Micheal Clements, NAFB News Service

Rodale Institute Monday announced a $2 million investment to provide organic and regenerative farmers land security through long-term leases and mortgages. Through a partnership with the Iroquois (err-re-coy) Valley Farmland Real Estate Investment Trust, Rodale Institute will use money from its endowment fund to increase land access for organic farmers across the country and boost organic acreage, a core tenet of Rodale Institute’s mission. Rodale Institute has been researching the benefits of regenerative organic agriculture for over 70 years. Despite the organic market reaching $55 billion in the U.S. in 2019, only one percent of U.S. farmland is certified organic. Iroquois Valley seeks to break down those barriers by purchasing farmland and entering into a lease agreement or underwriting a mortgage for organic farmers looking to start or expand their operation. Rodale Institute’s investment allows Iroquois Valley to purchase more land, offer those resources to farmers nationwide, and provide the organization with “more stability” in its investment portfolio.