By Jamie Martin
In 2019, Dr. Joji Muramoto made history as the University of California's first Cooperative Extension Specialist focused solely on organic agriculture.
The Agricultural Sustainability Institute (ASI) at UC Davis will honor his contributions to organic agriculture research by presenting him with the 2025 Eric Bradford and Charlie Rominger Agricultural Sustainability Leadership Award.
This prestigious award celebrates individuals who have advanced agricultural sustainability, in honor of the legacies of Eric Bradford and Charlie Rominger.
Dr. Muramoto’s pioneering research, particularly in strawberry farming, has had a profound impact. Alongside Dr. Carol Shennan at UC Santa Cruz, he developed alternatives to methyl bromide for commercial strawberry production.
Their work on anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) has provided a viable solution for controlling soil pathogens and nematodes, gaining widespread adoption among both organic and conventional strawberry growers in California.
Growing up in suburban Tokyo, Dr. Muramoto was influenced by the organic movement. “Organic farmers there told me repeatedly, ‘Soil is the foundation of farming.’ That’s when I got interested in soil science,” Muramoto recalls.
Muramoto passion for helping farmers has shaped his career, as he strives to make farms more sustainable. “My passion is to help organic and conventional farmers make their farms more sustainable: ecologically sound, economically viable, and socially just.”
Since 1996, Dr. Muramoto’s research has focused on enhancing soil health and advancing sustainable practices in organic strawberry and vegetable production.
The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) has supported his work with grants since 1997, helping secure over $5 million in additional funding from state and federal agencies.
Despite organic agriculture being the fastest-growing sector in the U.S. food market, it receives less than 2% of USDA research funding, a gap that Dr. Muramoto's work seeks to bridge. As the organic sector continues to thrive, the need for increased research funding has never been more critical.
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