Advancing Organic Supply & Boosting Consumer Demand: Recent Research from The Organic Center

The Organic Center’s work aims increase the innovation and success of organic farming while empowering consumers with knowledge of the benefits of organic. The Center conducts, convenes and communicates credible research related to organic food and farming and in this webinar, will share some recent research directions and information products used to communicate science to the organic sector and its consumers like reports on the benefits of organic spices, herbs and teas, and the benefits of organic produce. Research projects presented will include the assessment of chemical contamination of retail milk, food safety risk assessment for the use of organic soil amendments, the use of protective netting to improve organic specialty crop quality, and impacts of orchard grazing on soil health, food safety and pest control.

About Amber Sciligo:
Dr. Amber Sciligo is the Director of Science Programs at The Organic Center where she directs activities that convene and conduct organic agriculture research and communicate research results to consumers. She has worked in the organic industry for 15 years and has collaborated with researchers, industry, farmers, and policymakers to identify organic research needs and execute research that addresses those needs. Dr. Sciligo has developed a diverse portfolio of research programs that aim to improve the success and feasibility of the wide range of farming systems in organic. She also directs the development of science communication tools such as in-person and virtual conferences and convenings, reports, webinars, and social media campaigns aimed at empowering consumers with credible science to inform their decision-making.
Dr. Sciligo received her PhD in ecology and evolution at Lincoln University, New Zealand. While her technical expertise is grounded in plant-insect interactions, particularly pollination, her extensive postdoctoral research at UC Berkeley, took an interdisciplinary approach to intersect ecological, economic and socio-political arenas to reveal truly sustainable farming practices. The main goal of Dr. Sciligo’s primary research has been to understand how farming practices that promote biodiversity and ecosystem services can be better supported at all farm scales.