Main Menu New

Home > News > Press Releases > Organic Trade Association takes organic to world’s biggest organic trade fair

Organic Trade Association takes organic to world’s biggest organic trade fair

Maggie McNeil
(
mmcneil@ota.com
(202) 403-8514
(202) 615-7997
)
Washington , DC
US
 (
February 10, 2020
) — 

The Organic Trade Association will join other organic associations and enterprises from around the globe this week in Nuremberg, Germany, to showcase American organic, provide the latest updates on the big U.S. market, and to discuss other key issues ranging from organic regulations to how to prevent organic fraud at BioFach, the world’s leading organic trade fair.

 

The trade association will host 14 U.S. organic companies in the huge exhibition taking place Feb. 12-15, and its representatives will participate in a variety of education sessions and meetings. Organic Trade Association CEO/Executive Director Laura Batcha will be among the speakers in the Global Organic Market Overview during Thursday morning, while Vice President of Regulatory & Technical Affairs Gwendolyn Wyard will speak in a session titled Fraud, Gaps, and Loopholes: Private and Public Counteractions and Enforcement that afternoon.

 

According to the Organic Trade Association’s 2019 Organic Industry Survey, the U.S. organic market in 2018 broke through the $50 billion mark for the first time, with sales hitting a record $52.5 billion, up more than 6 percent from the previous year. These sales make it the largest organic market in the world, followed by the EU. Germany is the second largest single market for organic. Although U.S. figures are not yet tabulated for 2019, new records were made in 2018 in both the organic food and non-food markets. Almost 6 percent of the food sold in the U.S. is now organic.

 

The USDA Organic seal continues to gain appeal as consumers realize that organic is a certification that is not only monitored and supported by official standards, but is the only seal encompassing the spectrum of Non-GMO, no toxic pesticides or chemicals, dyes or preservatives. USDA’s Organic Integrity Database as of December 2019 included 27,777 certified organic operations across all 50 states.

BioFach and Organic Trade Association

 

Here are some highlights of the events the Organic Trade Association will participate in at BioFach:



Tuesday, Feb. 11

Organic Processing and Trade Association workshop

Organic Trade Association's Farm Policy Director Johanna Mirenda and VP of Regulatory & Technical Affairs Gwendolyn Wyard will participate in this pre-BioFach workshop and present outcomes from a recent residue testing project.

 

Organic Trade Association + Canada Organic Trade Association evening reception

 

Wednesday, Feb. 12

Policy Day: The New EU Organic Regulation

Updates and debate on the opportunities and the challenges of the new EU organic regulation that will enter into force in January 2021. The new rules will apply in the EU but worldwide as well, given the quantity and number of products imported. The panel will be composed of policymakers and representatives of the organic sector. Organic Trade Association's Laura Batcha will speak in this session. 

 

Thursday, February 13

Global Organic Market Overview

The North American market continues to grow. Organic Trade Association's Laura Batcha will be among the speakers reflecting on trends and strategic market positioning for organic around the globe.

 

Fraud, Gaps, and Loopholes: Private and Public Counteractions and Enforcement

Despite all efforts to improve the regulatory system and components of the organic guarantee, fraud is ongoing. Technologies and tools for improving, if not solving, the core problems are available. This issue needs a dedicated analysis and discussion about actions to change our approach. Organic Trade Association's Gwendolyn Wyard will present on the Organic Trade Association’s groundbreaking Organic Fraud Prevention Solutions program, and explain the role of the private sector in preventing organic fraud.

 

Harmonization of Consumer Data

An initiative has been started with the aim to harmonize organic consumer data collection at the international level to improve the visibility and comparability of national organic consumer data. Organic Trade Association's International Trade Manager Alexis Carey is among the speakers.

 

EU and USDA Changes in the Regulation for Trade and Processing

EU and USDA are fully acting on new organic regulation requirements for certification, import-export, and extra measures for organic integrity. How does it work out for international trade and processing? What about consequences for equivalence between EU and USDA? And what is the private sector developing to improve integrity of international organic supply? Organic Trade Association's Laura Batcha is one of the speakers. 

 

Friday, February 14

Challenges for 100% Organic in EU: The Burden of Un-harmonized Residue

This will include a general introduction on market developments and perspectives of organic, and a detailed look to the challenge of integrity in organic. Organic Trade Association's Farm Policy Director Johanna Mirenda, is speaking in this session.

 

U.S. Regulatory Update: What's New for Companies Exporting to North America?

This session will provide an overview of the organic regulatory framework and also discuss the Food Modernization Act (FSMA). Organic Trade Association's Gwendolyn Wyard is speaking.

 

U.S. - EU Stakeholder Meeting 

U.S. organic stakeholders will meet with European counterparts to discuss trade issues related to the new E.U. regulations/Brexit and share updates on our EU TASC work.



Following BioFach, Farm Policy Director Johanna Mirenda and Vice President of Regulatory & Technical Fairs Gwendolyn Wyard will travel to Frankfurt for the Annual Global Organic Textiles Standard (GOTS) Annual Meeting activities.


The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the membership-based business association for organic agriculture and products in North America. OTA is the leading voice for the organic trade in the United States, representing over 9,500 organic businesses across 50 states. Its members include growers, shippers, processors, certifiers, farmers' associations, distributors, importers, exporters, consultants, retailers and others. OTA’s Board of Directors is democratically elected by its members. OTA's mission is to promote and protect ORGANIC with a unifying voice that serves and engages its diverse members from farm to marketplace. The Organic Trade Association does not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, national origin or ancestry, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation or military status. Persons with disabilities who require alternate means for communication of program information can contact us at info@ota.com.