Rising demand for organic, non-GMO grains outpaces U.S. production

Organic imports rise sharply as U.S. corn and soybean growers contemplate premiums and risks.

February 16, 2017

3 Min Read
Rising demand for organic, non-GMO grains outpaces U.S. production
stevanovicigor/iStock/Thinkstock

Increasing consumer demand for organic foods and non-genetically modified organisms (GMOs) led to a sharp rise in organic grain imports in 2016, prompting food manufacturers to explore new incentives for U.S. growers transitioning to organic production, according to a new report from CoBank. While U.S. production of non-GMO crops has risen, domestic production of organic corn and soybeans remains well short of demand.
 
“Domestic supplies of non-GMO corn and soybeans increased steadily in 2016 as growers converted acreage and captured moderate market premiums,” said Dan Kowalski, director of the Knowledge Exchange Division at CoBank. “Transitioning to organic production, however, is a multiyear, risk/reward calculation that’s likely holding some U.S. growers back from taking advantage of the market opportunity.”
 
According to the report, imports of organic grains, particularly corn, from countries such as India, the Ukraine, Romania and Turkey surged in 2016 to meet the burgeoning U.S. demand for organic food products. Imports of organic corn more than doubled from 2015 to 2016 and accounted for nearly one-half of the U.S. organic corn supply. The domestic shortfall for organic soybeans was even greater: Roughly 80% of the soybeans supplying the U.S. organic market had to be imported in 2016.
 
Animal feed for organically raised dairy, beef, pork and poultry products and ingredients used in organic consumer packaged goods are the two principal markets for organic grain production. In order for U.S. farmers to satisfy this growing appetite for organic foods, analysts estimate that 1-5 million U.S. acres would have to be transitioned to organic production.
 
“Apprehension among growers is likely fueled by the three-year transition period before their crops can be certified as organic,” Kowalski said. “Remaining profitable during that period is often a struggle, and coupled with the volatility of organic price premiums in 2016, grower uncertainty about the sustainability of financial rewards for transitioning to organic is warranted.”
 
The report noted that some leading food manufacturers are finding new and innovative ways to incentivize growers for transitioning to organic production to help bolster the domestic supply and reduce the reliance on imports. Those include free agronomic services to contract growers and premiums for goods grown on transitional acres. A new transitional certification is also available that growers and food companies can use to market their products for a price somewhere between that of organic and non-organic crops.
 
“Proximity to local markets is another critical consideration for prospective organic and non-GMO growers,” Kowalski added. “If local buyers don’t exist, the cost of logistics involved with transportation can quickly erode pricing premiums, leaving little incentive to grow specialty crops.”
 
According to Kowalski, demand for both non-GMO and organic crops will continue to grow, and monetary incentives ultimately will determine whether U.S. growers choose to step in and close the supply deficit. For growers in close proximity to a market and with options for multiyear contracts, non-GMO and organic production might be worth considering, Kowalski said.

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