What organic advocates are pushing for in Biden’s first 100 days

On President Joe Biden’s first day on the job, he signed an executive order for the U.S. to rejoin the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

This broadstroke in the president’s “First 100 Days” agenda shows a mission that can color the organic produce industry, said Megan DeBates, vice president of legislative affairs of the Organic Trade Association, Jan. 28 at the virtual Global Organic Produce Expo.

“Climate change is bigger than organic, so I think all farmers need to make changes to reduce climate change, yet organic does some of that,” DeBates said, adding that the organic industry has struggled for federal funds in the past. “Farmers need to be rewarded for the programs they’ve already put in place. If there is a climate-friendly label, we’d like organic farmers to already be enrolled. I’m hoping they take an approach that’s streamlined so there’s not additional burdens put on organic farmers.”

Besides climate change, the Organic Trade Association’s priorities for the first year of Biden’s term include: immigration reform; equitable COVID-19 recovery; continuous improvement and accountability in organic standards; and inserting organic considerations the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s research, nutrition, risk management, rural development and conservation mission areas.

Two initial wins for the organic industry in these first 100 days are the return of the organic and sustainable agriculture policy advisor position and the restoration of full funding for the organic certification cost-share program.

On the immigration front, Biden is looking for a pathway to citizenship for the children of immigrants, who are often farmworkers, and for the undocumented agricultural workforce already in the U.S.

“It’s a solution to H2-A program, and lacking labor force,” she said.

Also, the re-appointment of Tom Vilsack as secretary of agriculture means the role will be filled by someone able to hit the ground running.

“It’s going to be helpful to have an agricultural secretary who’s already familiar with organic. Frankly, he worked on some of these issues in the Obama administration,” DeBates said.

Formed in December, the association’s Organic Produce Council established some big goals as well, said Ben Diesl, vice president of quality assurance at Grimmway Farms and association board member.

Goals include supporting the imports and labeling aspects of the Strengthening Organic Enforcement final rule; making food safety rules more compatible with organic regulations and farming practices; and finding ways to improve agricultural workforce safety and availability.

And even though organic is a small part of the produce industry, demand outpaces supply, Diesl said.

“The more we can get people interested, the more help we can give the people who want to get into organic farming. Just getting into conventional farming is hard, and family farms are falling by the wayside,” Diesl said. “We’re critical, and people need to understand why we’re good for our environment and good for humanity.”