News

Organic imports on the rise

A new report from CoBank says increasing demand for organic and non-GMO products led to a sharp increase in imported organic grain last year.

Organic corn imports more than doubled from 2015 to 2016 and made up almost half of the total U.S. organic corn supply. Nearly 80 percent of the U.S. organic soybean supply was imported last year.

CoBank says animal feed for organic meat and poultry and packaged products are the two largest markets for organic grain.

Some analysts estimate one to five million U.S. acres would have to be transitioned into organic production to meet current demand.