The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is a membership-based business association that focuses on the organic business community in North America. OTA's mission is to promote
ethical consumerism
Ethical consumerism (alternatively called ethical consumption, ethical purchasing, moral purchasing, ethical sourcing, or ethical shopping and also associated with sustainable and green consumerism) is a type of consumer activism based on the conc ...
by promoting and protecting the growth of organic trade to benefit the
environment, farmers, the public, and the economy. OTA is a member of
IFOAM
IFOAM – Organics International (formerly known as the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements) is a worldwide organization advocating for organics, with over 700 affiliates in more than 100 countries and territories.
Histo ...
– Organics International and The International Working Group on the
Global Organic Textile Standard
Global may refer to:
General
*Globe, a spherical model of celestial bodies
*Earth, the third planet from the Sun
Entertainment
* ''Global'' (Paul van Dyk album), 2003
* ''Global'' (Bunji Garlin album), 2007
* ''Global'' (Humanoid album), 198 ...
.
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) was formed by the consolidation of the Organic Foods Production Association of North America (OFPANA) and the Organic Food Alliance (OFA). The original goals of the organization included creating uniform standards for organic production and handling, establishing an accreditation program for organic certification bodies, and promoting organic food in the marketplace.
Creating a definition required synergy between science and consumer behaviors. As well as a cross-examination of previous definitions that would form a baseline.
Lobbying
Since 1998, the OTA has extensively lobbied regulatory agencies. The OTA had a total of $316,150 in
lobbying
Lobbying is a form of advocacy, which lawfully attempts to directly influence legislators or government officials, such as regulatory agency, regulatory agencies or judiciary. Lobbying involves direct, face-to-face contact and is carried out by va ...
expenditures for 2013. In 2012, the OTA spent a total of $369,494 on lobbying expenditures. Between 1998 and 2014, the OTA invested over $1.5 million in lobbying. Agencies typically lobbied by the OTA include the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Management and Budget, and the Food & Drug Administration.
Criticism
The OTA Rider attached to the Agriculture Appropriations Act, which the USDA approved and passed before Congress in 2006, opened the door for non-organic, non-agricultural, and synthetic additives in food products bearing the "organic" label.
See also
*
Organic agriculture
Organic farming, also known as organic agriculture or ecological farming or biological farming,Labelling, article 30 o''Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2024 on organic production and labelling of ...
*
Organic Certification
Organic certification is a certification process for producers of organic food and other organic agricultural products.Labelling, article 30 o''Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on organic pr ...
*
Organic Food
Organic food, also known as ecological or biological food, refers to foods and beverages produced using methods that comply with the standards of organic farming. Standards vary worldwide, but organic farming features practices that cycle resou ...
*
Organic Farming
Organic farming, also known as organic agriculture or ecological farming or biological farming,Labelling, article 30 o''Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2024 on organic production and labelling of ...
References
External links
Organic Trade Association web site
Organic farming organizations
Product certification
Sustainability organizations
{{Sustainability-stub