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By Melody Meyer
Over 200 organic advocates gathered last week in the District of Columbia to attend the Organic Trade Association’s Organic Week and Policy Conference. They came to advocate for organic support in the farm bill and to regroup after losses to two of OTA’s flagship projects.
The demise of the animal welfare rule and the dismissal of the organic check-off—along with threats to the National Organic Standards Board —signify troubling times for organics, the fastest-growing segment of the grocery industry.
The Organic Center's Organic Confluences Summit kicked the week off with scientists, farmers, and industry leaders informing USDA on the technical needs of organic farmers.
An organic check-off would have funded much of the research and technical assistance that was identified. Companies including Clif Bar vowed to explore private partnerships to fund regional agronomists, technical outreach, and consumer education.
Laura Batcha, CEO of the OTA, said she was surprised by the withdrawal of the organic check-off.
Laura Batcha, CEO of the OTA
“The USDA said it didn’t have the authority to issue such regulations, although they had been in development for years under previous administrations.”
She indicated that “We’ll be exploring whether there is feasibility of moving forward on the private side. There are voluntary check-off programs that exist outside of USDA. The need is not diminished.”
Meanwhile, Gary Hirshberg, co-founder of Stonyfield Organic, is aiming to promote the industry through the Organic Voices campaign.
Gary Hirshberg, the co-founder of Stonyfield Organic
He announced that thirty companies will contribute a total of $1 million per year for the next two years to fund a messaging campaign that would address the confusion about the organic label. “This will be our check-off,” he said, and might be a bridge to a future voluntary check-off program.
With this vision for a united future, the organic industry mustered a large presence in D.C. On Wednesday over 150 individuals from 38 states stormed Capitol Hill, holding 160 meetings with congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle. The case was also made in meetings with four Trump Administration agencies.
They had reason to brag about the growth potential of organics. Organic food accounts for 5.5 percent of U.S. food sales, according to a recent OTA industry survey. Organic food accounted for $45.2 billion in sales last year, a rise of 6.4 percent from the previous year.
The message resounded in the halls of Congress: Organic is good for the U.S. economy. It provides jobs, rural development, higher incomes, and more domestic production.
Participants advocated for farm bill programs like the Organic Farmer and Consumer Protection Act, which would provide more teeth to enforcement. They asked members of Congress to support the Organic Agriculture Research Act, which aims to get organic research above baseline funding at $50 million. They urged support of the Organic Farmers Access Act, which specifies organic in existing rural development programs.
Both the House and Senate versions of the farm bill have language that would weaken the authority of the NOSB. The primary message for congressional leaders was to leave the transparency and authority of the NOSB alone.
News of organic fraud has riddled the industry over the past year. On the gathering’s last day, OTA Board President Kim Dietz and OTA Vice President of Regulatory and Technical Affairs Gwendolyn Wyard shared news of a groundbreaking pilot program to deter organic fraud. Member companies who are participating will test drive the fraud prevention and detection strategies developed by the OTA Global Organic Supply Chain Integrity Task Force (GOSCI).
Kim Dietz, OTA Board President
Gwendolyn Wyard, OTA Vice President of Regulatory and Technical Affairs
"The task force is about buyer responsibility and supplier verification," said Wyard. "We’re sending a message to criminals that organic is not a place they get to stay and play."
Policy Conference concluded with the questions: What is blockchain? And how can it move organic food and ag to the forefront with regard to transparency and integrity?
Jessi Baker, CEO of Provenance, helped Policy Conference attendees understand the answers to these questions. She challenged the audience to engage in some visionary thinking about the future of organic.
Jessi Baker, CEO of Provenance
Batcha summed up the sentiment of the week: "Let’s harness the energy of organic and get clear about what we want to accomplish together. Let’s think big. History moves forward, and we’re at the tip of that spear."
