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Coronavirus concerns spill into U.S. organic sector

Coronavirus concerns are spilling into every segment of U.S. agriculture, including organic. 

Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) executive director Lauren Langworthy says as the coronavirus spreads, organic producers need to think about how to prevent disease outbreaks.

“So much of organic is built around preventative maintenance, thinking ahead, and systems design. And that’s different than other production models. So in a lot of ways, I think organic farmers are set up in a good way to have mechanisms in place to prevent issues.”

She says threat of global diseases combined with the large amount of U.S. organic imports is a national security issue that can be addressed by expanding domestic organic production.

Brownfield interviewed Langworthy at the MOSES Organic Farming Conference in La Crosse, Wisconsin Friday.