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By Melody Meyer
In September, the Organic Trade Association (OTA) announced a plan to move forward with a voluntary private-sector funded program, aimed at raising funds to promote the organic brand, conduct organic research and consumer education, while fostering organic agriculture in the United States.
The announcement came after the USDA terminated the rule making process that could have established a mandatory USDA check-off program for the organic industry. This week, the OTA extended an invitation for all organic stakeholders to weigh in on how best to design and implement a voluntary “check off” like program.
As part of a six-month period that starts this week and continues through the end of April, all interested parties to answer key questions on the private sector initiative known as "GRO Organic" (shorthand for Generate Results and Opportunity for Organic).
OTA is looking for individuals to submit a “Big Idea” that could have important and long-lasting benefits for organic farmers, companies or consumers. How best to communicate the benefits of organic to consumers and what is the best way to encourage more farmers to transition to organic, are two examples of areas where OTA is seeking input.
A voluntary program isn’t bound by the same rules and regulations that a USDA check-off mandate does, and OTA is actively seeking ideas on participation, funding, decision making and programming. Specifically, the organization is asking for input on who should fund the program, and if manufacturers, handlers, growers and retailers should participate equally?
Additionally, OTA is looking to determine how priorities should be set and how decisions should be made about what gets funded. For example, should participants have an equal voice or should input be weighted by contribution? Besides research, promotion and technical assistance, are there other critical priorities that need to be addressed?
The goal of the OTA, according to its recent press release, is “to set- up a collaborative framework that engages the full organic supply chain in promoting the organic brand and organic production practices and advances essential research to solve problems facing organic farmers, processors, handlers and businesses.”
Laura Batcha, executive director and CEO of the Organic Trade Association said, "We want GRO Organic to be a bold and engaged opt-in program that pools resources from everyone who can contribute so that we can collectively address critical needs across the organic sector. The need for more investment in organic is widely agreed upon — how we solve for it is what we must now work together to determine."
OTA has provided a link to the original USDA Organic Research and Promotion Proposal as well as details on the private sector programming already underway https://ota.com/gro-organic-voluntary-research-promotion-and-education-program
