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Organic Trade Association hails long-awaited organic animal welfare rule
Washington, D.C. — The Organic Trade Association (OTA) celebrated today the strengthening of organic animal welfare standards by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), saying the long-awaited action by the department was a major win for producers and consumers who have steadily advocated for the more robust regulations. ...
The Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards (OLPS) proposed rule represents a serious step from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) toward updating key organic animal welfare provisions first introduced over twenty years ago.
Today, the U.S.
Following an unprecedented year marked by pantry loading and supply shortages, the Organic Trade Association’s (OTA) latest Organic Industry Survey shows consumers returned to more stable, buy-as-you-need shopping patterns in 2021. Between 2020 and 2021, organic sales surpassed $63 billion, with $1.4 billion (2 percent) total growth over the year.
Today, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced its intention to invest $300 million into a new Organic Transition Initiative program as part of the USDA Food System Transformation Framework. According to USDA:
In 1990, then junior Congressmember Peter DeFazio (D-OR) did the unthinkable – he dug in his heels for a farm bill amendment that he knew was opposed by both the Chair and Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee. Against the odds, that amendment – the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) – passed and the National Organic Program was born.
On the second day of Organic Week 2022, the Organic Trade Association (OTA) recognized six inspiring leaders from across the organic industry at a special awards dinner featuring organic dishes by Chef Eric Adjepong.
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) today announced the selection of its next CEO and Executive Director, Tom Chapman. The announcement was made during OTA’s 2022 Organic Week, which Chapman attended. Chapman’s hiring concludes a year-long planned succession process for Batcha that began in 2021.
Organic agriculture, a $62 billion/year and growing industry, was center stage today as Executive Director and CEO of the Organic Trade Association (OTA) Laura Batcha presented expert testimony before the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research.
With the farm bill just one year away, the Organic Trade Association’s (OTA) upcoming 2022 Organic Week conference will be a prime opportunity for leaders from across the industry to network, receive the latest news and analysis from national experts, and coordinate policy advocacy. Organic Week 2022 will take place from March 28-30 at DC’s Intercontinental Hotel on the Wharf.
After nine years of successfully leading The Organic Center (TOC) as Director of Science Programs, Jessica Shade, Ph.D., has accepted a position with the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) as National Program Leader. At NIFA, Dr. Shade's experience will be put to great use in supporting innovative programs that advance agriculture-related sciences.