At the end of October, Chelsey Lenczyk Bejo USA's Organic Lead and Home & Farm Market Manager attended the National Organic Standards Board meeting in Portland, OR. Chelsey testified in front of the board, discussing Bejo's vision for the US organic seed industry future, partnering with entities across the sector, and the overall support of USDA Organic. During Chelsey's speech, she focused on the importance of creating a multi-faceted strategy to increase organic seed usage, learning from past challenges, and how conventional and organic seed processes can sustain one another for the future of agriculture in the U.S. The Bejo USA team is thrilled to support Chelsey and the USDA Organic Sector for years to come!
Summer 2024
Organic Trade Association (OTA) Taskforce convenes to envision what a multi-faceted strategy to increasing organic seed usage could like look; later spending time preparing answers for the fall NOSB discussion document.
Fall 2024
On October 22-24, the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) held its biannual public meeting in Portland, OR. NOSB meetings provide an opportunity for organic stakeholders to give input on proposed NOSB recommendations and discussion items. The meetings also allow NOSB to receive updates from USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) on issues pertaining to organic agriculture.
- Seed Summary: The Certification, Accreditation, Compliance Subcommittee (CACS) seeks to understand the current state of organic seed use, potential tools for increasing the amount and variety of organic seed that is commercially available, and methods for strengthening enforcement of the existing commercial availability requirements via stakeholder input on questions regarding Consistency in Organic Seed Use Discussion Document.
Discussion: Through submitted written, virtual, and in-person comments, about 2 dozen stakeholders gave feedback that ‘yes’ increasing organic seed usage is a priority and needs more regulation for future success. There was also strong support to pass the 2018 Regulation and to revisit the 2019 recommendation. Some detractors are concerned that stricter enforcement will lead to loss of varietal fit, further drive-up prices for inputs (seed), and additionally burden growers, handlers, and certifiers who are struggling to adapt to new SOE rules.
The Board also noted that the role of the handler in sourcing organic seed needs further thought, as well as the potential need for a common source of information for seed commercial availability. Also highlighted was the need for greater input from the grower community, as these stakeholders will bear the responsibility of complying with any changes.
By the end of the meeting, the NOSB had a clear understanding of the complexity of trying to regulate organic seed usage, given the wide diversity of farmers, markets, crops and crop segments. Nonetheless, there was broad agreement that progress must continue, guided by a sound and sensible approach.
Winter 2024 & Beyond
The Organic Trade Assocation (OTA) Taskforce will reconvene in December and continue work on developing a multi-faceted strategy on organic seed usage. The goal is to have broad stakeholder input so please reach out join the Task Force.
The Spring 2025 NOSB Meeting is scheduled for April 29 – May 1 in Tempe, AZ. The public comment webinars are scheduled for April 22 and 24 from Noon – 5:00 pm Eastern. Details on the meeting agenda and registration for virtual and in-person public comments will be updated on the meeting page.
