NOFA Vermont is engaged with a broad range of public issues of interest to our members and related to our programs in organic agriculture, local food systems, and consumer education.
We collaborate with other organizations working on regional, national and international food and agricultural issues and policies, including the National Organic Coalition and the NOFA Interstate Council.
Please explore the sections below to learn more, and be sure to check back regularly for updates.
National Policy Issues & Topics
Policy Resources and Organizations
Current issues in food and agricultural policy:
- GE/GMO Foods
- Food safety legislation
- National Organic Standards Board meeting
- Organic Foods Production Act turns 20
- Representative Welch proposes bill for more local fruits and vegetables in schools
GE/GMO Foods
- Tell the FDA to label GE Foods!
We are proud to be partners of the Just Label It campaign, urging the FDA to require labeling of all genetically modified foods.- United We Stand In Opposition to GE Alfalfa
A letter signed by over 20 organic, food safety, and other organizations in protest of the USDA's decision to approve GE alfalfa. (January 31, 2011)- NOFA's GE Alfalfa Primer (January, 2011)
- Leahy Tells USDA to Stick to the Rules - PDF
A letter from Leahy, signed by over 50 congresspeople, asking Secretary Vilsack to keep GE alfalfa regulated - in response to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement issued in June, 2010.- NOFA Vermont GE Alfalfa Action Alert (sent January 18, 2011)
- USDA Announces options for approving GE alfalfa - Action Alert from National Organic Coalition - PDF (December 17, 2010)
- Read the National Organic Coalition's guidelines for preventing GMO contamination - PDF (December 17, 2010)
- The FDA is considering approval of genetically-engineered salmon without adequate studies of health and environmental consequences. Read NOFA Vermont’s action alert.
More information can be found on the Center For Food Safety webpage.
Food safety legislation updates
NOFA Vermont has been working with other organizations for months on amendments to S.510, The Food Safety Modernization Act, to protect small farms and food processors. The following articles discuss the status and politics of this bill.
Food Safety Modernization Act Summary by NOFA Vermont Policy Advisor, Dave Rogers. PDF (January 2011)
Food Safety Bill Heads to President's Desk (Food Safety News, December 22, 2010)
It appears that President Obama will sign the bill after the new year.Congress Sends Food Safety Bill to President’s Desk (National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, December 21, 2010)
NOFA Vermont participated as a member of NSAC's Food Safety Task Force that worked on this legislation during the year.Senate Passes Food Safety Bill (Food Safety News, December 20, 2010)
The real nitty-gritty on small farms and the food-safety bill (Grist Magazine, December 3, 2010)
S. 510: Some of the Details (Food Safety News, December 1, 2010)
Food Safety Update: Final Senate Action Set for Right After Thanksgiving (National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, November 19, 2010)
Letter from Senator Sanders regarding S.510 and the Tester Amendment - PDF (November 17, 2010)
Action Alert from NOFA Vermont (November 12, 2010) Contains details of the Tester-Hagan and Manager's Amendments.
(Update: Since this was sent, the distance for exemption has been changed to 275 miles and the Tester-Hagen Amendment has been incorporated into the Manager's Amendment.)
A Sustainable Agriculture Perspective on Food Safety - PDF (National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, November 11, 2010)
Can Congress make a food-safety omelet without breaking the wrong eggs? (Grist Magazine, October 25, 2010)
Food Safety Bill Remains Stalled In Senate (National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, September 22, 2010)
Op-Ed: S. 510: A Study in How Much You Trust Government (Food Safety News, September 20, 2010)
Contact Dave Rogers, NOFA Vermont Policy Advisor for more information.
National Organic Standards Board meeting announced, October 25-28, Madison Wisconsin.
Among many other items being considered at its semi-annual meeting, the NOSB will be discussing broad-reaching recommendations for new organic standards in several areas, including Biodiversity, Animal Welfare and Nanotechnology. These recommendations and the full meeting agenda can be found on the NOSB webpage.
Vermont Organic Farmers and NOFA Vermont will be attending the NOSB meeting and submitting comments on a number of NOSB recommendations. Click here to read our comments.
Organic Foods Production Act Marks 20th Anniversary
NOFA Vermont Board Member Regina Beidler testified at a U.S. Senate Agriculture hearing, "The National Organic Law at 20: Sowing Seeds for a Bright Future" on Sept 15th, 2010. Read Regina’s testimony (PDF).
Read the National Organic Coalition’s press release and testimony of Micheal Sligh on behalf of NOC.
Representative Welch proposes bill for more local fruits and vegetables in schools.
Farm to School News (Vermont Food Education Every Day – VT FEED)
"Welch proposes bill for fresher farm-to-school food" (Burlington Free Press, September 13, 2010)
Child Nutrition
Climate Change
Federal Farm Bill
Relevent NOFA Notes articles:
Food Safety
Federal Food Safety Legislation Updates
Relevent NOFA Notes
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
Genetically Modified (GM) or Genetically Engineered (GE) organisims pose human and environmental health risks and are strictly prohibited by organic standards.
GMO Salmon
GMO Alfalfa
Relevent NOFA Notes
National Organic Policies & Regulations
Organic Dairy
Organic dairy industry news and policy updates
Relevent NOFA Notes
This page under construction - please check back soon!
The following is a selection of articles relevant to food and agricultural policy, from a number of sources, including NOFA Notes.
National Organic Action Plan - From the Margins to the Mainstream— Advancing Organic Agriculture in the U.S. - January, 2010
This National Organic Action Plan (NOAP) represents the culmination of five years of meetings that engaged diverse stakeholders in envisioning the future of organic and in building strategies for realizing our collective vision. It calls for the creation of an expanded organic policy agenda for the next decade and beyond that reflects the broad social, environmental, and health values of the organic movement.
The Pesticide-Induced Diseases Database (Beyond Pesticides) -- cites hundreds of scientific studies that link pesticide exposure to human diseases and supports public policies for green alternatives to pesticides.
Seeds and Breeds for 21st Century Agriculture
Papers presented at a 2003 forum, organized by the Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI), examining how plant and animal breeding coupled with genetic conservation might best contribute to the development and maintenance of a healthy agriculture.
Food Security: Feeding the World in 2050 (Royal Society)
21 papers on the theme of food security four decades from now. The topics in specific articles range from production, distribution, and consumption to food from the land and sea to energy and health.
Who Will Feed Us? Questions for the Food and Climate Crises (Etc November, 2009)
Etc (Action Group on Erosion, Technology and Concentration) is a Canada-based organization working on global socioeconomic and ecological issues, including those food and agriculture-related.
NOFA Notes – Policy articles
The Growing Power of Certified Organic (Summer 2010, Page 6)
Are You Still Listening, Secretary Vilsack?
(Spring 2010, Page 6)
Food Safety Legislation Threatens Local Food Systems (Winter 2009, Page 6)
Sweet Success: Vermont takes on Genetically Engineered Sugar Beets (Fall 2009, Page 6)
Reflections on Local and Organic Agriculture
(Summer 2009, Page 1)
Policy Update: Food Safety (Spring 2009, Page 3)
Slow Money Seeks to Fund Vermont’s 21st Century Healthy Food System (Fall 2008, Page 1)
Eating Vermont (Summer 2008, Page 1)
Vermont Compost’s Legal Fight Heats Up (Summer 2008, Page 8)
Food Systems and Food Safety (Spring 2008, Page 8)
Keeping Farmland in Production and Those That Wish to Farm in Business (Winter 2007, Page 5)
Food and Agriculture Legislative Update (Summer 2007, Page 11)
2007 Farm Bill Report (Spring 2007, Page 14)
Vermont’s Dairy Crisis (Summer 2006, Page 6)
New Resources (10/2011)
Just Label It! Campaign Information about GMOs and a recently filed petition to require the FDA to label GE foods. Includes consumer action link.
GM: Novel Cuisine or Unpalatable Prospect? Bite Magazine, Summer 2011. Food Standards Agency, United Kingdom
Genetically Engineered Food: An Overview September 2011 report from Food and Water Watch
Sorry, NYTimes: GMOs Still Will Not Save the World A nice Grist Magazine rebuttal by Anna Lappe to a NYT Op-Ed by a well-known proponent of GMOs. (August 2011)
More Resources
The National Organic Coalition (NOC)
The NOC is a national alliance of organizations working to provide a "Washington voice" for farmers, ranchers, environmentalists, consumers and progressive industry members involved in organic agriculture.
The Northeast Organic Farming Association Interstate Council (NOFA-IC)
NOFA-IC is an affiliation of the seven NOFA state chapters. Provides coordination between the chapters and acts as an umbrella organization for projects of collective concern to NOFA chapters.
Beyond Pesticides
Beyond Pesticides (formerly National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides) works with allies in protecting public health and the environment to lead the transition to a world free of toxic pesticides.
Center for Food Safety
The Center for Food Safety works to protect human health and the environment by curbing the proliferation of harmful food production technologies and by promoting organic and other forms of sustainable agriculture.
Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC)
CFSC is a coalition of nearly 300 organizations working from the local to international levels to build community food security. Among other programs and activities, CFSC advocates for federal policies that promote community food security and provide resources for community-based initiatives, including within the Federal Farm Bill and the Child Nutrition Act.
Domestic Fair Trade Association
DFTA is made up of traders, retailers and consumers committed to principles of fairness and equity for farmers, farm workers and others working in agricultural industries. Through advocacy, education and endorsements DFTA works toward a more equitable and sustainable agriculture in North America and around the world.
Food and Water Watch
Food & Water Watch is a non-profit organization that advocates for common sense policies that will result in healthy, safe food and access to safe and affordable drinking water.
Food Research and Action Center (FRAC)
FRAC is a national organization working to improve public policies and public-private partnerships to eradicate hunger and undernutrition in the United States.
GM Watch
Wide selection of videos and information
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM)
IFOAM promotes worldwide adoption of ecologically, socially and economically sound systems that are based on the principles of organic agriculture.
Institute of Science in Society
“Special Safety Concerns of Transgenic Agriculture and Related Issues-- Briefing Paper for UK Minister of State for the Environment “
Non-GMO Project
The Non-GMO Project is a collaboration of manufacturers, retailers, processors, distributors, farmers, seed companies and consumers working to ensure the sustained availability of non-GMO food and products
Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance
NODPA's mission is to enable organic dairy family farmers, situated across an extensive area, to have informed discussion about matters critical to the well being of the organic dairy industry.
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)
NSAC is the leading voice for sustainable agriculture in the federal policy arena, joining together the voices of grassroots farm, food, conservation, and rural organizations from all regions of the country to advocate for federal policies and programs supporting the long-term economic, social, and environmental sustainability of agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities. (The NSAC Blog is an excellent guide to the latest developments in related federal policies and legislation.)
The Organic Center
An excellent resource for credible science and news on the health and environmental benefits of organic food and farming, research policy developments, and scientific studies on diverse effects of pesticides and agricultural practices, nutritional quality of organic foods, food safety and more.
Organic Trade Association (OTA)
OTA is the membership-based business association for the organic industry in North America.
Rural Vermont
Rural Vermont is a statewide grassroots organization working to develop policies and programs that family farms and rural communities.
Safety Testing and Regulation of Genetically Engineered Foods, Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Reviews (2004).
Excellent technical review of scientific literature
Third World Network/Biosafety Information Centre
European website: resources on biotech, trade, development, north-south issues, including “Genetic Engineering and Omitted Health Research: Still No Answers to Ageing Questions”
Union of Concerned Scientists
See “Failure to Yield: Evaluating the Performance of Genetically Engineered Crops” (2009) and other resources on food, agriculture and GMO’s.
USDA Economic Research Service (ERS)
ERS is the primary source of economic information and research in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. ERS’s Organic Briefing Room covers the scope of ERS work on organic agriculture and provides economic research, data, charts, analysis, and information about the production and marketing of organic products.
Do you know of a good resource that should be on this list? Please contact us.