OTA Policy Conference and Hill Visit Days a Success
This past April, the organic industry convened in Washington, D.C., for the Organic Trade Association’s (OTA’s) Policy Conference and Hill Visit Days, an education and advocacy event supported by the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF). The event offered organic constituents a focused look at current policymaking, the latest news from the Administration and Congress, and a chance to celebrate the organic milestones of 2010. Over 120 participants packed the conference room in OTA’s new Washington, D.C. office, to see and hear from eleven prominent leaders on state, federal, and international public policy and advocacy issues.

The event featured many notable speakers including Miles McEvoy, deputy administrator of the USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP), who acknowledged that the event theme Advance Organic Together “could not be more appropriate.” Kathleen Merrigan, USDA deputy secretary of agriculture, announced that she has directed all of USDA’s 27 programs to name a representative to a new multi-agency task force for organic. “This is your window, use it,” she told the audience.
In addition, Dr. Temple Grandin discussed the challenges and opportunities for implementing animal welfare auditing systems and commended the organic industry for its regulations. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro was met with roaring applause to her comment that “we need to increase organic healthy food options in our school lunches and on our dinner plates.” And, James Murphy from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative discussed the President’s goal of doubling agricultural exports over the next five years, and explained how organic intersects with that objective.

Later, over 50 participants took to the Hill to advocate for organic in more than 60 meetings with members of Congress. They delivered the industry’s requests, including: $10.1 million for NOP, $5 million for Organic Production and Market Data Initiatives, $30 million for the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative, $5 million for the Organic Transitions Integrated Research Program, $3 million for the Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, and $9 million for the USDA Classical Plant and Animal Breeding Program.

For more information about these events, go to www.ota.com/advocacy/events.html.


New Online Organic Textile Database
According to the online database of companies certified to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), approximately 1,500
companies with a total of 2,811 facilities in 55 countries around the world were certified to the organic apparel and textile standard in 2009. That is almost a 40 percent increase over the 1,977 facilities certified to the standard in 2008. The GOTS standard was approved in 2006, and today the public database contains almost 400 dyeing facilities, more than 200 spinning, knitting, and weaving units, and approximately 140 printing and manufacturing facilities.

GOTS is a voluntary global standard for the entire post-harvest processing (including spinning, knitting, weaving, dyeing and manufacturing) of apparel and home textiles made with organic fiber (such as organic cotton and organic wool). The standard includes both environmental and social provisions for post-farm to retail shelf management.


Non-GMO Leader Elected President of Soyfoods Group
Aaron Skyberg of SK Food International was recently elected president of the Soyfoods Association of North America (SANA). Currently Skyberg also serves on the Membership Committee, promoting the organization to companies within the soyfood industry and encouraging their membership. Last year Skyberg held the vice president position and has previously served on the board of directors for SANA.

“I look forward to continuing SANA’s mission by encouraging sustainability, integrity and growth of the soyfoods industry,” comments Skyberg.

At SK Food International, Skyberg is responsible for sales and marketing support for certified organic and non-GMO ingredients. Skyberg has served on the Non-GMO Project board for three years and recently spoke at Natural Products Expo West with the Non-GMO Project.