The National Organic Standards Board met in Portland, OR from October 22nd to the 24th to discuss the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service's National Organic Program Update, hear from various committees, and listen and respond to public comments.
During these meetings, USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt highlighted the USDA's investment in and support of Organic producers primarily via the Organic Market Development Grant (OMDG) program. The OMDG program, with the final awards announced in August, provided $85 million for 107 projects around the country. The program supports the development of new and existing organic markets to increase the consumption of domestic organic agricultural products, and the projects funded through this program are expected to benefit over 102,000 producers and increase 119 million people’s knowledge of organic products.
“Our investments through programs such as the Organic Market Development Grant program are ensuring more Americans have access to affordable organic foods and helping small and mid-sized producers gain access to new, profitable markets. I was excited to share these accomplishments with industry leaders at the National Organic Standards Board meeting.”
-- Under Secretary Moffitt
USDA Organic Investments
OMDG is part of USDA’s Organic Transition Initiative (OTI), a $300 million investment that delivers comprehensive support to producers interested in transitioning to organic, from mentorship and advice to technical assistance and workforce development.
Among OTI’s comprehensive suite of programs is the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), which supports farmers transitioning to organic by connecting them with mentors and helping producers overcome challenges during and following certification.
According to the USDA, OTI is a part of the USDA food system transformation initiative to support local and regional food systems, expand access to markets for more producers, and increase the affordable food supply for more Americans while promoting climate-smart agriculture and ensuring equity for all producers.
Comments