Organic Industry Event

The Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group [SAWG] is taking place January 24-25, 2020 in Little Rock, AK. This year's theme is Agricultural Resilence in a Changing Climate!  Beginning in 2020, in addition to the usual wide array of subjects and practical information for farmers, each Southern SAWG conference will offer specially-curated information and activities addressing a timely topic or issue. The special topic weaves through the normal conference agenda. A color code appears in the conference program to allow for easy planning. Follow the blue dot in this year’s program to follow the Climate Change special topic throughout the conference.

On Thursday, January 23rd the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) will be hosting their Organic Agriculture Research Forum in partnership with Southern SAWG. This day-long forum will bring together scientists, organic farmers and ranchers, extension agents, non-profit organizations, and more to explore the latest research and science-based grower education, particularly as it relates to production in the southeast. The Forum is supported by a grant from the Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) program of USDA.

The Organic Center's Science Program Manager, Amber Sciligo, will be presenting at the OFRF Organic Agriculture Research Forum, and also sticking around to attend SAWG. Contact Amber Sciligo for more information or to connect at the Conference! 

The Organic Association of Kentucky's 2020 Conference is taking place March 6-7, 2020 in Louisville, KY. This energized gathering is a must-attend for farmers, agriculture professionals, home gardeners and those passionate about building more resilient food systems in Kentucky. Conference sessions provide useful tools, techniques, research and knowledge you can put to use on the farm and fantastic opportunities for networking! The conference covers an array of organic production topics, regenerative agriculture, livestock management, marketing, homesteading and food systems change making. 

The Organic Center's Science Project Manager, Amber Sciligo, will be leading a workshop at the Conference titled "Climate Change: Mitigation and Adaptation with Organic Agriculture". This 90 minute session will take place on Sunday, March 7th from 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. 

To learn more or connect at the Conference, contact Amber Sciligo. 

BevNet LIVE is taking place December 9-10 in Santa Monica, CA. 

The December 9th and 10th program is curated around the current trends and challenges beverage companies are facing. It also looks at the bigger picture, reflecting on the industry’s 2019 activity and taking a look at innovation to come. Leading the discussions and providing the takeaways are industry innovators, thought leaders and veterans who have their finger on the pulse.

Organic Trade Association's VP of Regulator & Technical Affairs, Gwendolyn Wyard, will be collectively staffing a booth with Organc Trade Association member Brookside Flavors and Ingredients - ready to answer questions about the benefits of organic, the benefits of membership with the Organic Trade Association and the new requirements to use organic flavors! For more information, contact Gwendolyn Wyard. 

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) Fall Meeting will be taking place ONLINE October 27-29, 2020! This meeting was originally scheduled to take place in-person, but was transitioned to a virtual event due to Covid-19.

The NOSB will meet to discuss substances petitioned for addition to or deletion from the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List), substances due to sunset from the National List in 2022, and recommendations on organic policies.

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) typically meets twice per year in various locations around the United States. During meetings, the NOSB listens to public comments, discusses agenda items, and then votes on recommendations to the Secretary in a public forum. Detailed meeting information, including agendas, locations, proposals, and public comments, will be posted below as it becomes available. For information on previous meetings, visit the NOSB meetings page.

Organic Trade Association's VP of Regulatory and Technical Affairs, Gwendolyn Wyard, will be attending the meeting and submitting written and oral recommendations to the NOSB on behalf of Organic Trade Assocation Members. For more information or to connect at the meeting, contact Gwendolyn Wyard.

Meeting Information:

October 27-29, 2020

ONLINE VIRTUAL EVENT 

The Organic World Congress (OWC) is taking place September 8-10, 2021 in Rennes, France. 

On 6-10 September, some 2,500+ organic stakeholders, farmers, researchers and policymakers will address questions around resilience, societal transformation, health, and food sovereignty during the world’s largest organic gathering.

The #OWC2021 will offer a truly global, diverse space that inspires positive change through knowledge exchange, learning, and the formulation of organic, sustainable solutions, for a better tomorrow for all. With more than 450 confirmed contributions, the programme promises to be as rich and engaging as the movement it reflects!

The organisers are committed to maintaining this 20th edition of the Organic World Congress in a safe, inclusive way. To this end, the OWC2021 will be hybrid event, taking place digitally and on-site in Rennes, France.

Organic Trade Association staff will be participating in some of the sessions. Check back soon for more details on session topics! 

For more informatoin, contact Angela Jagiello, Organic Trade Association's Director of Education & Insights. 

Update: The Spring 2020 NOSB Meeting will be held live online, instead of in-person.

The Spring 2020 National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) Meeting will be April 29-30 via webinar. The deadline to submit written comments and/or sign up for oral comments is April 3 at midnight Eastern.

The primary purpose of NOSB meetings is to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to give feedback on proposed NOSB recommendations and discussion items. The meetings also allow NOSB to receive updates from USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) on issues pertaining to organic agriculture.

REVIEW: Read our Summary of NOSB Meeting Materials for the Spring 2020 Meeting

WEIGH-IN: Use our Sunset Surveys to provide feedback on over 50 inputs under sunset review

SIGN-UP: Register to give webinar comments by April 3rd

COMMENT: Submit your written comments by April 3rd

WATCH: Watch the live online meeting on April 29-30

FoodEx Japan is taking place March 10-13, 2020 in Toyko, Japan. 

FOODEX JAPAN is the Asia's largest exhibition dedicated on food and drink across Japan and the whole world. Over the 4 days of the exhibition, about 85,000 buyers from food service, distribution, and trading companies are expected to attend.Attention will be given to the expansion of business opportunities domestically and internationally upon the activation of the TPP. Numerous buyers will also be attending from abroad, and business talks will be held with domestic and international manufacturers.

Organic Trade Association will be hosting a pavilion of 8 U.S. organic companies at the show. The registration fee for new exhibitors is $600 and for $1,000 for returning exhibitors. Because we have limited space at this event, each application is subject to approval. Participation is based on a first-come, first-served basis. Register here! Contact Organic Trade Association's International Trade Manager, Alexis Carey, for additional information. 

Participation includes: 

(1) round trip economy flight to Tokyo (booked through an Organic Trade Association travel agent),

(1) single hotel room for the duration of the activity,

(1) 1m table top counter display within the Organic Trade Association booth in the USA pavilion,

Logo screening and other marketing materials,

An interpreter shared among exhibitors,

and (1) group dinner and buyer dinner support.

Please note that all other expenses, such as meals, samples, shipping costs, and the cost to and from the airport, are at your own cost.

Organic Trade Association Pavilion Information:

FoodEx Japan

Location: Tokyo, Japan

Show Dates:  March 10th - March 13th

Arrive in Tokyo: March 8th

Depart Tokyo: March 14th

The Organic Trade Association and The Organic Center are looking forward to a number of opportunities to bring people together for business, networking, and socializing at Natural Products Expo West, taking place March 3-7, 2020 in Anaheim, CA. 

The Organic Center’s 17th Annual Benefit Dinner

March 4, 2020  |  6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. | Anaheim Marriott Marquis Ballroom 

Join us for the The Organic Center's 17th Annual Benefit Dinner, the biggest all-organic and premier executive-level networking event at Natural Products Expo West!

Dr. Tyrone Hayes, groundbreaking biologist and activist, will keynote this incredible evening. Hayes doesn’t try to fit into the general mold of a university scientist, and it’s this uniqueness, force of personality, and his deep passion and knowledge about his work that have attracted a national following, inside and outside of the academic scientific community.

Chef Megan Mitchell wowed us last year with her contemporary cuisine and she’s cooking up something special for this year’s 500+ guests. The menu features herbed cheese puffs, curried squash soup, braised short ribs, tofu gnocchi, mushroom bolognese, spicy kale, and more, all made with delicious organic ingredients! Save room for lemon pies, coconut salted caramel pudding, and your choice of organic beer, wine, or cocktails!

Individual tickets are still available for $295, reserve your seat now! For multiple guests to be seated together, we recommend reserving a VIP table.

Our generous event sponsors have provided some amazing gifts that will be given to a few lucky attendees! How does an organic cotton mattress, a year's supply of organic snacks, or roundtrip airfare to Australia sound? What about a selection of organic wines, or an organic spice collection? Your ticket purchase enters you to win. Learn more!

Foreign Buyers’ Mission Meetings

March 4-5, 2020 | Anaheim Convention Center 

The Organic Trade Association will again partner with Food Export Midwest to bring a diverse set of buyers to Expo West from around the world. We will be organizing 1 on 1 meetings for U.S. organic companies with buyers from a variety of foreign markets. Meetings will take place on March 4 - 5 in the Anaheim Convention Center. For more information on this Buyers Mission and OTA's other international activities, contact Alexis Carey.

Climate Day Tabletop

March 3, 2020 | Marriott, Marquis Ballroom Central 

Join industry leaders at Climate Day for inspirational keynotes, breakout sessions, networking, awards, a community resource fair and a rockin’ reception! The Organic Center will have a table during Climate Day, stop by and see Amber Sciligo, The Organic Center's Associate Director of Science Programs. 

Organic Education at Expo West

The Organic Trade Association and The Organic Center will participate in the following education sessions and meetings happening at the show. 

How to Support Organic from Farm to Shelf | March 4, 2020 | 10:00 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. | Marriott, Grand Ballroom F

This session will shine a light on organic market growth and showcase the increasing value of being part of a growing organic ecosystem. Laura Batcha, Organic Trade Association's CEO/Executive Director, will be speaking during the "Reflections on Where We've Been & Where Organic Needs to Go" portion of this session. Gwendolyn Wyard, Organic Trade Association's VP of Regulatory and Technical Affairs, will be speaking during the "Prioritizing Organic at Your Company" portion of the session. 

Global Export Series | March 4, 2020 | 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. | Anaheim Convention Center Room 204C

This is a five-part seminar series offered by the U.S. Commercial Service. Alexis Carey, Organic Trade Association's International Trade Manager, will be speaking during the "U.S. Organic Trade: International Market Opportunities & Trade Policy Updates" portion of this session taking place 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Join the Organic Trade Association for an overview of the U.S. organic market, including industry size, trending consumer categories, resources for international buyers and more. The session will share the latest industry stats and consumer insights and provide tools on how to access more information and connect with suppliers.

Sugar Task Force Meeting | March 5, 2020 | 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. | Invite Only 

Members of the Organic Trade Association's Sugar Task Force will host an in-person meeting in Anaheim, and other members will be able to dial-in by conference line to participate. For more information, contact Johanna Mirenda. 



Breakthrough Organic Consumer Messaging Workshop | March 5, 2020 | 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. | Members Only, RSVP

Who is the organic shopper? What impacts their decision to purchase? How can a message map help you be targeted with diverse shoppers? What’s most important when talking about organic standards? What about climate change? These questions and more will be addressed in a free workshop for Organic Trade Association members in Anaheim on March 5 from 1-3 p.m. Pacific. The research, conducted through NMI, yielded a new level of understanding about today’s shoppers and the messaging they need strengthen their commitment to organic. The findings have been translated into a Consumer Messaging Workbook available to the full membership community. Join us in Anaheim, where we’ll dive into demographic findings, and learn about the most compelling ways to reach current and potential organic shoppers with your brand’s messaging. You won’t want to miss these insights – a benefit of your Trade Association membership! Space is limited. RSVP to Angela Jagiello.



Organic Voices Breakfast Meeting | March 6, 2020 | 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. | Invite Only

Understanding the Nutrition Science Driving Consumer Wellness & Product Trends | March 6, 2020 | 10:00 a.m. - 12: 30 a.m. | Marriott Grand Ballroom F

During this session, we’ll explore the latest on science-backed dietary recommendations, consumer nutrition trends and opportunities for using science-driven innovation to stay ahead of an evolving and informed marketplace. Jessica Shade, The Organic Center's Director of Science Programs, will be speaking in this session. 

What’s new at OTA? Visit booth #1821 to learn more!

March 5-7, 2020  |  Anaheim Convention Center  | Booth #1821

Be sure to visit our booth and member lounge at the 2020 Natural Products Expo West trade show! Whether you are interested in discussing critical issues facing your organic business, checking out OTA’s global trade resources to help you expand your business overseas, or understanding what OTA is doing to elevate the footprint of organic on Capitol Hill, our knowledgeable staff is eager to connect with you. Contact Danielle Cote to setup a meeting with us at the show! 

Gulfood, the world’s largest annual food and beverage trade exhibition, is coming back for its 25th edition with major alliance breakthroughs and multibillion-dollar export deals. Gulfood is taking place February 16-20, 2020 in Dubai, UAE.

Organic Trade Association will host 6 U.S. organic companies at the tradeshow. These spaces are already filled for 2020. Contact Alexis Carey, Organic Trade Association's International Trade Manager, to learn more and connect at the show!

Tradeshow Information:

February 16-20, 2020

Dubai World Trade Center

Dubai, UAE

The MOSES Organic Farming Conference will be taking place February 27-29, 2020 in La Crosse, WI. 

The MOSES Conference is the place where people who have a passion for good food and good-for-the-Earth farming have gathered here to share ideas, discover new resources, and feel supported in their work. However you fit into the organic, sustainable, regenerative movement, you are welcome at MOSES—this event is common ground.

Organic Trade Association's Dairy Council Members will be presenting the following workshop during MOSES: 

Federal & State Support for Organic Dairy | Saturday, February 29 | Workshop Session III | 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Organic dairy, along with the broader dairy economy, has faced financial strain in recent years. We’ll explore programs offered at the federal and state levels for organic dairy and encourage producers to share suggestions to make federal and state program offerings more useful for them. Our conversation will focus primarily on commodity, risk management, data collection, and cropping safeguards that organic dairy farmers might use.

Contact Organic Trade Association's Director of Legistlative Affairs and Coalitions, Megan DeBates, for more information on the Dairy Council or this workshop taking place at MOSES. 

Conference Information:

February 27-29, 2020

La Crosse, WI