"They are caving to the factory farm lobby, listening to giant vertically integrated egg producers, and ignoring the voice of rank-and-file family farmers," said Tim Koegel, a nationally prominent certified organic farmer producing pastured eggs and chickens. "The NOSB has an opportunity to make organics the true gold standard in terms of animal husbandry but instead might choose to make the organic label a joke."
The proposal for chickens would give animals as little as one square foot of living space. "Like allowing synthetics, this woefully inadequate standard would violate the organic law that requires animals be allowed to exhibit their natural instinctive behaviors," added Koegel. "Hell, those birds will not even be able to fully span their wings, let alone forage outside for insects, seeds and worms."
This is not the first time the organic community, farmers and consumers, have come together to defend the integrity of the organic label. In the mid-90s, when the Clinton Administration first suggested allowing antibiotics, genetic engineering and sewage sludge in organics, over 300,000 citizens recorded their objections with the USDA--and they won.
"We have already received numerous proxies, downloaded from our website (www.cornucopia.org) from organic stakeholders demanding that the NOSB back away from sweetheart deals for corporate agribusiness at the expense of the organic label," affirmed Kastel. "We hope many other folks, who care about organics, will make their voice heard as well."
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The Cornucopia Institute has a proxy letter on its web page that concerned farmers and consumers can sign and mail. Cornucopia will hand-deliver the letters at the NOSB meeting in Savannah. The proxy can be found here: http://www.cornucopia.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Proxy-letter-NOSB-2011.pdf
"This is an important time; time for the NOSB to choose the high road and bring organic standards, and enforcement of those standards, up to a level of integrity that the consumer expects. Failure to do so will undermine the future of the organic label, injuring the legitimate family farmer and deceiving the public," added Koegel, a New York certified organic livestock producer.
Cornucopia testimony and detailed analysis on Martek Biosciences Corporation's proposed novel DHA/ARA oils can be found at: http://www.cornucopia.org/official-comments-of-the-cornucopia-institute-to-the-usda-national-organic-standards-board/
Cornucopia's response to the wine industry lobby's request for artificial preservatives (sulfites) in organic wine can be viewed at: http://www.cornucopia.org/official-comments-of-the-cornucopia-institute-to-the-usda-national-organic-standards-board/
A detailed response from The Cornucopia Institute, to the NOSB livestock committee's proposal on animal welfare standards can be found at: http://www.cornucopia.org/official-comments-of-the-cornucopia-institute-to-the-usda-national-organic-standards-board/
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