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WEBINAR: Organic Newsbreaker Panel

Wednesday, January 27, 2021 - 1:00pm to 2:00pm

2020 was a year of unprecedented turmoil. It featured a global pandemic, resultant spikes in unemployment, climate related natural disasters, and widespread outcry for racial justice, and was capped off by a historic and bitterly contested election. As it pertained to organic, shopping patterns were upended, workforces were stretched, legislative and regulatory progress were halted, and organic products experienced unprecedented sales. What will the coming year hold for organic, and for the overall agricultural landscape? Join Organic Trade Association for a conversation with leading reporters on the issues and stories they will be tracking this year.  

  • Esteemed Panelists:
  • Laura Batcha, Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director | Organic Trade Association
  • Spencer Chase, Managing Editor | Agri-Pulse
  • Elizabeth Crawford, Deputy Editor | FoodNavigator-USA
  • Gregg Hillyer, Editor In Chief | Progressive Farmer
  • Naomi Starkman, Founder & Editor-in-Chief | Civil Eats

Complimentary to OTA members 

Not-yet member registrations: $149

This webinar will be recorded. Register to be updated when the recording is available. 

Registration closes at 1 pm Eastern. If you register after 1 pm, we will provide you access to view the recording within 48 hours of its completion. 

REGISTER NOW

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Organic Trade Association Member Community Roundtable

Wednesday, February 3, 2021 - 2:00pm to 3:00pm

Join the Organic Trade Association Board of Directors on February 3, 2021 at 2 p.m. Eastern for an interactive presentation from member community representatives and a chance to connect to the conversations, issues, and actions impacting the organic sector.

The organic supply chain is complex. It ranges from fruits and vegetables, from milk and grains, and from cotton and hemp, to a sophisticated range of consumer-ready products. The dedicated individuals and businesses behind these diverse offerings make up the Organic Trade Association membership. Driven by the desire to collaboratively work together to address challenges and take advantage of opportunities, a growing number of task forces, sector councils, and working groups provide an effective way for members of all types and sizes to engage in issues that matter across organic. The member community agendas are wide-ranging, from standards development to consumer education, from food safety to labeling issues, and from research priorities to climate change mitigation.

During a virtual roundtable the Board will hear from council officers, task force volunteers, and expert staff about their annual workplans. Join us for this lively report-out and chance to engage in the work with your organic peers!

This event is only open to Organic Trade Association members. Contact us if you're interested in attending! 

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The Organic Center Virtual Benefit

Wednesday, May 26, 2021 - 4:00pm

The Organic Center will hold the largest ever virtual organic celebration on May 26, 2021 to showcase the latest science on the environmental and health benefits of organic farming, food and products.

Organic industry leaders and consumers will come together for the virtual event to celebrate the (in)credible science behind organic. The celebration will feature inspiring keynote speeches, informative research updates and organic recipe tutorials with influencer watch parties, raffle prizes, and ways to support sponsor companies and engage in the work of The Organic Center.

“The Organic Center is committed to the pursuit and achievement of sound science for the public good. Its research empowers consumers and helps strengthen and expand sustainable farming to make organic even better by tackling critical issues like soil health, biodiversity and how organic can positively impact the environment and human health,” said Bob Kaake, Organic & Natural Technical Director at General Mills and member of The Organic Center’s Board of Trustees.

Kaake added: “By leading with science, The Organic Center is at the forefront showing how organic agriculture can be part of the solution to climate change. Please support The Organic Center so it can continue to provide ‘(In)credible Science, Credibly Sourced.’”

The virtual benefit will include live and pre-recorded program elements that feature the latest science on the environmental and health benefits of organic farming, food and products. With no cost to attend the event, the consumer audience is expected to be large and diverse.

Dr. Tyrone Hayes, groundbreaking biologist and activist, will be one of a handful of inspirational keynote speakers. Fan-favorite celebrity Chef Megan Mitchell will create video tutorials with custom recipes created from sponsor products. The virtual menu will be shared in advance so attendees can follow along from home.

The event will be held during Natural Products Expo West, and will be hosted on New Hope Network’s Natural Products Expo Virtual platform, which will also be the digital site for the organic and natural products community to access other virtual components of Natural Products Expo West. The Organic Center’s annual celebration has for 15 years been one of the most highly anticipated events at Expo, and is the single biggest fundraising event for The Organic Center.

“We are very excited about our new venue for our benefit in 2021, and the potential to tell organic’s amazing story to a bigger audience than ever before,” said Dr. Jessica Shade, Director of Science Programs for The Organic Center. “The COVID-19 pandemic has caused us to do things in new ways, and it’s made organic, and the research on organic, even more important.”

“At Organic Valley, we know the world needs more organic food. Research from The Organic Center shows the benefits of organic food and farming, and is essential to debunking myths and maintaining trust in the Organic seal. As a TOC board member, I believe funding this research is critical. The Organic Center continues to conduct and support innovative research on organic animal care, climate-smart farming practices, and more,” stressed Logan Peterman, Agricultural Data Scientist for Organic Valley and trustee for The Organic Center.

Current sponsors for the 2021 event are Albert Lea Seed House, Aurora Organic Dairy, Cal-Organic/Grimmway Farms, Danone, Firmenich, Lundberg Family Farms, New Hope Network, Organic Valley, Presence Marketing, Rogue Creamery and Whole Foods Market.

There are six levels of sponsorship available. Contributions support The Organic Center’s work and allow it to continue to be THE trusted resource for scientific reporting on agriculture and food. For details on how to be one of the benefits sponsors, contact Douglas Korb.

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VIRTUAL Agriculture Outlook Forum

Friday, February 19, 2021 - 10:00am to 12:00pm

USDA's 97th Agriculture Outlook Forum will be taking place virtually February 18-19, 2021. This virtual Forum is free to attend, and the theme for this year is Building on Innovation: A Pathway to Resilience.

Organic Trade Association's CEO/Executive Director, Laura Batcha, will be a featured speaker at the forum, discussing the Effects of COVID-19 on Organic Producers. The session will take place on February 19th, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. EST followed by a 30-minute live Q&A.

Organic Outlook | February 19, 2021 | 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. EST

Moderator: Mark Lipson

Speakers: Andrea Carlson - Two decades of U.S. organic market trends: new evidence from NASS data

                  Mathieu Ngouagio - NIFA organic research trends and new initiatives

                  Laura Batcha - The pandemic and shifting organic consumption and supply chain patterns

Learn more and register here!

 

VIRTUAL Toast to Organic!

Tuesday, December 15, 2020 - 4:30pm to 5:30pm

Please join us on December 15 at 4:30 pm EST for a virtual toast to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Organic Foods Production Act and chart the path forward for continuous improvement with a new partnership between the Organic Trade Association and the Arizona State University Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems. 

Our interactive program will be hosted by Organic Trade Association CEO Laura Batcha and feature Dr. Kathleen Merrigan along with many diverse voices from the public and private sectors.   

RSVP NOW for updates on our special guests, a signature organic cocktail recipe, and chances to win great organic raffle prizes. 

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VIRTUAL Trade Mission for Ingredients

Monday, March 22, 2021 - 8:00am to Wednesday, March 24, 2021 - 5:00pm

The Organic Trade Association will host a virtual trade event dedicated to organic food ingredients March 22-24, 2021. Meetings will take place 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. EST, but please note that some meetings could take place outside of these regular business hours to accommodate buyer time zones.

As a result of member feedback, invited buyers will participate from countries across Asia, including the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. Ingredients with best prospects for this trade mission include: raw grains, pulses, dairy ingredients, processed fruits and vegetables (frozen, dried, powder, juices, or concentrates), nuts, oils, organic food additives, and bakery items.



The cost to participate is $75 per company for OTA to register you with the online platform and schedule meetings for you with interested buyers. You will receive profiles of the participating buyers including contact information prior to your meetings. Please note we will be scheduling meetings based on buyer preferences and time zones, and your meetings could be held outside regular business hours. 

Contact Alexis Carey, OTA's International Trade Manager, if you have questions. Click here to register! 

For all USDA MAP programs, all of the products you promote must be USDA certified organic, produced in the USA, and made of 51% or more of U.S. based ingredients either by value (cost of the ingredients) or volume (against overall weight of the product).  This is the federal USDA regulation for participation and part of declaration you agree to when signing up for Organic Trade Association activities.  All supplier participants must complete Organic Trade Association’s online evaluation following the activity and a 6 month follow-up evaluation. All participants must also agree to be available online for the entire meeting window. 

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Natural Products Expo East

Wednesday, September 22, 2021 - 9:00am to Saturday, September 25, 2021 - 5:00pm

Natural Products Expo East will be taking place September 22-25, 2021 in Philadelphia, PA!

ORGANIC TRADE ASSOCIATION BOOTH & MEMBER HOSPITALITY LOUNGE

September 22-25, 2021  |  Booth #431

Be sure to visit our booth and member lounge at Expo East 2021! Members can stop by our lounge anytime during show floor hours to grab a cup of organic coffee, check email, and chat with staff. Whether you are interested in discussing critical issues facing your organic business, checking out OTA’s global trade resources to help you expand your business overseas, or understanding what OTA is doing to elevate the footprint of organic on Capitol Hill, our knowledgeable staff is eager to connect with you. Meeting space is always available on a first come first served basis. Contact Danielle Cote to setup a meeting with us at the show! 

ORGANIC TRADE ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL BUYERS MISSION 

The Organic Trade Association and Food Export-Northeast's Joint Buyers' Mission allows U.S. suppliers to meet one-on-one with up to ten international buyers. Meetings are about 25 minutes long and pre-arranged by Organic Trade Association staff. For more information, contact Alexis Carey

ALL THINGS ORGANIC CONFERENCE

As the leading authority on the North American organic market, the Organic Trade Association delivers a one-of-a-kind conference program with critical information on the issues that impact your organic business. The conference line-up will hit all the hot topics of the day and is sure to spark conversation. For more information, contact Angela Jagiello

WEBINAR: 2020 Post-Election Outlook: What does it mean for organic? Sponsored by Organic PAC

Wednesday, December 2, 2020 - 1:00pm to 2:00pm

The 2020 elections will be among the most consequential in U.S. history. What will the outcomes mean for organic? Join CEO Laura Batcha and Director of Legislative Affairs Megan DeBates for this exclusive webinar where we will discuss the outcomes of key House and Senate races including how organic champions fared and what it means for the House and Senate Agriculture Committees. Laura and Megan will be joined by Darci Vetter, Global Lead Public Affairs & Vice Chair, Agriculture, Food at Edelman Public Affairs. We will talk about what the incoming Biden administration could mean for organic priorities, and the transition that occurs at USDA and other agencies.

Prior to the election, Congress left town with a lengthy to-do list including cutting a deal on COVID relief and funding the federal government for Fiscal Year 2021. What can we expect from the lame-duck session this year? What will the top priorities be for the next Congress in 2021? We will explore all these topics and more. Registration for this webinar is limited to current Organic PAC donors and those that have given prior approval. To find out more about Organic PAC you can visit our website. All confirmed registrants will be given an exclusive copy of OTA’s post-election guide after the webinar's completion.

  • Esteemed Panelists:
  • Ambassador Darci Vetter, Global Lead Public Affairs & Vice Chair, Agriculture, Food | Edelman Public Affairs 
  • Laura Batcha, CEO / Executive Director | Organic Trade Association
  • Megan DeBates, Director of Legislative Affairs & Coalitions | Organic Trade Association

This webinar will be recorded. Register to be updated when the recording is available. Registration closes at 1 pm Eastern. If you register after 1 pm, we will provide you access to view the recording within 48 hours of its completion. For information about registering for this webinar, please reach out to Douglas Korb

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WEBINAR: 2020 Legislative & Regulatory Roundup

Friday, November 13, 2020 - 1:00pm to 2:00pm

2020 has been an eventful year for the organic industry. This is true from an agricultural and market perspective, but also in the realms of regulatory and legislative affairs – where progress is not always a linear process. Join Organic Trade Association’s Government Affairs team for a live webinar that clarifies the processes and entities that govern organic, and to receive an update on actions taken in 2020, as well potential developments and trade association priorities for 2021. 

  • Esteemed Panelists:
  • Megan DeBates, Director of Legislative Affairs and Coalitions | Organic Trade Association
  • Johanna Mirenda, Farm Policy Director | Organic Trade Association

Complimentary to OTA members 

Not-yet member registrations: $149

This webinar will be recorded. Register to be updated when the recording is available. 

Registration closes at 12 pm Eastern. If you register after 12 pm, we will provide you access to view the recording within 24 hours of its completion. 

REGISTER

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WEBINAR: Developing Public-Private Partnerships to Address Organic Research Needs

Thursday, November 5, 2020 - 1:00pm to 2:00pm

Last year, The Organic Center partnered with the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) to hold a convening examining research areas that would have the most impact on advancing the organic sector, explore avenues for private-public partnerships, and identify areas where the industry is interested in investing in research. The convening’s objective was to identify high-impact research areas that could have a substantial positive impact on advancing organic production systems, build partnerships in support of scientific collaborations, and provide a venue for cross-sector sharing of ideas and priorities. This webinar will present the outcomes from that convening, share information about FFAR funding, and gather your input on research needs that are critical for advancing the organic sector.

  • Esteemed Panelists:
  • Brise Tencer, Executive Director | Organic Farming Research Foundation (Q&A participant)
  • Amber Sciligo, PhD, Asst. Director of Science Programs | The Organic Center
  • Jessica Shade, PhD, Director of Science Programs | The Organic Center
  • LaKisha Odom, PhD, Scientific Program Director | Foundation

You can download the full outcomes from the convening here, and we are soliciting comments on the outcome document here.

Click here to learn more about the project. 

Open to all

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