Laying a Foundation for
Lasting Change.
Growing up on my family farm, I wanted to see the whole world able to eat safe, healthy food— grown in a way that didn’t make the planet uninhabitable. — Brian Baker
Dr. Brian Baker is a pioneer and innovator with nearly forty years of experience working with organic agriculture.
After becoming frustrated with what we now call conventional agriculture, I turned my attention towards developing and adopting alternative practices.
My early career focused on agricultural technologies that clearly hurt both peoples’ health and our environment. Organic agriculture offered me a clear and comprehensive alternative.
Back in the 1980s, research in organic agriculture was scarce and unreliable, but I had the privilege of studying with some of the best academic researchers of the time.
My academic experience inspired me to make a more practical impact on changing farming systems, and it became clear to me that I could accomplish more working outside of established institutions.
To help build new institutions that could contribute to the greater good, I began work in the private sector.
Organic agriculture offered me a clear and comprehensive alternative.
In looking back, it’s been an honor to have helped lay the foundation for lasting change.
While I continue to work closely with the academic community, I’ve been active in in professionalizing the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) certification program, starting the Organic Materials Research Institute (OMRI), and establishing a solid North America presence for IFOAM—Organics International.
For over 20 years, Dr. Baker has worked to harmonize international organic standards and develop universal principles of organic agriculture.
Dr. Brian Baker is a pioneer and innovator with nearly forty years of experience working with organic agriculture.
He played a key technical role in the development of the criteria, procedures, and regulations used to establish which inputs are acceptable for organic food production, processing, and handling.
Dr. Baker was one of the first people to work full-time in organic certification at California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF). He went on to be a co-founder and the first person to work at the Organic Materials Research Institute (OMRI), where he was research director.
For over 20 years, Dr. Baker has worked to harmonize international organic standards and develop universal principles of organic agriculture. His service on the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM) Standards Committee and Task Force has contributed to the drafting of the IFOAM-Organics International Principles of Organic Agriculture.
As a researcher, technician, advisor and advocate, Dr. Baker’s dedication and expertise in organic agriculture is recognized within the United States and throughout the international community.
Available for:
• Scientific research, inquiries and technical evaluations of organic agricultural practices
• Evaluating inputs for compliance with organic standards
• Organic System Plan and pre-inspection preparation
• Market analysis and regulatory policy impacts
• Policy, program development and evaluation
• Research manuscript editing
• Media interviews
• Expert witness and public testimony
• Panels, symposium and presentations
• Lectures and speaking engagements
• Trainings and workshops