Organic Industry Event

FOODEX Japan is taking place March 9-12, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. Over 80,000 qualified Japanese traders,wholesalers, retailers and food service buyers will attend.

Organic Trade Association will host a pavilion of 5-6 U.S. organic companies at the show. If you are interested in participating, contact Alexis Carey, International Trade Manager. 

Gulfood will be taking place February 21-25, 2021 in Dubai. This edition Gulfood will equip the entire food industry to prepare for the inevitable changes and surge of demand that have bestowed upon us rapidly - online and at the event. 

Organic Trade Association will host an organic pavilion at the show for 6 U.S. organic companies. The exhibit space in this pavilion has already been filled. If you are interested in learning more in case space becomes available, contact Alexis Carey, International Trade Manager. 

The trade fair duo BIOFACH and VIVANESS will take place February 17-19, 2021 completely digitally. BIOFACH is the place where people share their passionate interest in organic food, get to know each other and exchange views, since 1990.

Although we will not be traveling together to Nuremburg, OTA is hosting virtual exhibits for US organic companies in the online OTA and USDA exhibit space!

Organic Trade Association will be speaking in the following session during the online conferencing programming: 

Challenges and Solutions on Import-Export EU USA in New Legislation 

The US and EU regulations in regard to import are in full change. What are the main changes and how will it affect the import-export practice of today? And which role plays the topic of group certification in the import area?

Speakers:

• Alexis Carey, Organic Trade Association
• Johanna Mirenda, Organic Trade Association
• Johanna Stumpner, Assoziation ökologischer Lebensmittelhersteller e.V.
• Bo Van Elzakker, Alliance for Organic Integrity

Moderators:

• Karst Kooistra, Tradin Organic Agriculture B.V
• Benedetta Merlo, Organic Processing and Trade Association Europe (OPTA)

The Packer’s Global Organic Produce Expo (GOPEX) has been reinvented for 2021, offering organic fresh produce buyers and suppliers two chances to engage in this increasingly important segment of the industry. 

GOPEX 2021 is taking place January 25-29, 2021 completely digitally. GOPEX Home will feature exciting and interactive entertainment, thought leadership from key industry professionals and a unique program that attendees and sponsors will be talking about all year. In addition to networking sessions that include a virtual escape room and a BYOP (Bring Your Own Pet) happy hour, the January 25-29 online event will offer the quality educational programming and BizMatch meetings for which GOPEX is well known. 

Organic Trade Association will be presenting the following panel sessions during GOPEX Home in January: 

• Finding Trends in Organic Numbers
  
  Panel Session: Tuesday, January 26, 2:00 - 2:45 EDT Networking / Discussion: 3:00-4:00 EDT
  
  Featuring: Angela Jagiello
  
   
• The First 100 Days: An Industry Petition to the New Administration
  
  Panel Session: Thursday, January 28, 4:15-5:00pm EDT Networking / Discussion: 5:00-5:30 EST
  
  Featuring: Megan Debates

A second, in-person event, GOPEX Go, will take place in August 2021, with dates and location to be announced soon. The event will feature a more intimate outdoor expo/golf tournament format for 100 of the most influential retail and wholesale buyers in organic fresh produce. The in-person event will include BizMatch meetings, exhibits and social activities that will deliver exclusive sponsorship opportunities and deeper connections among all participants. 

If you are interested in connecting with Organic Trade Association at GOPEX, contact Angela Jagiello. 

ShiftCon Virtual Session:

Organic: Good News for Climate

Saturday, October 10, 2020 | 12:10-1:10 ET

Session Description:

Climate change is one of the most urgent issues of our time. Its effects are becoming evident through shifting weather patterns and related increases in natural disasters. Agriculture is a major contributor to climate change – but not all agriculture. Organic farming practices help mitigate climate change by increasing soil health while dramatically decreasing nitrogen pollution.  In this session, we’ll share an approachable scientific briefing on organic’s climate benefits, along with perspectives from Organic Trade Association members, including an organic farmer and an beloved family-owned brand.

• Esteemed speakers:
• Doug Crabtree, Owner-Operator | Vilicus Farms
• Jessica Shade, Director of Science Programs | The Organic Center
• Paul Schiefer, Sr. Director of Sustainability | Amy’s Kitchen
• Discussion Leader: Aaronica Cole | Blogger + Entrepreneur|TheCrunchyMommy.com 

Save the date for the 41st annual EcoFarm Conference, January 20 - 23, 2021, taking place online! 

This conference will feature the traditional learning opportunites and events such as keynote speakers, conference intensives, discussion groups, award ceremonies, 35+ workshops by track, and networking opportunities galore!

The Organic Center's Director of Science Programs, Dr. Jessica Shade, wil be featured on the following panel during the conference, taking place Wednesday, January 20 at 3:00 PT / 6:00pm EST.

How and Why Should Certifiers Address the NOP Requirements for Biodiversity?

Even though the National Organic Program (NOP) requires it, growers benefit from it, and consumers expect it, the NOP did not actually clarify what is meant by biodiversity until their published guidance in 2016. This has led to disparities in on-farm biodiversity strategies and certifier oversight, resulting in an unfair playing field for growers and certifiers. This workshop will focus on the importance of biodiversity for organic growers, disparities in biodiversity, tools that certifiers are using to ensure that farmers are in compliance, and farmer strategies for maintaining and improving biodiversity.

Speakers:

• Sean Feder, CCOF
• Dr. Jessica Shade, The Organic Center 
• Peter Martinelli, Fresh Run Farm

View the full conference agenda and register here!

The Western Organic Dairy Producers Alliance (WODPA) will host their first ever virtual Annual Conference on November 18, 2020. Megan Debates, Organic Trade Association's Director of Legislative Affairs and Coalitions, will be a featured presenter! 

This conference will explore organic milk starting with on-farm requirements and follow it through the value chain to our end users. Our goal is to provide insights and perspectives from those who produce, process, utilize and consume organic milk. This interactive webinar, hosted on zoom, will allow for questions and answers from our impactful speakers and our supporting sponsors. Download conference flyer here! Register by October 19, 2020 at www.wodpa.com. 

FARM TO MARKET: EXPLORING THE ORGANIC DAIRY VALUE CHAIN

• How to address Animal Rights Activism on Your Dairy
• WODPA Business Meeting
• Why Consumers Choose Organic
• Organic Milk in Food Service

Featured Presenters Include:

• National Organic Program, Dr. Jennifer Tucker
• National Organic Coalition, Abby Youngblood
• Organic Trade Association, Megan DeBates

The Organic Trade Association Board Meeting will take place on August 19, 2020 from 9:00am - 4:00pm EST. 

The OTA Board of Directors typically meets as a full Board at least four times a year, two or three in-person meetings and one or two via teleconference. Each Board member serves on one of the three committees: Executive, Community Relations, or Governance.  Each committee typically meets once per month.

For more information, contact Stephanie Jerger.

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!