. The program will provide comprehensive support for farmers to transition to organic production, which USDA says will bring environmental benefits and enable producers to demand a premium in the marketplace.
Read more
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the membership-based business association for organic agriculture and products in North America. OTA is the leading voice for the organic trade in the United States, representing over 8,500 organic businesses across 50 states. Its members include growers, shippers, processors, certifiers, farmers’ associations, distributors, importers, exporters, consultants, retailers and others. Organic products represented include organic foods, ingredients and beverages, as well as organic fibers, personal care products, pet foods, nutritional supplements, household cleaners and flowers.
OTA’s member organic businesses work together through networking, advocacy, and other initiatives to encourage and protect organic farming practices, and to share messages about the positive environmental and nutritional attributes of organic products with consumers, the media, and policymakers.
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Amy is one of five recipients of a prestigious Organic Leadership Award, recognized for her “significant contributions to support and advance organic agriculture and trade at the farm-level.”
Read moreThis action will have a game-changing impact on improving oversight of organic systems and reducing the chance of organic fraud.
Read more
U.S. organic food sales in 2020 were up a record 12.8% to a new high of €46 billion ($56.4 billion), representing almost 6% of U.S. food sales.
Read more
Jeff has developed programs with most major retailers, and is a much sought-after speaker and educator on growing organically sustainably.
Read more
Sales rose by 31% to $9.93 billion from 2016 to 2019, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service 2019 Organic Survey report.
Read more
Following a record 2019, the importance of the organic sector continues to rise as shoppers reach for healthy, clean food to feed their families during the global pandemic. According to […]
Read more
Demand for organic and sustainable foods has grown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, finds sustainability development research firm Ecovia Intelligence. Its research shows that online retailers such as Whole Food […]
Read more
Organic production of grains and soybeans is experiencing double digit growth, according to a report by market intelligence firm, Mercaris. The 2017 Organic & Non-GMO Acreage Report provides acreage data and analysis of […]
Read more
. The program will provide comprehensive support for farmers to transition to organic production, which USDA says will bring environmental benefits and enable producers to demand a premium in the marketplace.
Read moreThe Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the membership-based business association for organic agriculture and products in North America. OTA is the leading voice for the organic trade in the United States, representing over 8,500 organic businesses across 50 states. Its members include growers, shippers, processors, certifiers, farmers’ associations, distributors, importers, exporters, consultants, retailers and others. Organic products represented include organic foods, ingredients and beverages, as well as organic fibers, personal care products, pet foods, nutritional supplements, household cleaners and flowers. OTA’s member organic businesses work together through networking, advocacy, and other initiatives to encourage and protect organic farming practices, and to share messages about the positive environmental and nutritional attributes of organic products with consumers, the media, and policymakers.
Read more
Amy is one of five recipients of a prestigious Organic Leadership Award, recognized for her “significant contributions to support and advance organic agriculture and trade at the farm-level.”
Read moreThis action will have a game-changing impact on improving oversight of organic systems and reducing the chance of organic fraud.
Read more
U.S. organic food sales in 2020 were up a record 12.8% to a new high of €46 billion ($56.4 billion), representing almost 6% of U.S. food sales.
Read more
Jeff has developed programs with most major retailers, and is a much sought-after speaker and educator on growing organically sustainably.
Read more
Sales rose by 31% to $9.93 billion from 2016 to 2019, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service 2019 Organic Survey report.
Read more
Following a record 2019, the importance of the organic sector continues to rise as shoppers reach for healthy, clean food to feed their families during the global pandemic. According to […]
Read more
Demand for organic and sustainable foods has grown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, finds sustainability development research firm Ecovia Intelligence. Its research shows that online retailers such as Whole Food […]
Read more
Organic production of grains and soybeans is experiencing double digit growth, according to a report by market intelligence firm, Mercaris. The 2017 Organic & Non-GMO Acreage Report provides acreage data and analysis of […]
Read more
Farmers are under increasing pressure due to climate change, global conflicts, and trade disruptions. However, advances in plant breeding offer hope, writes Andy LaVigne, the President and CEO of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA).
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Tarik Eluri, sustainability manager at the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), a founding member of the U.S. Sustainability Alliance (USSA), recently discussed U.S. sustainable agriculture with Spain’s Fundación Antama – a non-profit that promotes new technologies for agrifood and the environment. The conversation focused on USSA’s mission and the U.S. soy industry, including the evolution of sustainability and the role of innovation.
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In a landmark move, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Bovaer® - a feed ingredient that reduces enteric methane emissions from dairy cows - for use in the United States. What are the implications?
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To mark National Dairy Month, we visit a New York dairy farm to look at some of the advances that have led to these improvements. Meet the Beck Brothers, the stars of a new TV documentary!
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An update on the Trust Protocol over the past 12 months. The report covers grower participation and progress across key sustainability metrics, from resource efficiency to soil health
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An update on the success of USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities initiative, which aims to expand market opportunities for commodities produced using climate-smart practices
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An analysis of trends in agricultural total factor productivity (TFP) - a measure of how efficiently agricultural resources and inputs are used to produce output. It includes key obstacles to TFP growth and effective solutions.
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Climate Change Indicators in the United States, the fifth edition of a report first published by EPA in 2010, examines the ongoing impact of climate change on the United States. It provides insights into the scale and significance of these changes and their potential consequences for people, the environment, and society.
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Sievers Family Farms in Iowa is one of a growing number of farms using manure-based anaerobic digesters. These digesters convert farm waste into valuable byproducts, such as renewable electricity and fertilizer, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
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In this issue, we share the findings of the 2024 Global Agricultural Productivity Report (The GAP Report) by Virginia Tech. The report warns of sluggish productivity growth, highlighting the urgent need to bridge the gap between technology development and farmer adoption.
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In response to shifting weather patterns and more severe extreme weather events, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is stepping up its efforts to help American producers fight climate change.
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In mid-October, the U.S. Sustainability Alliance (USSA) hosted three European Union (EU) officials for a Climate Smart Agriculture mission to the United States. The mission aimed to enhance understanding of U.S. conservation programs and highlight U.S. leadership in agricultural sustainability.
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Whilst the USSA members work to exceed regulatory requirement, U.S. laws and regulations provide a robust framework, developed over many years, to ensure and promote the sustainability of its crop, livestock, seafood and forestry sectors. The policies look to immediate impacts on the environment and beyond to cover topics from employment to biodiversity to endangered species. The following pages provide context and an introduction to key federal legislation.
Focused on conservation and environmental stewardship, the USDA, working with The Natural Resources Conservation Service on technical assessment and the Farm Service Agency for enforcements, uses grant management to deliver best practice. A particular focus is on erodible lands and wetlands, with ‘sodbuster’ and ‘swampbuster’ rules, requires presentation of conservation strategies prior to conversion of lands to agricultural use. One result, that soil loss has been halved since 1982.
The U.S. recognizes that sustainability has many facets and action is required in explicit areas. This has resulted in the enactment of a wide range of laws from the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act to the Endangered Species Act, to research and regulatory action on Insecticides and Fungicides and Rodenticide Act; and, with the Lacey Act a focus on illegal trafficking of plants, fish and animals.
In the latest episode of This is U.S. Sustainability, we hear from two multi-generational farmers – an eleventh-generation grains farmer from Maryland and the owner of a centennial cattle farm in Louisiana – about how they have moved with the times while staying true to their roots. We cover rotational grazing, no-till cultivation, water conservation, biotech seeds, and more. And we discuss why going back to the natural cycle is sometimes the best approach.
Tune in to the latest episode of This is U.S. Sustainability to hear how Paul Catanzaro and Professor Tony D’Amato work together to reach family forest owners and ensure they have the information and resources to make the right decisions about their land. And learn about the vital role Tim Stout, a Vermont landowner, plays in amplifying their message.
Tune in for the lowdown on the innovative, often surprising ways the almond industry and the wider food sector are reducing waste. Jet fuel, beer, water filters and peat moss to grow mushrooms – these are just some of the many applications in use and under development.
Hear directly from noted seafood chef and author Barton Seaver about the sustainability of the American lobster industry.
Watch nowThe new Rewind documentary series from Real Leather Stay Different. aims to provide some balance in the debate about the use of our land, fast fashion and our future.
Watch nowThis video highlights the emphasis on sustainability by the U.S. beef industry. Watch this story of beef farmers’ and ranchers’ multi-generational commitment to the environment with buyers and consumers around the world.
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