- gather input on specific programs, issues, new initiatives, or overall strategic planning
- convene an advisory group that would recommend a course of action to either the board or staff
- consider a narrow subject within a broader topic area
- focus attention and recommend service for a particular sector of the organic industry
- accomplish a specified project/task, as needed, using OTA and/or participants volunteer time.
Child Nutrition Task Force
This task force will develop policy proposals related to the school lunch pilot program and expanding access to organic within the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) feeding programs as part of the upcoming Child Nutrition Act reauthorization by Congress.
Continuous Improvement and Accountability in Organic Standards Task Force
The mandate of the task force is to facilitate a conversation from OTA members on repairing the public-private partnership between USDA and the organic industry and generate strategic thinking for how organic will evolve within this partnership over the next decade and beyond.
European Union Task Force
This task force will serve as a platform to voice and discuss issues regarding the changing regulations, and plan next steps for those involved in the EU market. The work will also address the impacts to UK-Brexit and organic trade. Initially, this task force will serve as an information-sharing body and move into active work early in 2019.
GMO Labeling Task Force
The GMO Labeling Task Force's mandate is to review OTA's top messaging priorities and assist members with submission of comments to the USDA.
Hydroponics and Container Production Task Force
Livestock Vaccines Task Force
To develop comments on the use of vaccines in organic livestock production and to inform a path forward that stands against the proliferation of GMOs in organic, while being practical in accepting that some necessary vaccines are only available using excluded method technology.
Mexico Task Force
Marine Materials Task Force
The mandate of the Marine Materials Task Force is to develop comments in response to NOSB Materials Subcommittee Discussion Documents and Proposals related to marine materials in organic crop production.
National List Revisions Task Force
The mandate of the National List Revisions Task Force is to inform the Organic Trade Association’s development of comments on several proposed revisions to the National List based on NOSB recommendations dating back to 2002.
NOP Enforcement Rulemaking Task Force
The mandate of this task force is to: 1) engage early with NOP and answer the enforcement related questions NOP distributed in a public "Town Hall" style webinar; and 2) help shape OTA’s comments to NOP on the proposed rule.
Strengthening Organic Seed Usage Task Force
Sugar Supply Task Force
The mandate of this task force is to decide on and implement a strategy to either 1) raise the US tariff rate quota for organic sugar, 2) create an organic Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ), or 3) implement both options, if they are compatible. In addition, the Sugar Supply Task Force may decide to discuss relief via amendments to the coming Farm Bill or other strategies to be determined.
Task Force Policies and Procedures Task Force Roles and Responsibilities Submit Task Force Request Form Online
