Kutztown, Pennsylvania
November 24, 2008
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.
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