In addition to having a program staff devoid of professional or academic backgrounds in organic agriculture, the USDA has been sharply criticized for “stacking” the NOSB, the expert advisory panel set up by Congress, with corporate interests.
Audits prepared by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Inspector General’s office were damning in their criticism of the program’s failure to respect the NOSB’s Congressionally mandated purview over policy and the program’s failure to carry out its most fundamental responsibility—oversight and accreditation of the nation’s network of independent organic certifiers.
“If confirmed by Congress, we stand ready to work with former Governor Vilsack to create an organic program within the USDA that the Obama administration can truly be proud of and that will help grow a segment of the agricultural industry that shows so much promise for our rural economies and the health of our citizenry,” stated Kastel.
Copies of the audits of the National Organic Program by the American National Standards Institute and the office of the Inspector General at the USDA are available upon request from The Cornucopia Institute: cultivate@cornucopia.org
An organizing campaign, by Food Democracy Now, supporting a dozen “progressive” candidates for sub-Cabinet appointments at the USDA (originally the list was circulated as suggestions to the Obama transition team for Secretary), and now including over 69,000 electronic signatures, can be found here.
The Organic Consumers Association petition, currently with over 40,000 names, opposing the confirmation of former Governor Tom Vilsack, can be viewed here.
The petition, and signatories, organized by corporate officials of a number of the nation’s leading organic brands can be viewed here.
Although the organizers of the industry-backed petition include many corporate officers, and a few nonprofit advocacy groups, some that get the majority of their financial backing from corporate interests in the organic industry, the list includes many respected individuals, including farmers from Iowa, and even relatives of the former Governor. Their petition drive states a goal of 10,000 electronic signatures. The list stands currently at 539 (PM/CST on 1-13-09).
“Because of the blowback that the Vilsack nomination has garnered in the organic and sustainable farming communities, it would be an astute political move to come right out of the blocks with a strong affirmation, on the record, in support of the wholesale housecleaning at the USDA’s organic program,” stated Kastel. “A positive statement on organics now, by Mr. Vilsack, should satisfy both the corporate and grassroots factions now competing in the (organic) marketplace of ideas.”
“During Governor Vilsack’s tenure in office, Iowa was one of the early states investing in an organic program at their department of agriculture, and its land grant university started addressing the needs of organic farmers,” added Kastel. “We hope that history is representative of how the nominee will balance competing interests within the department.”
Even though a handful of giant industrial-scale farms are producing a growing share of the nation’s organic milk, meat, and eggs, the majority of all organic brands still get their produce and commodities from ethical, family-scale farmers.
A scorecard, listing the nation’s 110+ organic dairy brands, can be found on The Cornucopia Institute website: www.cornucopia.org.
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