WASHINGTON — U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Standards Board here elected Jeff Moyer, farm director of the Rodale Institute, as its 2009 chair last week. Most recently, Moyer served in the 2008 vice-chair role, with his five-year board term beginning three years ago.
Moyer manages the 333-acre Rodale Institute research farm and has worked on the farm’s cover cropping and crop-rotation systems, and was instrumental in developing its no-till roller/crimper, a tool which makes organic no-till crop farming possible.
“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.”
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.
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