Supporting Organic with Ben Bowell and Jessy Beckett Parr of Transition to Organic Partnership Program
The conversation centers around the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), a USDA initiative aimed at supporting farmers in transitioning to organic practices. Ben Bowell and Jessy Beckett Parr discuss the program's origins, goals, and the collaborative efforts of various organizations involved. They highlight the importance of technical assistance, mentorship, and community building in fostering a successful organic farming network. The discussion also touches on the program's impacts, future sustainability, and the significance of respect and collaboration in achieving a better world for agriculture.
Takeaways
TOPP is a USDA initiative with a $100 million budget.
The program aims to support farmers transitioning to organic practices.
Collaboration among organizations is key to the program's success.
Technical assistance includes one-on-one support and mentorship.
The program has reached thousands through various educational events.
Farmers are compensated for mentoring new organic farmers.
The program is designed to be community-based and regionally tailored.
Future funding and sustainability are ongoing concerns for the program.
The program aims to increase domestic organic production to meet consumer demand.
The national partners are Organic Farmers Association, Trade Association, and Arizona State University Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems.
The Regional Leads are Oregon Tilth, CCOD, OCIA, MOSA, Florida Organic Growers, and PCO.
Modern Species developed their 2025 Impact Report which helped them secure the remainder of their grant after the government funding freeze.
Sound Bites
“If there's already the organic demand, we just need to meet the supply domestically.”
“People in the United States who are inside of larger agricultural corporations, food-based corporations, see the disconnect and the need to invest resources in domestic supply and production.”
“We all cooperatively wrote the organic standards together, along with other movement aligned groups in the 90s.”
“One of the emergent themes for us of this work has been how important the network itself is and how keeping people in collaboration across organizations and state boundaries supports all of our success.”
“I love hearing the stories of the farmer to farmer sharing. It's really powerful.”
“I really feel like a better world looks like a world that's full of respect, for the people, for the planet and its delicate balance of biology and ecology.”
"It's about continuous improvement."
