Just Foods Program

The Just Foods program promotes a systems-based approach to a more sustainable food and fiber system.  We work nationally and internationally.

We promote:

• meaningful standards for organic agriculture,
• comprehensive labels for products grown in environmentally sound and socially just ways, and
• improved certification programs. 

Through research, analysis, education, advocacy and coalition-building, we:

• educate farmers and consumers about diversity’s importance in agriculture,
• emphasize how GE foods could jeopardize long-term food security and farmers’ livelihoods,
• evaluate new technology based on economic viability, environmental soundness, and social justice
• create new and expanded production, marketing and research opportunities for sustainable and organic farmers.

News:

March 12, 2010

Hearings begin today on concentration and competition in agriculture. Just Foods Program Director Michael Sligh is in Ankeny, Iowa, today for the first in a series of joint hearings held by the USDA and Justice Department to investigate issues of competition and concentrated ownership in agriculture.

Today’s workshop will introduce the series and will focus on issues affecting crop farmers, including “seed technology, vertical integration, market transparency and buyer power.”

Feb. 12, 2010

RAFI and the National Organic Coalition give thumbs up to USDA Access to Pasture Rule. The National Organic Coalition (NOC) today announced its “high praise” for the final rule on the access to pasture requirement for organic livestock published by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA’s February 12th action announcing the final rule comes nearly four years after a USDA National Organic Program (NOP) pasture symposium served as the catalyst that would eventually bring the rule to fruition following years of debate, discussion and research. Read more.>>

Jan. 28. 2010

The National Organic Action Plan project releases From the Margins to the Mainstream: Advancing Organic Agriculture in the U.S (PDF)

Nov. 19, 2009

New report reveals dramatic rise in pesticide use on genetically engineered (GE) crops due to the spread of resistant weeds
Genetically engineered (GE) corn, soybeans and cotton have increased use of weed-killing herbicides -- a type of pesticide -- by 383 million pounds in the U.S. from 1996 to 2008, according to a new Organic Center report titled "Impacts of Genetically Engineered Crops on Pesticide Use in the United States: The First Thirteen Years".

Nov. 15, 2009

Action Alert: Tell your senator - Food safety legislation must support family farmsOn Wed., Nov. 18, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee will mark up major food safety legislation, S. 510. A version of this legislation has already been approved by the House of Representatives.

The bill includes key reforms that would put real teeth into federal regulation of large-scale food processing corporations and protect consumers. However, the bill as written would also do serious harm to family farming, local and regional food systems, conservation and wildlife protection, and organic farming. The good news isthe Committee could fix those problems by adopting some common sense provisions.

Read the full alert and the organizational sign-on letter to Senators Harkin and Enzi.

Nov. 13, 2009

Justice Department and USDA set dates for workshops to explore competition and regulatory issues in the agriculture industry.

Read the Justice Depatment press release here.

Nov. 11, 2009

Plant breeders focus on organic crops.

RAFI is partnering with North Carolina State University on a project to develop new crop varieties designed to grow best on organic farms in the Southeast. Read the NCSU press release or the article in Southeast Farm Press.

Nov. 2, 2009

Public comment opens for Agricultural Justice Project standards

The Agricultural Justice Project would like to announce the opening of the first of two public comment periods in our 2009-2010 standards revision process.

We would like to invite you to participate in this revision process by reading our standards and submitting your comments or suggestions. Comments must be submitted by December 31. You can email your comments to agjusticeproject@gmail.com or mail them to AJP Project, P.O. Box 640, Pittsboro NC, 27312.

The AJP standards for social justice have been expanded, with the help and guidance of our Standards Committee, to cover food businesses such as retailers or processors, protection of indigenous rights, and an increased scope of workers rights issues. 

You may choose to comment on our complete standards document (PDF), or on the sections specific to your area of expertise. You may also download specific sections of the standards on our website.  A list of issues that we wish to focus on in this revision can be downloaded on our website (PDF). 

August 6, 2009

The USDA is voluntarily submitting to ongoing, independent oversight of the National Organic Program. RAFI and the National Organic Coalition applaud the USDA's decision. The move will increase transparency and integrity for the organic seal and ultimately benefit consumers and farmers alike.  For more information, read NOC's press release and the letter from USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen A. Merrigan. This was one of our principle recommendations to the Obama administration.

Our Issues:

Organic Integrity

Organic agriculture is now a billion-dollar industry. RAFI has been at the forefront of the organic movement for decades. We now develop practical strategies to promote and preserve organic integrity.

Projects
National Organic Coalition
National Organic Action Plan
Organic Advocacy and Promotion

Publications
The Benefit of Organic Agriculture for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Mitigating and Adapting to Climate Change (2009) A statement from the National Organic Coalition on the American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454)Towards a National Organic Action Plan - Summit Discussion Paper (2009)
NOC Transition Recommendations for the Obama Administration (2008)
NOC Farm Bill Analysis (2007)
Organic Agriculture and Access to Food (2007)
Who Owns Organic?  The Global Status, Prospects, and Challenges of a Changing Organic Market (2003)

Agricultural Biodiversity

Publicly-held plant varieties and animal breeds help meet increasing environmental challenges and changing consumer demands. We lead efforts to reinvigorate publicly-held seeds and breeds.

Projects
Seeds and Breeds for the 21st Century Coalition

Publications
Conventional/Classical Plant and Animal Breeding Provisions of the 2008 Farm Bill (2008)
Summit Proceedings: Summit on Seeds & Breeds for 21st Century Agriculture (2003)

Social Justice

RAFI is at the forefront of several national initiatives to create, support, and promote model fair food systems. We work for social justice along the entire production and marketing chain, from farmworkers to consumers.

Projects
Agricultural Justice Project
Domestic Fair Trade Association

Publications
 Agricultural Justice Project: Social Stewardship Standards in Organic and Sustainable Agriculture (2003-2008)
Proceedings: Social Justice Workshop, Bangkok, Thailand, Nov 2003

Biotechnology

We ask who benefits, who loses and who pays with the introduction of novel technologies in agriculture.

Publications
Economic Implications of Plant-Made Pharmaceutical Production in North Carolina (2008)
Farmers’ Guide to GM Contracts Brochure (2007)
Farmers’ Guide to GMOs (2004)

Contact Us:

Michael Sligh, Just Foods Program Director, msligh@rafiusa.org

Sally Lee, Just foods Program Associate, sally@rafiusa.org, (919) 542-1396 x211