002 U.S. Department of Agriculture report. As this market segment grows in the state, nation, and world, so does the need for research and information.
Responding to that need, Washington State University is leading a movement among universities nationwide to offer organic farming courses in the curriculum. This fall, WSU becomes the first university in the country to offer a major in organic agricultural systems.
Spearheading the effort is John Reganold, Regents Professor of Soil Science and a world leader on sustainable agriculture. His reputation as one of the premier scientists in the world in sustainable agriculture is underscored by his publications in Science, Nature, and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. He published what many consider to be the seminal article on sustainable agriculture in Scientific American.
“WSU has been conducting research in organics for more than 25-30 years,” Dr. Reganold notes. “It seemed only natural to have a program in it. ”
Organic agriculture systems, which are significantly different than conventional agriculture, are expected to appeal not only to organic farmers but also to people interested in industries such as global marketing, direct marketing, or organic food.
The growing public interest in organic products reflects a demand for food grown without the use of synthetic pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, antibiotics, hormones, or genetic engineering. Currently, organics represent two percent of the market, according to Dr. Reganold, with dairy the fastest growing. That figure is expected to double by 2010.
Lecture Details
Download Dr. Reganold's powerpoint presentation (19 MB)
More About Dr. Reganold
News Releases
WSU First to Offer Major in Organic Agriculture
Organic Agriculture Major Approved by State Board
WSU Professor to Advise PBS Series on Organic Farming
Other Resources
Media Stories
WSU's organic agriculture major takes root
Apple study backs organic methods
Heading using the h3tag
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.