The Rodale Institute: Difference between revisions

Rodale proposed the concept of [[Regeneration (biology)|regeneration]] to argue that any natural system, properly managed, could be productive while increasing its capacity into the future. He wrote that regenerative organic farming can use its own internal resources to improve soil fertility and productivity over time, rather than relying on expensive—and potentially environmentally damaging—outside chemical inputs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Regenerative Organic Agriculture |url=https://rodaleinstitute.org/why-organic/organic-basics/regenerative-organic-agriculture/ |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=Rodale Institute |language=en-US}}</ref>

Bob Rodale died in a 1990 automobile accident in [[Moscow]] while launching a Russian edition of Rodale's ''New Farm'' magazine. John Haberern, who had been hired by Robert Rodale as a Rodale Press book editor in 1961, took over as president of the institute. Ardath Rodale became the institute's chairman. Anthony Rodale, son of Ardath and Bob, became vice-chairman. Anthony and his wife, Florence, developed outreach efforts for children during the couple's period of active program involvement before Anthony became an international ambassador for the institute. Board member Paul McGinley, Esq., became co-chair of the board with Ardath in 2005. Testimony by Bob Rodale, John Haberern, and farmers and agricultural scientists convincedhelped convince the [[United States Congress|U.S. Congress]] to include funds forfund [[sustainable agriculture]], which was (firstinitially called "Low-Input Sustainable Agriculture)", in the 1985 [[Farm Bill]].

This validation of an [[Agroecological restoration|agroecological approach]] to farming led to the formation of the [[United States Department of Agriculture|USDA]]'s [[Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education]] (SARE) program in 1990. TodayFederal, federalstate, state and local governments, as well asand land-grant universities and other organizations nationwidenationally are pursuing sustainable and organic agriculture research and education programs.

J.I. Rodale's great-granddaughter Maya Rodale serves as co-chairman of the Rodale Institute's board of directors along with [[Whole Foods Market|Whole Foods]] general counsel Roberta Lang.

==Programs and experiments==

[[File:Rodale_Institute_Pasture.JPG|thumb|upright=1.1|Cows, a source animal agriculture and manure, at the Rodale Institute in September 2013]]