Rodale Institute has launched the 10 Million Acre Solution, the nonprofit’s $139 Million Comprehensive Campaign to help catalyze the transition of 10 million acres of U.S. farmland to organic and regenerative organic by 2030.
Announced during the organization’s Annual Organic Field Day at the nonprofit’s headquarters in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, the campaign is guided by a new five-year Strategic Plan and bolstered by the groundbreaking of the $24 million Center for Regenerative Organic Innovation.
The launch comes at a pivotal moment for American agriculture. Consumer demand for organic products continues to outpace domestic supply, underscoring the need for greater investment in farmers, research and infrastructure. Meanwhile, more than 95 million acres of U.S. farmland are expected to transition to new ownership in the coming decades, creating a rare opportunity to influence how that land is stewarded for generations to come.
Guiding the campaign is Rodale Institute’s new five-year Strategic Plan, a roadmap for scaling the adoption of organic and regenerative organic agriculture through research, education, consulting and strategic partnerships. Built on nearly eight decades of scientific leadership, the plan aligns the Institute’s work around measurable goals designed to accelerate lasting change.
By 2030, Rodale Institute aims to help catalyze the transition of 10 million acres of U.S. farmland to organic and regenerative organic agriculture, conduct 10 long-term research trials, educate 100,000 farmers, agricultural professionals and consumers, and reach 100 million people.
A signature investment within the campaign is the $24 million Center for Regenerative Organic Innovation, which officially broke ground during the event. Backed by $13.1 million in current financial commitments, the Center will transform the historic 1819 Siegfried Barn on Rodale Institute’s Kutztown campus into a national hub for farmer education, collaboration and innovation, helping translate decades of scientific discovery into practical solutions that farmers can implement in their fields.
“This isn’t a series of separate initiatives. It’s one unified vision for the future of American agriculture,” said Jeff Tkach, CEO of Rodale Institute. “Our goal is simple: give farmers the research, education and support they need to succeed. When they do, the benefits reach far beyond the farm to strengthen our communities and the economy.”
Anchored by the Farming Systems Trial, now in its fifth decade as one of the world’s longest-running side-by-side comparisons of organic and conventional farming systems, Rodale Institute continues to pair rigorous science with practical, real-world solutions. Today, the Institute manages 33 active research projects led by 16 Ph.D. scientists working alongside farmers, universities, healthcare systems and organizations around the world.
Success goes beyond scientific discovery, it will require connecting research with real-world application, preparing the next generation of land stewards and ensuring farmers have access to the education and technical assistance needed to adopt regenerative organic practices.
“My grandfather, J.I. Rodale, and my father, Bob Rodale, believed that caring for the land was one of the most powerful ways to care for people,” said Maria Rodale. “The greatest way we can honor their legacy is by looking ahead and continuing their work.”
For more information, visit rodaleinstitute.org.
