Tracking ORGANIC

from the FARM

to the TABLE
to the FUTURE

LAURA BATCHA, Executive Director & CEO,

Organic Trade Association
MELISSA HUGHES, General Counsel & Director
of Government Relations, Organic Valley

$72 Billion globally

-

$35.9 Billion U.S.

-

11% increase
-

5% total food
-

19,500 certificates
-

3,000 in transition
-

106 Million acres

globally
-

6 Million acres U.S.

-

80% buying

What kind of food

do we want?
What kind of
agriculture do we
want? What kind of
community do we
want? What kind of
environment do we
want? How can
organic make our
vision of healthy
food, healthy
people, healthy
communities and a
healthy environment
a reality?

How does food

move from field
to processor
to supermarket
to table?

Organic is
unique. It is the
most transparent,
the most
consumer-driven
and the most
heavily regulated
food system.

Valuing food
Valuing people
Consumer
groundswell

Strict
Federal
Regulations
Production and
Processing
Standards

Organic
certification
is an
investment with
proven returns

Three-year
transition
Strict
Federal
Third-party
Regulations
certification
On-site
inspections
Higher profit
margins

The rigorous
U.S. organic
standards apply
to ALL organic
imports.

USDA-accredited
certifying agents
Organic
equivalency
agreements

The same strict

organic standards
apply to small,
medium and large
operations, and
the bigger
organic gets, the
more accessible
it is to more
people.

Most organic
farms are small
Organic standards
dont
discriminate
Certification
system is tough
Growth is good

How does food

move from field
to processor
to supermarket
to table?

How do we keep
our food supply
safe?

Organic is
better for
people not
only consumers,
but farmworkers:
it reduces
exposure to
toxic chemicals,
organic food has
been proven to
be more
nutritious.

Reduces exposure
to toxic
pesticides
Reduces pesticide
residues in your
body
Reduces
antibiotic
resistance
More nutritious

Organic is better
for the
environment: it
improves the
soil, safeguards
natural
resources,
reduces causes of
climate change,
increases
biodiversity, and
decreases the
amount of toxic
chemicals in the
environment.

Helps combat
climate change
Fosters
biodiversity
Supports
pollinators
Creates healthy
soil

How do we keep
our food supply
safe?

How does a nation

of plenty have
almost 50 million
people struggling
with hunger?

Organic can
alleviate rural
poverty and
hunger by
creating more
jobs, through its
profitability,
and by improving
rural
livelihoods.

Job creation
Rural income
levels
Opportunities for
small farmers,
and for young
people
Local economies

Organic is the
face of America;
more people
everywhere are
choosing
organic.

No typical
organic consumer
Diversity in
age, income,
education,
ethnicity
Vast geographic
range

Organic is
closer to the
consumer
Americans care
about how food
is produced and
processed
TRUST is a must
for consumers
Direct-toConsumer sales

How does a nation

of plenty have
almost 50 million
people struggling
with hunger?

What innovations
and technology
will define the
future of food
sources?

Organic is
innovative and
science-based.

Moving forward
Innovation
Complexity
Ecological
science
Latest technology
(except GMOs)
Traceability

What innovations
and technology
will define the
future of food
sources?

How can we grow

the food we need
on the land we
have?

Organic is the
future of food
and our food
security.

Raises yields
Improves the soil
Adaptable in
changing climate
Boosts the income
of small farmers
Food grown for
people

Systemic changes
are happening now
in food
production that
are bringing the
rest of food and
agriculture
closer to
organic.

How can we grow

the food we need
on the land we
have?