The Minnesota Organic Conference, hosted annually by the Minnosota Department of Agriculture, is a conference and trade show for farmers and others interested in organic agriculture. The 2021 conference will be taking place virtually January 7, 14, 21, 28, 2021. All sessions begin at 3:00 p.m. Central Time. Recordings will be available for one week following each session. Registration is $10 per session or $30 for all four. Click here for more information and to register! 

The Organic Center's Dr. Amber Sciligo will be speaking about Soil Health on Organic Farms on January 28th at 4pmEST. Find more info on the full conference programming below! 

January 7, 2021 - Back to the Future: Regenerative-Organic Food Production for Good Health

• Bob Quinn, Ph.D., Organic Farmer, Entrepreneur, Author

January 14, 2021 - The Connection Between Farm Ecosystem Health and Human Health

• Silvia Abel-Caines, DVM, Ph.D., Organic Valley Ruminant Nutritionist

January 21, 2021 - The Challenges of Our Times: Climate Change, COVID, and Organic Farm Viability

• Carolyn Dimitri, Ph.D., New York University Department of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health
• Andy Pressman, National Center for Appropriate Technology
• Cristel Zoebisch, Organic Farming Research Foundation

January 28, 2021 - Soil Health on Organic Farms

• Amber Sciligo, Ph.D., The Organic Center Science Program Manager

The Minnesota Organic Conference, hosted annually by the Minnosota Department of Agriculture, is a conference and trade show for farmers and others interested in organic agriculture. The 2021 conference will be taking place virtually January 7, 14, 21, 28, 2021. All sessions begin at 3:00 p.m. Central Time. Recordings will be available for one week following each session. Registration is $10 per session or $30 for all four. Click here for more information and to register! 

The Organic Center's Dr. Amber Sciligo will be speaking about Soil Health on Organic Farms on January 28th at 4pmEST. Find more info on the full conference programming below! 

January 7, 2021 - Back to the Future: Regenerative-Organic Food Production for Good Health

• Bob Quinn, Ph.D., Organic Farmer, Entrepreneur, Author

January 14, 2021 - The Connection Between Farm Ecosystem Health and Human Health

• Silvia Abel-Caines, DVM, Ph.D., Organic Valley Ruminant Nutritionist

January 21, 2021 - The Challenges of Our Times: Climate Change, COVID, and Organic Farm Viability

• Carolyn Dimitri, Ph.D., New York University Department of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health
• Andy Pressman, National Center for Appropriate Technology
• Cristel Zoebisch, Organic Farming Research Foundation

January 28, 2021 - Soil Health on Organic Farms

• Amber Sciligo, Ph.D., The Organic Center Science Program Manager

The Minnesota Organic Conference, hosted annually by the Minnosota Department of Agriculture, is a conference and trade show for farmers and others interested in organic agriculture. The 2021 conference will be taking place virtually January 7, 14, 21, 28, 2021. All sessions begin at 3:00 p.m. Central Time. Recordings will be available for one week following each session. Registration is $10 per session or $30 for all four. Click here for more information and to register! 

The Organic Center's Dr. Amber Sciligo will be speaking about Soil Health on Organic Farms on January 28th at 4pmEST. Find more info on the full conference programming below! 

January 7, 2021 - Back to the Future: Regenerative-Organic Food Production for Good Health

• Bob Quinn, Ph.D., Organic Farmer, Entrepreneur, Author

January 14, 2021 - The Connection Between Farm Ecosystem Health and Human Health

• Silvia Abel-Caines, DVM, Ph.D., Organic Valley Ruminant Nutritionist

January 21, 2021 - The Challenges of Our Times: Climate Change, COVID, and Organic Farm Viability

• Carolyn Dimitri, Ph.D., New York University Department of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health
• Andy Pressman, National Center for Appropriate Technology
• Cristel Zoebisch, Organic Farming Research Foundation

January 28, 2021 - Soil Health on Organic Farms

• Amber Sciligo, Ph.D., The Organic Center Science Program Manager

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 Minnesota Organic Conference, hosted annually by the Minnosota Department of Agriculture, is a conference and trade show for farmers and others interested in organic agriculture. The 2021 conference will be taking place virtually January 7, 14, 21, 28, 2021. All sessions begin at 3:00 p.m. Central Time. Recordings will be available for one week following each session. Registration is $10 per session or $30 for all four. Click here for more information and to register! 

The Organic Center's Dr. Amber Sciligo will be speaking about Soil Health on Organic Farms on January 28th at 4pmEST. Find more info on the full conference programming below! 

January 7, 2021 - Back to the Future: Regenerative-Organic Food Production for Good Health

• Bob Quinn, Ph.D., Organic Farmer, Entrepreneur, Author

January 14, 2021 - The Connection Between Farm Ecosystem Health and Human Health

• Silvia Abel-Caines, DVM, Ph.D., Organic Valley Ruminant Nutritionist

January 21, 2021 - The Challenges of Our Times: Climate Change, COVID, and Organic Farm Viability

• Carolyn Dimitri, Ph.D., New York University Department of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health
• Andy Pressman, National Center for Appropriate Technology
• Cristel Zoebisch, Organic Farming Research Foundation

January 28, 2021 - Soil Health on Organic Farms

• Amber Sciligo, Ph.D., The Organic Center Science Program Manager

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. 

The pandemic is having a profound impact on the food industry. It has disrupted raw material supply chains, changed the way products are distributed, and the way food is bought and consumed. Learn about the sustainability implications of the coronavirus crisis at this new North American virtual edition of Sustainable Foods Summit. 

The Sustainable Foods Summit will be hosted on an online platform January 25-28, 2021, the summit is comprised of four conference sessions:

• Session One: Sustainability Update
• Session Two: Food Ingredients
• Session Three: Supply Chains
• Session Four: Future of Sustainability Schemes

Organic Trade Association is sponsoring the event, and OTA's Farm Policy Director, Johanna Mirenda, will be speaking on the morning of January 28th as a part of Session Four: Future of Sustainability Schemes. For more information, contact Angela Jagiello.