United States Department of Agriculture

Organic & Sustainable Agriculture Policy

USDA Organic Policy Updates

National Organic Standards Board

April 29, 2014

San Antonio, TX

Mark Lipson

Organic and Sustainable Agriculture Policy Advisor

USDA-OSEC-MRP

Mark.lipson@osec.usda.gov
United States Department of Agriculture

Organic & Sustainable Agriculture Policy

USDA Organic – Big Picture

Dept.-wide integration, beyond NOP

Congressional drivers

2010 Strategic Plan Goal (+25%)

OSEC Policy Advisor

USDA Organic Working Group

USDA Organic Literacy Initiative

Secretary’s Departmental Guidance
United States Department of Agriculture

Organic & Sustainable Agriculture Policy

Secretary’s May 2013 Guidance

Five areas of organic integration:

 Regulatory reciprocity w/in USDA

 Research

 Data

 Training and Outreach

 Encouraging growth of sector

Organic Working Group teams for each 

area.
United States Department of Agriculture

Organic & Sustainable Agriculture Policy

Secretary’s May 2013 Guidance:

Reciprocity w/in USDA

Focus is on coordination of NOP 

requirements with NRCS conservation 

program requirements.
United States Department of Agriculture

Organic & Sustainable Agriculture Policy

Secretary’s May 2013 Guidance:

Data Collection

Master data inventory

Support for expanded int’l trade codes

Collation of stakeholder data needs
United States Department of Agriculture

Organic & Sustainable Agriculture Policy

Secretary’s May 2013 Guidance:

Training and Outreach

New USDA Organic Topic Page 

Updated Organic Resource Guide

Continue Organic Literacy Initiative
United States Department of Agriculture

Organic & Sustainable Agriculture Policy
United States Department of Agriculture

Organic & Sustainable Agriculture Policy

Secretary’s May 2013 Guidance:

Growth of Organic Sector

On-line “town hall” discussion

Collation of transition resources
United States Department of Agriculture

Organic & Sustainable Agriculture Policy

Secretary’s May 2013 Guidance:

Research

Assessment by OWG of NOSB 2012/13 

research priorities recommendations.

Review of NOSB doc by NIFA, ARS, ERS 

and NRCS, with NOP’s Dr. Lisa Brines.

Comments and recommendations of OWG 

team go to USDA research programs and 

also feed back to NOSB.

Will be posted with minutes of this mtg. 
United States Department of Agriculture

Organic & Sustainable Agriculture Policy

OWG Research Team 

Comments to NOSB: Highlights 

Whole farm systems, antibiotic 

alternatives, methionine alternatives, 

livestock herd health all continue to be 

prioritized by OREI. Strength of proposals is 

a concern.

Board should provide more specific info on 

questions about aquaculture and GE 

vaccines.
United States Department of Agriculture

Organic & Sustainable Agriculture Policy

2014 Farm Bill!

Restores funding for Organic Research 

and Extension Initiative ($20M/yr) 

Restores and increases National 

Certification Cost-share ($11 

Million/year)

Restores Organic Data Initiative ($5M)

Organic Crop Insurance mandate

Organic Research and Promotion 

“Checkoff” exemptions and options
United States Department of Agriculture

Organic & Sustainable Agriculture Policy

THANK YOU!

Mark Lipson

USDA Organic Policy Advisor

mark.lipson (at) osec.usda.gov

(202) 720-4256