Rodale
Institute's Jeff Moyer Elected to Chair
USDA National Organic Standards Board
KUTZTOWN,
PA -- Jeff Moyer, farm director of
the Rodale Institute, has been elected as the
2009 chair of U.S. Department of Agriculture's National
Organic Standards Board (NOSB). The board elected Moyer
at its meeting last week in Washington, D.C., elevating him
from the 2008 vice-chair role. His five-year board term began
three years ago.
"This
is a critical time for the organic movement and industry as
forces try to dilute its hard-fought integrity with marketing
terms such as "sustainable" and "natural,"
said Moyer, who has worked at Rodale Institute for more than
33 years. "It's critical that we protect the standards
and also continue to educate the public about the value of the
"USDA Organic' seal."
Tim
LaSalle, CEO of the Rodale Institute, emphasized the importance
of organic as a solution to many of the key issues of our time,
including global warming, human health challenges and worldwide
hunger. "Organic agriculture provides critical human and
ecological health benefits, so any erosion in standards is to
steal from not only our own health but that of our children.
We are pleased to know Jeff Moyer will lead this important board
in assuring that the standards are maintained."
The
NOSB is the U.S. organic community's high-profile and all-volunteer
advisory body to the National Organic Program (NOP), which sets
USDA organic policy as part of the Agricultural Marketing Service.
The board receives robust levels of comment from a broad range
of constituent organic groups and individuals at and between
its multi-day meetings held several times per year.
The
NOSB is the USDA's only advisory group with statutory power
mandating its advisory involvement. It functions under the Federal
Advisory Committee Act, requiring it to have a high level of
interaction and transparency. The board provides guidance on
developing standards for substances and practices to be used
in certified organic production, handling and processing.
"I
value Jeff's wealth of experience in organic agriculture and
regulation. Furthermore I believe Jeff's unique leadership skills,
along with his management and technical background, are what
the Board requires to continue providing effective and timely
results for the benefit of the organic community," said
Rigoberto Delgado, who steps down as NOSB chair on January 20,
2009. "I am pleased to say that Jeff's work with the Board
has reflected his strong commitment to the principles and integrity
of organic agriculture, and mirrors the values of the organization
which he represents, the Rodale Institute."
Moyer
manages the 333-acre Rodale Institute research farm. He has
refined the farm's cover cropping and crop-rotation systems,
and was instrumental in developing its no-till roller/crimper,
a tool which makes possible organic no-till crop farming.
He has helped countless farmers make the transition from conventional,
chemical-based farming to organic or biologically sustainable
methods. Throughout his national and international agricultural
leadership, Moyer has brought a practical farmer's perspective
and approach to developing the future of organic agriculture.
He
holds a farmer/grower seat on the board, and sits on the crops,
livestock, materials and executive committees. He also worked
with the aquaculture group which issued the NOSB's first proposed
rules for fish production at last week's session. The current
board is comprised of four farmers/growers, two handlers/processors,
one retailer, one scientist, three consumer/public interest
advocates, three environmentalists and one USDA accredited certifying
agent (who sits on various committees).
Preparing
to lead the board as it grapples with a new round of important
issues "from creating guidance documents on biodiversity,
to the definitions of what is considered "agricultural"
or "non-agricultural" as substances for food handling
or processing" Moyer affirmed what he said after that first
year: "We do our best to protect the integrity of the organic
industry but still allow for the expansion of the fullest range
of products as organic continues to go mainstream."
The
Rodale Institute's mission is to provide farmers with the know-how,
tools, and techniques they need to succeed; policy-makers the
information they need to best support our farmers and the food
production system that is best for our health and environment;
and consumers with the resources they need to make informed
decisions about the food they buy and eat.
Rodale
Institute grew out of the vision of J.I. Rodale who in the 1930s
asserted that healthy soil = healthy food = healthy people.
Bob Rodale expanded on J.I.'s pioneering work in organics, building
an institution dedicated to both innovative research and education.
Learn more at www.rodaleinstitute.org.