Wisconsin Historical Society is Documenting the Story of Organic and Sustainable Agriculture Movement || Nov 2013

By Roger Blobaum A new effort is underway in Wisconsin to collect and archive organization records, conference proceedings, papers and records saved by organic and sustainable agriculture pioneers, and other materials that help document the history of the organic and sustainable agriculture movement. Jonathan Nelson, a collections development archivist, heads the new national organic and…

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Wisconsin Historical Society Organic History Collection

ORGANIC AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE COLLECTING PROJECT Link to the Collection  The Wisconsin Historical Society has initiated an effort to acquire, manage, and provide access to personal papers, organizational records, and other materials of an archival nature that document the growth and significance of the organic and sustainable agriculture movement in the United States. Wisconsin farmers…

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INSIDE ORGANIC: Government Study Linking Pesticides and Cancer Supports Health Enhancing Benefits of Organic Food and Farming (Sept 2010)

       by Roger Blobaum · Inside Organics · Sept/Oct 2010   Food industry promoters trying to convince consumers that organic food is no more healthful than other food have been taking some hits lately.  Several developments this summer, including a scary government report linking pesticides and cancer, are challenging their dubious claim. These reports are…

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Presentation on Global Accreditation of Certifiers, Collaboration with Government Authorities and National Accreditors, and Other Organic Trade Harmonizing Activities of the International Organic Accreditation Service | 2008

By Blobaum, International Organic Accreditation Service, 2008 Website: www.ioas.org  Email: [email protected] The IOAS and its services The International Organic Accreditation Service (IOAS), a nonprofit sector-specific international body established by IFOAM 10 years ago, works worldwide providing a broad range of servio relating to conformity assessment in organic agriculture.

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Guest Commentary published in the “OFARM Quarterly” – Organic Farmers and Consumers Face New Challenge: Stopping Government Backsliding on Organic Integrity 2006

Organic Farmers and Consumers Face New Challenge: Stopping Government Backsliding on Organic Integrity This guest commentary was published in the November 2006 issue of OFARM Quarterly. By Roger Blobaum Developments unfolding in the organic industry are raising serious new concerns about how fast the organic sector can be expanded and mainstreamed without weakening standards, undermining…

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INSIDE ORGANIC: Agency Solicits Research Agenda Input From Organic Farmers For Poorly-Funded 5-Year National Organic Research Program (Nov 06)

by Roger Blobaum · Inside Organics · MOSES Broadcaster · Nov/Oct 2006 The national research agenda workshop convened last month by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), a U.S. Department of Agriculture agency with 2,100 scientists and a $1.1 billion annual research budget, would appear to suggest a significant breakthrough in support for organic food and farming…

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INSIDE ORGANIC: Wal-Mart’s Move into Organic Retailing Creates Concern and Uncertainty in the Organic Sector (Sept 06)

     by Roger Blobaum · Inside Organics · MOSES Broadcaster · Sept-Oct 2006The surprise announcement that Wal-Mart, the world’s largest food merchandiser, plans to use its well-known price cutting approach to move aggressively into organic retailing is sending waves of concern and uncertainty through the organic food and farming sectors. The Wal-Mart move, part of a…

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INSIDE ORGANIC: Expanding and Mainstreaming Organic Without the Loss of Integrity: The Proposed National Organic Action Plan Can Help Make That Happen (July 06)

       by Roger Blobaum · Inside Organics · MOSES Broadcaster · July/August 2006The formal launching of a National Organic Action Plan process this summer has the potential to provide a community-wide response to the challenge of steering organic 20 years into the future and beyond and deciding how it can be expanded and mainstreamed without losing…

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INSIDE ORGANIC: Naming Industry Representatives to Consumer Slots Upsets the Balance And Undermines the Integrity of the National Organic Standards Board (May 06)

  by Roger Blobaum · Inside Organics · MOSES Broadcaster · May-June 2006   The appointment of two industry representatives to National Organic Standards Board slots reserved for consumer/public interest representatives has raised new questions about the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s commitment to enforce legal requirements of the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) and protect the…

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