**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** CONSUMPTION OF ORGANIC PRODUCE IN THE UNITED STATES HAS INCREASED EXPONENTIALLY THESE LAST TEN YEARS TO $52 BILLION. HIGH DEMANDS IN ORGANIC PRODUCTS IN THE U.S. ARE MET ONLY BY IMPORTS. THESE IMPORTS COULD BE REDUCED IF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE ACTIVITIES ARE STRENGTHENED IN THE SOUTHEAST. THE SOUTHEAST LAGS THE REST OF THE NATION IN CERTIFIED ORGANIC PRODUCTION AS NONE OF THE STATES IN THE SOUTHEAST IS AMONG THE TOP TEN STATES WITH CERTIFIED ACREAGE. THIS SITUATION REPRESENTS AN UNFILLED NICHE, AND HENCE, AN ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR SMALL-SCALE PRODUCERS AND BIOPOC COMMUNITIES. ONE OF THE MAJOR REASONS THE SOUTHEAST LAGS IS THAT IT OFFERS LITTLE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT SMALL-SCALE FAMILY FARMERS. THEREFORE, THE GOAL OF THE PROJECT IS TO STRENGTHEN ORGANIC AGRICULTURE INFRASTRUCTURE. THUS THE OBJECTIVES OF ARE TO: 1) BRING RESEARCHERS, EXTENSION PERSONNEL, AND SUCCESSFUL ORGANIC GROWERS AROUND THE COUNTRY TO ENGAGE RESEARCHERS AT 1890 SCHOOLS (IN THE SOUTHEAST) AND FARMING COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY THE BIPOC COMMUNITIES IN THE SOUTHEAST USING A SYSTEM-BASED APPROACH TO ADVANCE THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF ORGANIC ISSUES AND 2) FACILITATE COLLABORATION, KNOWLEDGE SHARING, INNOVATION, AND NETWORKING AMONG FARMERS, RESEARCHERS, SUPPLIERS, AND POLICYMAKERS TO OVERCOME CHALLENGES, AND SEIZE MARKET OPPORTUNITIES PRESENTED BY THE GROWING ORGANIC AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY. TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY AND ITS PARTNERS WILL ORGANIZE AND IMPLEMENT THE CONFERENCE OUTCOMES. OUTPUTS OF THE CONFERENCE WILL BE POSTED ON PROJECT PARTNERS' WEBSITES AND PUBLISHED IN ORGANIC FARMERS' ASSOCIATION BULLETINS IN THE SOUTHEAST AND SERVE AS A BACKBONE OF ANY FUTURE INITIATIVE TO STRENGTHEN ORGANIC AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION IN THE SOUTHEAST.