DIALOGUE
Looking Back on More Than
20 Years of Growing the
Organic Farming Movement
An Interview with Bob Scowcroft, Founding Executive Director of the
Organic Farming Research Foundation
As the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) wraps up the cel- ebration of its 20 year anniversary and looks back on the many mile- stones it has achieved, the man who was responsible for taking the
foundation from seed to success, Bob Scowcroft, is also wrapping
things up—retiring and passing the torch
to the next generation of leaders.
There are few people more recognizable in the or-
ganic movement than Bob Scowcroft. As the first execu-
tive director of California Certified Organic Farmers
(CCOF), and the founding executive director of OFRF,
he has dedicated most of his life to empowering organic
farmers. Under Scowcroft’s leadership, OFRF has
awarded more than $2.5 million in grants to support
more than 300 organic farming research projects. OFRF
was also the central player in development of USDA’s
Organic Research and Extension Initiative, a program
providing competitive research fund awards of up to $3
million. Additionally, throughout the years Scowcroft
has been a key liaison and advocate, engaging with those
in the media and government to help them understand
the importance of organic agriculture.
While Scowcroft’s shoes will be hard to fill, it’s time for a new leader to take OFRF into the
next phase of the agricultural revolution. After a nationwide search, Maureen Wilmot, who previously was the organization’s deputy director, has been appointed to this important role.
As Scowcroft enters the next chapter of life, he may leave behind the day job, but he still
hopes to inspire future generations, through volunteer work—or maybe even an autobiographical book. Always a captivating storyteller—we all look forward to that day! In the meantime,
Scowcroft chatted with Organic Processing, offering a little “preview” to what might end up someday being a bestseller.
