By Daelyn Benally, ASU sustainable food systems graduate student
On May 25, 2026, staff from Arizona State University's Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems, in partnership with the Rodale Institute and the USDA Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), met in Shiprock, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation, to hear from local farmers and community members about transitioning to organic certification. The Navajo Nation is one of the largest Native American reservations in the United States, spanning across 3 states: Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. The aim of the workshop was to understand the challenges and opportunities surrounding organic farming and certification within the community, share existing resources, and identify additional support needed to help Native producers pursue organic production if desired.
The day began with a welcome and blessing from local community leaders. From there, the workshop leaders delivered presentations covering the history of organic agriculture, an overview of the Rodale Institute's work in Indigenous food justice, a look at traditional food production, and organic farming on Native lands. Ryan Garcia of Santa Ana Agricultural Enterprise discussed the different barriers to organic agriculture in Native communities. These barriers include certification costs, limited infrastructure and storage, irrigation, transportation, weed and pest management, training and education on organic soil amendments, and the long-term commitment required to maintain organic certification.
Participants also heard from Bailey Tom of Native Agricultural Financial Services, an organization that provides capital to Native producers to support agricultural production and rural development. Bailey presented on best practices for financial and production record keeping, which many producers identified as a significant barrier to obtaining organic certification. Meticulous record keeping at all stages of production is an important requirement for organic agriculture certification.
Farm Visit
Following the presentations, participants traveled to Dii Iiná Farm, where they shared a traditional meal and prepared for breakout sessions about farming, food systems, and community priorities.
The workshop then transitioned into breakout group discussions focused on four topics:
1. What are your initial thoughts and reflections from the presentations?
2. What resources are available to support the financial and record-keeping requirements of certification, particularly for producers who find administrative processes challenging?
3. How do you see certified organic agriculture aligning with Diné and community values?
4. How can organic practices, such as cover cropping, hedgerows, and native plant cultivation be better integrated into current agricultural practices on Tribal lands? What types of support are needed to increase adoption, including financial assistance, infrastructure, education, and technical support?
Discussion frequently centered on larger agricultural operations, such as Navajo Agricultural Products Industry (NAPI), which currently maintains organic certification on the Navajo Nation Trust land. Participants expressed that organizations with greater resources could play a larger role in supporting community education and local agricultural development. Many participants emphasized the importance of understanding that it is the production process—not the final product—that is certified organic.
Participants also highlighted the role of Tribal governments in developing food and agricultural policies, promoting strong leadership, and educating decision-makers. Several ideas were proposed to support organic and community-based agriculture, including cooperative business models, community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs, niche market development, and Tribal certification programs that could support food production for local communities while also creating opportunities to reach broader markets.
Land access and reliable irrigation remain significant challenges across the Navajo Nation. Participants noted that agricultural production is already difficult under these conditions, and meeting additional organic certification requirements may create further barriers for producers.
Reflections
Many participants viewed the record-keeping requirements associated with organic certification as burdensome and overwhelming. Additional education and technical assistance related to financial and production records were frequently requested by participants.
Participants also questioned the value of obtaining organic certification, noting that many community members already grow food using practices that align with organic principles. Because Indigenous communities are already subject to numerous federal regulations, some participants viewed USDA Organic certification as an additional layer of oversight that may not align with Tribal sovereignty. Several suggested that Tribal certification systems or Indigenous-led labels may be more culturally appropriate alternatives.
Overall, the organic label is currently not a major priority within the community. Participants did acknowledge that organic certification can create economic opportunities, particularly for younger producers, through access to grants, technical assistance programs, and specialty markets. Many participants expressed that the meaning and purpose of "organic" requires further clarification and education.
At the same time, participants noted that if producers choose not to pursue organic certification, there should still be greater education regarding the environmental and health impacts of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and other agricultural inputs. Participants also said they found the workshop informative and appreciated the resources that were shared. However, many felt they needed additional time to process the information and expressed interest in future workshops and continued discussions.
Participants generally agreed that many organic principles align with community values. Moving forward, they emphasized the importance of culturally sensitive approaches led by trusted local teachers, community leaders, and organizers. They also identified a need for continued education on agricultural chemicals and soil amendments, as well as long-term consistency in outreach, technical assistance, and community engagement.