Organic Industry Event

The annual OGRAIN Conference takes place this year on January 24th and 25th, 2025 at the Monona Terrace in Madison, WI! The conference is an opportunity to learn from local organic grain growers, hear about the latest research, and connect with other organic, transitioning-to-organic, or inquisitive-about-organic grain growers and end-users.

The 9th annual OGRAIN Winter Conference will feature cutting edge ideas from farmers, researchers and industry experts. Farm and research-focused success strategies will be discussed by a range of speakers leading sessions on organic grain production in the Upper Midwest.

Friday, January 24, 2025: Breakfast at 7:30 am; sessions and trade show (lunch included) from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm; roundtables and exhibit hall 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm.

Saturday, January 25, 2025: Breakfast at 7:30 am; sessions and trade show (lunch included) from 8:00 am – 1:00 pm; organic grain market update and buyer-seller mixer 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm.

Organic Grain Conference & Tradeshow offers four unique, educational grain related tracks. Educational tracks will encompass grain commodities, agronomy training for professionals, cultivating resilience, current research from the NCR SARE farmers forum and more

2025 KEYNOTE

We are thrilled to announce our Keynote Speaker for 2025’s Organic Grain Conference! Gary Zimmer is Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Midwestern BioAg. Known as the “father” of biological agriculture, Zimmer is an internationally known author, speaker and consultant. He owns Otter Creek Organic Farm, a family-operated, award winning 1000-acre farm near Lone Rock, WI. Zimmer is the author of three books, The Biological Farmer, The Biological Farmer (Second Edition) and Advancing Biological Farming, plus numerous articles on soils and livestock nutrition.  Zimmer holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master’s degree in dairy nutrition from the University of Hawaii. Anyone who attends a meeting featuring Gary will see that he is one of the world’s leading authorities on biological farming. After several decades as a farmer, agribusinessman, educator and author, Zimmer is recognized around the world for his dedication to improving farms by restoring soils.

Join us on January 28 for Naturally Network's 2025 Natural Products Industry Update, where industry leaders will convene to share valuable insights and strategies for the year ahead. This gathering is your opportunity to stay informed, learn from experts, and gain the knowledge needed to stay competitive in an ever-changing market.

Stephanie Jerger, VP of Operations of the Organic Trade Association will be a guest speaker at the event.

Don't miss out on this chance to connect with peers, explore key trends, and access valuable resources. We look forward to seeing you there and equipping you with the tools to succeed in 2025!

Pleae contact Dr. Amber Sciligo, Director of the Organic Trade Center, to schedule a time to meet on-site at this event!

Organicology spotlights the newest research, inspiring keynotes, engaging workshops, fantastic entertainment, celebration and connection.

Organicology Session Details

Session Title:         State Organic Network: Honing Strategies to Advance Organic State by State

Session Date:         Thursday, March 13th, 2025

Session Location:   Revolution Hall - 1300 SE Stark St., Portland, OR 97214 – Show Bar, floor 1

Session Time:         1:00 PM – 2:30 PM PT

Event Details:        https://www.organicology.com/event

 

Speakers:

Facilitator: Chris Schreiner | Chief Executive Officer, Tilth

Facilitator: David Lively | Co-Founder and Pioneer Emeritus, Organically Grown Company

Amy Wong | Coalition Director, Oregon Organic Coalition

Matt Landi | Vice President of Industry Relations, Organic Trade Association

Rebekah Weber | Policy Director, CCOF

Melissa Spear | Executive Director, Tilth Alliance

 

Please contact Ivanna Yang, VP of Government Affairs, to schedule a time to meet on-site at this event!

The National Food Policy Conference is a key national gathering for those interested in agriculture, food and nutrition policy. It explores the critical food policy issues of the day with an unusually diverse mix of policymakers, advocates and scientists. 

Please contact Matthew Dillon, co-CEO, to schedule a time to meet on-site at this event!

The breadth and timeliness of the Ag Outlook Forum’s programs have consistently drawn a diverse group of farmers and ranchers, food and ag industry representatives, policymakers, government officials and non-governmental organizations, and this year was no different with 1700 attendees in person and thousands more online.

BIOFACH in the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg is the place where people share their passionate interest in organic food, get to know each other and exchange views, and this since 1990.

 

Contact Dr. Amber Sciligo, Director of The Organic Center, to schedule a time to meet on-site at this event!

The Organic Center's Dr. Amber Sciligo, PhD, will speak to central Appalachian residents and farmers at Grow Appalachia about the importance of organic for consumption and for backyard gardening/homesteading. They’re looking for general organic 101 and organic benefits information, but additional info about weed and pest management and climate change adaptation is also welcomed.

Contact Irene Cardozo, Director of Industry Marketing and Communications, to schedule a time to meet on-site at this event! The Organic Trade Association will have a tabletop display at this event.

The UNFI show exhibits the full spectrum of products and services, supporting both the natural and conventional suppliers, as well as all grocery retail customer channels for our East and Central regions.

Please contact Dr. Amber Sciligo, PhD, Director of the Organic Center, to schedule a time to meet on-site at this event!

Save the dates for the inaugural SOWTH, a regional “small farms, big community” conference hosted by Georgia Organics!