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Task Forces

Task Forces make recommendations to the Organic Trade Association on policy issues, association programs, and special projects. The Organic Trade Association has many active task forces with dozens of members working on everything from commenting on FDA's Food Safety Rule revisions to analyzing Mexico’s Operating Guidelines for Organic Agriculture. OTA announces new task forces and opportunities to get involved in the weekly News Flash e-newsletter for members. Contact Violet Batcha to subscribe today.
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All of our Task Forces are time-bound (not necessarily short-term), task-charged, and outcome-focused groups with specific mandate statements.

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Task forces can be convened by the Board, staff, or members (e.g., through Member Forums or Sector Councils) in order to recommend a course of action or accomplish a specific objective.

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Task Forces form to:  

  • 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. 

Active Task Forces
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California Regenerative Agriculture Definition Task Force

This task force is open to members in good standing who are interested in defining regenerative with a mindset of minimizing impact on organic and are willing to provide public comment to CDFA.  Non-members aligned with the manadate will be consider for inclusion as well.  The mandate of the task for is to provide updates on the process with interested stakeholders, drive appropriate national engagement in California process, align on common messaging and strategies amongst interested stakeholders, and support and encourage comments from organic stakeholders.

The outcome we are seeking is to influence CDFA in their definition of regenerative agriculture and minimize negative consequences for the organic market and consumer.  This task force is open to members in good standing who are interested in defining regenerative with a mindset of minimizing impact on organic and are willing to provide public comment to CDFA. Non-members aligned with the manadate will be consider for inclusion as well. The mandate of the task for is to provide updates on the process with interested stakeholders, drive appropriate national engagement in California process, align on common messaging and strategies amongst interested stakeholders, and support and encourage comments from organic stakeholders. The outcome we are seeking is to influence CDFA in their definition of regenerative agriculture and minimize negative consequences for the organic market and consumer.

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Communications Task Force

The purpose of the Task Force is to bring together industry marketing and communications leaders to develop the objectives, scope, and guardrails for a Strategic Communications and Marketing Council to create a space to convene Marketing and Strategic Communication leaders in the organic space to drive collaboration and the development of resources to support communication on the value proposition of organic. The Task Force’s work will be complete upon the establishment of the Council.  

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Farm Bill Task Force

The mandate of the Farm Bill Task Force is to facilitate and assist OTA members in building relationships with Members of Congress in both the House and Senate to achieve success on the OTA priorities in the Farm Bill. Work on this Task Force is facilitated by Peter Mihalick, Senior Director of Government Affairs, and Laura Holm, Government Affairs Associate.

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Organic Feedstuff Trade Relief Task Force

The Organic Trade Association’s Organic Feedstuff Trade Relief Task Force has a mandate to research, develop and secure trade disruption relief payments for livestock producers dependent on organic feedstuffs use and financial hardship endured. Criteria to participate in this task force includes contributing financially to secure consultative services and prior experience in policy and advocacy with a strong commercial attachment to or interest in organic livestock production and markets. The work of this Task Force is facilitated by Tom Chapman, CEO and Executive Director, and Laura Holm, Government Affairs Associate.

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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. Work on this Task Force is facilitated by Tom Chapman, CEO and Executive Director, and Sarah Gorman, International Trade Manager.

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Intermittent Task Forces
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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.

EU-UK Trade 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. The group also serves as an advisory body on work related to our E.U. TASC funding. Work on this Task Force is facilitated by Sarah Gorman, International Trade Manager.

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Mexico Trade Task Force

The mandate of this task force is to monitor, analyze, and discuss existing and emerging issues from organic trade discussions and issue resolutions between the United States and Mexico. The task force will provide input to FAS, NOP, and USTR on the industry's perspective on trade issues, technical talks, Mexico’s recently implemented organic regulations, and market potential. Task force members will also provide industry support and concerns regarding the potential opportunities and challenges that will be created by entering an organic equivalency arrangement with Mexico. Additionally, the task force will provide issue assessments regarding organic seed treatments in support of OTA / FAS / APHIS work on this issue. Work on this Task Force is facilitated by Sarah Gorman, International Trade Manager.

     Click to join

Residues Task Force

The mandate of the Residues Task Force is to continue the Organic Trade Association's strong support of periodic residue testing as a critical tool to monitor compliance with the organic regulations and address challenges relating to unavoidable residual environmental contamination (UREC) and concentration factors. Work on this Task Force is facilitated by Scott Rice, Director of Regulatory Affairs

     Click to join

Resources
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