Who Is Dr. Muramoto?
Dr. Joji Muramoto is an assistant adjunct professor in Environmental Studies at UC Santa Cruz and an Assistant University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Organic Production Specialist. As the first UCCE specialist hired to focus on organic agriculture exclusively, Dr. Muramoto leads a California-statewide program centered on fertility and pest management in organic production systems. Since 1996, he has conducted research and outreach on soil fertility and soil-borne disease management in both organic and conventional strawberry and vegetable systems along the coast.
Much of Dr. Muramoto’s research—and similar work across the industry on the benefits of organic agriculture—is featured in the CCOF’s Roadmap to an Organic California: Benefits Report, which details the environmental, economic, and community health impacts of organic practices.
Built to Last: How Organic Systems Protect Our Food Future
- Healthy soil is alive. A single handful of soil can contain more living organisms than the entire human population. Organic farming systems support this biodiversity by feeding soil microbes and fostering balanced ecosystems. This creates soil that produces fruits and vegetables with higher levels of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Healthier soils = healthier humans.
- Organic producers restore and enhance ecological harmony. In addition to avoiding GMOs, organic farmers promote biodiversity, biological cycles, and long-term soil fertility. Many GMO crops are engineered to withstand herbicides like glyphosate. Avoiding GMOs often means avoiding residues from these chemicals, which some studies have linked to health concerns.
- Organic farming prevents soil erosion. Soil degradation threatens global food security—without intervention, the U.S. could run out of topsoil before the end of this century. Organic farms are required to rotate crops, which increases soil organic matter, improves soil structure, and prevents erosion from wind and water. Over 95% of the food we eat comes from soil. If we lose topsoil, we lose the ability to grow nutritious fruits, vegetables, and grains. Supporting organic farmers is an investment in our food supply.
- Organic farms are built to withstand storms. As climate change brings more droughts, floods, and hurricanes, our food system is under pressure. Organic farms are designed for resilience. By building healthy soil and supporting biodiversity, they’re better able to protect crops, preserve topsoil, and maintain yields — even after extreme weather events. That means more reliable harvests, fewer food shortages, and nutrient-rich produce on your plate, no matter the forecast.
- Organic can feed the future. Comprehensive research shows that organic agriculture can nourish 9 billion people by 2050 while protecting the planet for generations to come.
Watch a clip of Dr. Muramoto here:
And explore the full benefits of organic California on our YouTube channel.
Join the Mission to Grow Healthier Food and Communities
This video of Dr. Muramoto, educational grant programs, and technical assistance programs are supported by donors and partners of the CCOF Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that empowers organic farmers to grow organic agriculture, which in turn creates a more prosperous, resilient world. Thanks to our donors, we have awarded $6,901,611 to 1,403 farmers, provided 19,350 organic professionals with 300 professional development opportunities through CCOF Foundation led and supported events, workshops, and field days and facilitated and supported the matching of 56 farmer mentor/mentee pairs. To date, our efforts have supported the transition of over 168,242 acres.
This season, help protect the foundation of our food, health, and climate. Your gift supports organic farmers who are rebuilding soil, restoring ecosystems, and growing food that nourishes us all. Make a donation that reflects your values and invests in a resilient future at www.ccof.org/donate
Other ways to donate can be coordinated through CCOF Foundation Development Director Willow Aray at waray@ccof.org. This includes donating:
- A gift of stock
- Including the CCOF Foundation in your estate plan
- Or by donating property or other assets to support the future of organic agriculture.
Together, we can cultivate a more resilient and regenerative food system—starting from the soil up.
The CCOF Endowment
The CCOF Foundation is undertaking a bold $10 million dollar, time-bound endowment campaign to raise funds for the CCOF Foundation’s programs which provide disaster relief for organic farmers suffering from hardship, wrap-around services for farmers transitioning land to organic, scholarships for future organic farmers and trainings for organic professionals, as well as unrestricted funds to enhance the CCOF Foundation’s ability to stay nimble in our approach to supporting famers as they go and stay organic. To get involved, email CCOF Foundation Development Director Willow Aray at waray@ccof.org.
