A core principle of organic agriculture is the adoption of best sustainable and ecologically sound practices and inputs as they become available. Organic agricultural research is used to assess and develop emerging practices and inputs. It is a dynamic field with new information available regularly. Organic producers, handlers, and consumers all receive benefits from research on new methods, practices, varieties, and breeds.

In recent years, federal, state, university, and private funds have become available for organic agricultural research. Some of the grant funds require that research be conducted on transitional or certified organic land. For example, the Integrated Organic Program of USDA currently requires that all research be done on land that is either certified or transitioning to organic, thus the ability of researchers to get their research lands certified has a direct bearing on their eligibility for funding.

Many organic growers do not find research conducted on non-organic or non-certified land to be applicable in organic systems and the validity of the research to organic growers is an important concern. Because of the heavy emphasis of the Integrated Organic Program on stakeholder input and information transfer to organic growers, it is critical that researchers fully understand and embrace organic certification requirements.

The National Organic Program Final Rule, section 205.290(a)(3), allows the Administrator of USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to establish temporary variances from certain regulatory provisions for conducting research. Researchers and extension agents are aware that the regulation allows for research variances, but confusion exists as to the types of variances that are allowed.

This presentation will describe the organic certification requirements for research sites and facilities and discuss opportunities for and limitations on research variances under the USDA's National Organic Program regulation.