Pasa Sustainable Agriculture

What Pasa Sustainable Agriculture does

Pasa Sustainable Agriculture (legal name: Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture; Federal Tax ID 25-1685497) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in February 1992 by Pennsylvania farmers and headquartered at 1631 N Front St, Harrisburg, PA. The organization supports sustainable farms and equitable food systems across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast through farmer-driven education, farm-based research, technical assistance, and community-building programs. Core programs include registered apprenticeship pathways (Diversified Vegetable, Pre-Apprenticeship, Dairy Grazing, and a 2025 Agroforestry Training Program), three longitudinal community science research projects (Soil Health Benchmark Study, Financial Benchmark Study, Nutrient Density Study), the annual Sustainable Agriculture Conference (since 1992), farmer technical assistance and outreach, food systems equity initiatives, and a sustainable agriculture policy advocacy program.

The underlying technology platform is relatively lightweight: Pasa collaborates with FarmOS, an open-source web-based farm record-keeping tool, to enable farmers to capture and share field data for the Soil Health Benchmark Study, which has accumulated 28,000+ soil sampling holes across 867 unique fields and 228,630 lines of field activity records from 270+ contributing farms over 10+ years. Distribution and community engagement are delivered via a multi-channel mix including the annual conference (2,000+ attendees), year-round workshops/field days/farm tours, webinars, blog and newsletter content, organic social (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), a Google Groups community board, an online classifieds marketplace, and PR through outlets such as Lancaster Farming and Civil Eats.

Pasa's revenue model is diversified across five streams: federal and state grants (USDA Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities and other programs), tiered memberships (free for farmers, paid community and business memberships), conference and event registration/sponsorship fees, donations and corporate contributions, and the Tomorrow's Harvest Endowment Fund (raised to $450,387 with a $100,000 founding gift in 2025). The organization serves a community of tens of thousands of farmers and food system changemakers, with primary customer segments being aspiring/beginning/experienced farmers, community supporters, business members, policymakers, and academic researchers. In 2025, a federal funding freeze lasting over 40 days triggered a lawsuit (with SELC and Public Rights Project), phased furloughs for most employees beginning April 1, and the launch of the endowment as a structural mitigation against federal funding volatility.

Name

Pasa Sustainable Agriculture

Legal name

Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture

Website

https://pasafarming.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pasa Sustainable Agriculture is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1992 and headquartered in Harrisburg, PA, supporting tens of thousands of sustainable farmers across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast through registered apprenticeships, longitudinal community science research, technical assistance, annual conferences, and policy advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Nonprofit Education and Research Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry (115), Farm Management Services (115116)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative) (BPAGALAD), Sustainable/Regenerative Agriculture & Conservation Practices (EDAOAOAO)

Keywords

• Sustainable agriculture education
• Farmer apprenticeship programs
• Community science research
• Soil health benchmarking
• Regenerative farming training

Headquarters

HQ city

Harrisburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Federal and State Grants: Pasa receives federal grants including USDA Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities grant and other agricultural funding programs. These have been subject to disruption due to federal funding freezes.
2. Membership Dues: Free membership for farmers; community and business memberships support farmers through education, research, and services.
3. Conference and Event Revenue: Annual Sustainable Agriculture Conference and year-round educational events, workshops, and field days generate registration fees and sponsorship revenue.
4. Donations and Contributions: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and planned giving programs including the Tomorrow's Harvest Endowment Fund.
5. Tomorrow's Harvest Endowment: Permanent endowment fund to ensure long-term funding stability. Currently raised to $450,387 with a $100,000 founding gift.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Pasa Sustainable Agriculture is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports sustainable farms and equitable food systems through farmer-driven education, research, and community. The organization delivers registered apprenticeship programs (Diversified Vegetable, Pre-Apprenticeship, Dairy Grazing), the Agroforestry Training Program, the nation's largest community soil science research project (Soil Health Benchmark Study), the Financial Benchmark Study, and the Nutrient Density Study, along with the annual Sustainable Agriculture Conference, year-round workshops, technical assistance, and policy advocacy for sustainable agriculture in Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast region.

Product overview

Pasa Sustainable Agriculture operates as a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs organized around farmer education and training, farm-based research, technical assistance, and community building. The core programs include: the Soil Health Benchmark Study (the nation's largest community soil science project), Financial Benchmark Study, and Nutrient Density Study for farmer-driven research; Diversified Vegetable Apprenticeship, Pre-Apprenticeship, Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship, and Agroforestry Training Program for workforce development; the annual Sustainable Agriculture Conference since 1992; Farm Innovations showcase; Farmer Technical Assistance and Policy advocacy programs; Food Systems Equity initiatives; and community resources including Classifieds, Community Board, Membership, and Newsletter. The Tomorrow's Harvest Endowment provides long-term financial sustainability. These programs work together to support sustainable farms and equitable food systems through the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 270+ farmers contributing soil health data; 28,000+ soil sampling holes; 867 unique fields studied; 228,630 field activity records
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2025Co-plaintiff in lawsuit against US government for unlawfully withholding approved federal funds. SELC is representing Pasa and other plaintiffs pro bono in challenging the federal funding freeze that has impacted the organization's operations and farmer services.
• Public Rights ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2025Joint plaintiff in lawsuit against US government for unlawfully withholding approved federal funds. Working with SELC to challenge funding freeze impacting sustainable agriculture programs.
• Chatham UniversitysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner for COVID-19 impact study on Pennsylvania farm revenue, surveying farmers and performing interviews to understand pandemic impacts on local agriculture.
• USDA Agricultural Research ServicesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on environmental assessment study comparing grass-based dairy production systems in the northeastern US.
• FarmOSsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationCollaborating with FarmOS, a free web-based farm record-keeping tool, to help farmers capture and share data with peers to improve sustainable practices.
• Pennsylvania Department of Labor and IndustrysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPasa's Diversified Vegetable Apprenticeship and Pre-Apprenticeship are registered with the PA Department of Labor and Industry to provide guided pathways to careers in sustainable agriculture.
• Four Seasons ProducesecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBusiness member actively engaged with Pasa network, representing the business community supporting sustainable agriculture.
• Pennsylvania State University (Penn State)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in agricultural education and research, including joint events like the Mid-Atlantic Organic and Sustainable Agricultural Exchange conference in Harrisburg.
• Rodale InstitutesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner hosting TOPP Northeast Growing Together Conference for organic and regenerative farming education.
• Pennsylvania Horticultural SocietysecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner2026 Pasabilities Award recipient recognized for urban greening, soil restoration, pollinator habitat, and community gardens as essential parts of regenerative food systems.
• GlynwoodsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization with job postings on Pasa's classifieds for agricultural positions in the Northeast region.
• Keystone Tree Crops CooperativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative hiring through Pasa's classifieds; focused on tree crop agriculture in Pennsylvania.
• Pennsylvania Grazing Lands CoalitionsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPasa coordinates the PA Grazing Lands Coalition Mentor Program providing grazing mentorship to farmers.
• Cornell UniversitysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in agricultural research; research team includes staff with Cornell background; Small Farms Program collaborated on farmer education.
• Conservation DistrictssecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner in delivering technical assistance to farmers for conservation practices across Pennsylvania.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture: Nonprofit food and agriculture education and research center in the Northeast operating a working farm, farmer training, and public programming. Comparable as a nonprofit sustainable agriculture education and research organization.
• Rodale Institute: Pennsylvania-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating one of the nation's longest-running regenerative organic agriculture research farms and farmer education programs. Closely comparable to Pasa in mission, geography, and farmer training focus.
• Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT): Nonprofit supporting humane, pasture-based livestock farming through grants, education, and advocacy. Comparable as a sustainable agriculture nonprofit with farmer-facing programs including grants and technical assistance.
• Agrarian Trust: Nonprintable nonprofit focused on land access for next-generation farmers and sustainable agriculture. Comparable as a 501(c)(3) supporting equitable and sustainable farming systems.
• Holistic Management International: Nonprofit delivering regenerative agriculture education, training, and land management programs to farmers and ranchers. Comparable in farmer training and regenerative practice focus.
• Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA): Federation of seven state chapters providing organic/sustainable farmer education, certification, and conferences across the Northeast. Directly comparable member-driven nonprofit model serving a similar farmer base.

Broad incumbents

• Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE): USDA-funded nationwide program funding sustainable agriculture research and education grants. A broader incumbent funding many of the same research and training activities Pasa conducts in its region.
• National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC): National policy advocacy alliance for sustainable agriculture that engages in federal farm bill and USDA policy work. Comparable to Pasa's Sustainable Agriculture Policy program but at a national scale.

Regional players

• Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES): Regional nonprofit organic farming education organization running the annual Organic Farming Conference and farmer training programs in the Upper Midwest. Comparable mission and conference-driven model.
• Carolina Farm Stewardship Association: Regional sustainable agriculture nonprofit serving the Carolinas with farmer training, conferences, and advocacy. Comparable in mission and programming but operates in a different region.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/pasafarming
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pasafarming
• Instagraminstagram.com/pasafarming
• Xx.com/pasafarming

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pasa Sustainable Agriculture