Organic Integrity Virtual Town Hall

Date: Thursday, November 15, 2018

Time: 1:00-2:00 PM Eastern Time

URL: http://www.readytalk.com 

Dial-in: 866.740.1260

Code: 7202000

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service | National Organic Program

Welcome
Agenda

1. Welcome and Introductions

2. Town Hall Goals

3. Organic Integrity Learning Center

4. Profiles of Learner Audiences

5. Course List

6. Project Timeline 

7. Crowdsource and Cross-Reference Content 

8. Data Gathering

9. Discussion

10. Next Steps 

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service | National Organic Program
Introductions

Jennifer Tucker, PhD

USDA

Deputy Administrator

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, National Organic 

Program

Tricia Ryan

AP Ventures Project Manager

Bayley Hochradel

AP Ventures Instructional Designer

Town Hall Facilitators

Please introduce yourself in the chat window. Thank you. 

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service | National Organic Program
Town Hall Goals

• One goal of this Town Hall is to hear from you about what training 

certifiers and inspectors need the most. 

• A second goal is to layout the timeline for the development of the 

Organic Integrity Learning Center and to share the topics that 

courses will address. 

• A third goal is to invite volunteers to engage in future activity. 

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service | National Organic Program
Organic Integrity Learning Center

• The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, National Organic Program (NOP) 

Organic Integrity Learning Center provides online training that supports the 

professional development and continuing education of organic professionals 

working to protect organic integrity.

• Core audiences for the training center include organic certifiers, inspectors, and 

reviewers, and professionals serving a compliance and enforcement role in organic 

control systems. 

• This training center supports the USDA’s goals of fair and consistent organic 

certification, and effective fair enforcement. 

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service | National Organic Program
Organic Integrity Learning Center

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service | National Organic Program
Organic Integrity Learning Center

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service | National Organic Program
1. Inspectors and Reviewers

2. Certifiers

3. USDA Inspectors

4. Organic Farmers and Handlers

Organic Professionals Working to Protect Organic Integrity

Profiles of Learner Audiences

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service | National Organic Program
Course List [draft starting point]

Inspectors and Reviewers Certifiers

1. Fundamentals of Inspection

2. Investigations and Enforcement 

3. Special Topics

1. Certification Operations

2. Compliance and Enforcement

3. Import Oversight Essentials

4. Advanced Livestock Oversight Topics

5. Engaging with NOP

6. Special Topics

Organic Farmers and Handlers USDA Personnel

1. Introduction to the USDA Organic Control 

System

2. Sound and Sensible Organic Certification

1. Training for OIG

2. NOP Auditor Training

3. Training for APHIS Fumigation Staff

4. FAS Desk Officer Training

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service | National Organic Program
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service | National Organic Program
Crowdsource and Cross-Referenced Content

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service | National Organic Program

• Could include “donations” of preexisting content that organizations are willing 

to give USDA and share with the public (co-branded, government-owned) 

• Could also include purchased content from organic partner organizations

• Could also include cross-listings, where partner organization owns/host 

training, but it is listed in Organic Integrity Learning Center. 

• USDA NOP will provide governance for the review of material for the Organic 

Integrity Learning Center.
Data Gathering

1. Virtual Town Hall Town Hall, Volunteer Workgroup, Listening Sessions, 

Focus Groups

2. Enrollment

3. Lesson Assessments

4. Course Evaluations

5. Course Completion

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service | National Organic Program
Discussion

1. What differences must we consider (e.g., age, education level, position, geographic 

location, culture perspectives)? 

2. Who is available to help create differentiated material (e.g., content experts, 

supervisors, learners, reviewers)? 

3. How should we adapt the courses for different audiences? 

4. How do you think USDA NOP should determine if the project is successful? 

5. Imagine the online courses five years from now. 

Complete this sentence: I know the learning program is effective because...

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service | National Organic Program 14
Next Steps

If you are interested in participating in future activity, please send an email 

with your name, role, and email address to 

Jennifer Tucker and Tricia Ryan.

Jennifer.Tucker@ams.usda.gov

TRyan@apvit.com

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service | National Organic Program
Thank you. 

Thank you for your participation in the 

USDA NOP Organic Integrity Learning Center

Virtual Town Hall. 

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service | National Organic Program