Kelly Damewood’s Post

USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service recently announced more Organic Market Development Grantees, and I had the opportunity to listen in on an Organic Trade Association webinar with some of the grantees. Here are some of my favorite funded projects: - Lundberg Family Farms will be working to develop 3,000 new acres of domestic rice production! Challenges abound in growing and selling organic rice such as lack of processing infrastructure. I can't wait to see more regenerative organic rice grown in the U.S.! - Northeast Organic Family Farm Partnership (NOFFP) is developing a local and regional dairy promotion program. I can't think of a more important effort right now than refocusing on local promotion and food economies. - I'm excited to see a number of Texas-based grantees, and one grantee is working to build a stronger Yaupon tea market to increase domestic tea sales. These projects are just a few of the initiatives funded by the USDA's Organic Market Development Grant. Check out the link below for more information on these projects and the $40.5 million in grant awards supporting processing and marketing of organic products. #OrganicFarming #SustainableAgriculture #USDA

Some VERY BIG NEWS this week! It's the single biggest infusion of resources in our company's history and we couldn't be more excited about the momentum we'll build with it. Pacific Northwest organic grain supply chain stakeholders are encouraged to contact [email protected] and [email protected] w/ interest to partner :) . . GRANT: USDA Organic Market Development Grant PROJECT: Driving Landscape-Scale Conservation in The Cascadia Region by Developing New Markets for Organic Malt AWARD: $930,720 BUDGET: $1,862,151 TIMELINE: 2024-2027 UDSA SUMMARY: Through this project, Mainstem Malt will launch a new certified organic malt line that coordinates an ecologically responsible grain value chain from farmer to buyer. As a unique Certified B Corp malt company sourcing exclusively from Salmon-Safe certified farmers, Mainstem came to market in 2017 to provide regional producers with a premium market for grains being grown with exceptional water quality and habitat conservation practices. Since its founding, the company has made significant purchases of domestically grown Northwest grain all while retaining elevated transparency throughout the grain value chain and simultaneously developing the market for domestic malt. Mainstem Malt aims to build upon this successful model to develop expanded markets for certified organic grain producers in the Cascadia Region. Together with a diverse set of partners, Mainstem Malt will increase domestic organic supply chain capacity for organic barley. The project will accomplish this by expanding expert staff capacity, building, and maintaining relationships with certified organic growers and processors, establishing new markets for organic malt, and developing and executing a marketing plan that differentiates organic, regionally grown and produced malt to both buyers and end consumers. Mainstem Malt has commitments from certified organic and transitioning-to-organic growers who recognize the value of barley within a feed grain rotation and are seeking high-end markets for their crops as well as long-standing relationships with certified organic craft beverage makers. Paired with a growing demand for organic in the craft beverage sector, Mainstem Malt is eager to build out this important regional market. LINK: https://lnkd.in/eke5fsjR #usda #organicmarketdevelopmentgrant #transitioning #organic #regionalmarkets #regionalgrains #organicgrain #organicmalt #craftmalting #valueadded #agriculture #ruralinfrastructure #grainlikegrapes #maltthatmatters #maltmatters #pacificnorthwest #washington #oregon #idaho

Italy’s Organic Sector Under Threat: Imported Products Surge by 40% Italy’s Organic Sector Under Threat: Imported Products Surge by 40% Italy, a European leader in organic agriculture, is grappling with a sharp increase in imported organic products. According to Coldiretti Bio, these imports surged by 40% in 2023, creating challenges for the Italian organic sector which prides itself on high quality and rigorous standards. Surge […] https://lnkd.in/ecdHwFQ8

Can terpenes be sourced organically? What does comparable-to-organic mean? Organic compliant? We understand the confusion. With more consumers preferring organic products, it’s understandable why manufacturers are on the hunt for organically sourced ingredients. That includes the terpenes used to infuse products with aroma, flavor, and sensorial effects. So, manufacturers can simply purchase terpenes derived from organic sources. Right? Well, it’s complicated. Today, “organic” is a designation achieved through certification to the federal USDA National Organic Program (NOP). In order for a product to be labeled organic, it’s required to “...be produced using agricultural production practices that foster resource cycling, promote ecological balance, maintain and improve soil and water quality, minimize the use of synthetic materials, and conserve biodiversity.” The term “organic” has undergone quite a transformation over the last century. The marketing concept of organic farming was birthed at the beginning of the twentieth century in response to the negative environmental effects of mechanized agriculture (soil erosion, decreased crop varieties, decreased food quality, etc.). Over the next several decades, consumers became more aware of the differences between organic and non-organic produce, but certification varied by state. It wasn’t until the 80s that farmers and consumers began heavily advocating for government regulation, which led Congress to pass the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) in 1990. The OFPA's goal was to establish national standards for organic products. However, it took ten years of debate before the National Organic Program (NOP) was created and another two years before any of the regulations went into effect. 📲 Read the full blog below to learn about the History of “Organic” Farming, the OCal Cannabis Certification Program, Sourcing, and What this Means for Terpenes. https://lnkd.in/gpBNX7Rp #AbstraxTech #Terpenes #Organic #Flavor #Aroma #Sensory #Botanicals

Organic keeps growing—more farms, farmland and food sales in 2022. Globally, organic farmland and farms increased in 2022, with global organic farmland up 26.6% to 96 million hectares and 2% of the world’s farmland in 2022, according to The World of Organic Agriculture, published by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL and IFOAM - Organics International and released at BIOFACH / VIVANESS. Sales of organic food hit €135 billion in 2022, with the United States once again the top market globally (€56.6 billion), followed by Germany (€15.3 billion) and the new number 3: China (€12.4 billion). Retail sales in Canada (+9.7%) and the United States (+4.4%) increased, while sales in some European countries declined. The Swiss spent the most on organic food (an average of €437 per person), and Denmark continued to have the highest share of the organic market at 12% of the total food market. In 2022, the number of organic producers increased about 26%, to reach 4.5 million, primarily due to a significant increase in India. India also remained the country with the most organic producers in 2022 (2.5 million producers). #Organic #agriculture #farming #organicproducts #biofach2024

Last week, Clif Bar joined the Organic Trade Association in Washington DC to advocate for the inclusion of #organic in the Farm Bill. This post explains “what” we were asking for, my next post will unpack the “how.” Does the thought of food companies + politics give you the “ick?” What if we were asking for something with proven social and environmental benefits? When meeting with our elected representatives last week, we were clear about our goal: —> To make sure the Farm Bill is good for farmers, consumers, and the natural environment. Specifically, we were voicing our support for: 1. The Organic Market Development Act. —> Would invest in infrastructure needed to grow organic supply chains. ——> We’re looking at you, “Messy (or Miraculous) Middle,” including organic processing, packaging, and distribution facilities. 2. Continuous Improvement and Accountability in Organic Act (“CIAO”). —> Would update and streamline organic standards, clarifying points of confusion and making it easier for organic certifiers to provide uniform assessments across operations. —-> This will cost tax payers $0. 3. Strengthening Organic Agriculture Research Act (SOAR). —> Would increase OREI funding for organic research from $60M to $100M 4. Organic Science and Research Investment Act (OSRI). —> Would increase funding for organic research AND direct USDA to dedicate a portion of its research fields to organic. Why are we asking for these things? Because they are needed to move the organic industry forward. 🧗♂️ As a company who relies on organic ingredients for our products, these investments will benefit us in the long run. But, they’ll also benefit: 👩🌾🧑🌾 Farmers (whether certified organic, or dabbling in organic practices) 🛒 Consumers (whether true organic fans or the occasional organic shopper) 🍏 Other companies (whether they have a full-blown organic offering or a few “made with organic” claims.) And of course, 🌎 The planet (because each step towards more #sustainable methods of production is a win). What do you think of our Farm Bill priorities? What would you add? #sustainableagriculture

Did you catch Jennifer Tucker's discussion at the Organic Grower Summit on the upcoming rule change for organic certification? Jennifer, who serves as the deputy administrator of the USDA's National Organic Program, talked about the agency's efforts to address inconsistencies in the handling of organic goods across the supply chain. Learn more about the March 2024 organic certification updates in this article by Farm Progress ⤵️ https://bit.ly/3Rq8Msf

The U.S. Secretary Of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced funding on November 27 that appears to support the expansion of “organic” hydroponic, an approach to food production criticized by the vast majority of the organic community as a process that violates foundational organic principles. The funding, under the USDA Rural Business and Value-Added Producer Grants program, is intended to assist in financing an expansion of rural businesses, including 185 projects worth nearly $196 million. Organizations representing organic producers and consumers have told the USDA’s National Organic Program that hydroponic food production, as a form of conventional chemical-intensive agriculture, does not meet the standards of soil-based food production required for USDA organic labeling. Currently, federal law does not require that hydroponically produced food be labeled, leaving consumers unable to distinguish production practices at the point of sale. >>Take action and tell Secretary Vilsack and your Congressional representatives to ensure that USDA ceases promoting hydroponically-grown products as “organic.” https://ow.ly/VIu950QhuGP Daily News Blog Post: https://ow.ly/XiRr50QhuGO

Organic Greenhouse Vegetables in High Demand Amid Limited Availability and Firm Prices Robert Blomsteel and Ron den Hoedt, co-founders of EDN specializing in import and export of organic and conventional fruits and vegetables, have navigated a dynamic market landscape since establishing their venture over a year ago. Based in Barendrecht, their focus on organic products, marketed under the EDN organic freshness brand, constitutes a significant portion, approximately 60%, of their total volume. Reflecting on his extensive experience in the AGF trade, Robert Blomsteel notes, “The organic sector has captured my heart over my 25 years in this industry, yet I appreciate the charm in conventional trade as well.” Currently, EDN is actively engaged in promoting organic greenhouse vegetables, albeit facing challenges due to weather-related constraints leading to limited availability and firm pricing. Robert elaborates, “Programs are ongoing, but the volume available for open market trading remains relatively constrained.” Recent years have witnessed consolidation among organic growers in the Netherlands, influenced in part by uncertainty regarding market returns. Robert expresses optimism for renewed cultivation activities in the foreseeable future, emphasizing the need for stabilit...

👀❓ Did you know... Over 12% of all organic products imported into the European Union come from Ecuador. In 2022, this amounted to more than 345,000 tonnes! In January 2025, new EU organic rules (Regulation 2018/848) will come into force. These rules aim to improve organic food standards for European consumers and ensure clear labelling of where these products come from. To meet these new standards, Ecuador's organic sector will need to make some adjustments. Three EU-funded projects - Proyecto NEXT Ecuador by the International Trade Center ( ITC ), #CREA by Rikolto, and Paisajes Andinos supported by FAO - joined forces to fund an international consultancy by Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL together with #Agrocalidad. The consultancy looked at the challenges more than 2,000 Ecuadorian organic farmers are facing to comply with the new EU organic rules. 👉 Read the full report in Spanish at: https://lnkd.in/dk43-nmJ #EUOrganic #OrganicFarming #SustainableAgriculture #FoodSafety #FoodTransparency #InternationalTrade #NewEUOrganicRules #OrganicChallenges #FoodSystems