Organicology 2011: A Food Industry Conference to Educate and Inspire

Gathering to focus on sustainability, farming and seed issues with keynote speaker, populist Jim Hightower

PORTLAND, Ore. – October 18, 2010 – The organic industry is experiencing dynamic internal and external change and faces pressing challenges and opportunities. This makes it critical to regroup to learn, dialogue and move forward together. To address these needs, the second Organicology conference will be held on February 10-12, 2011 in Portland, Oregon. Registration is now open for this three-day event,  a catalyzing gathering of the organic food community – including seed producers, farmers, processors, distributors, retailers, researchers, educators, chefs and policy activists – that will offer intensives, workshops, networking and a trade show, with informed, inspiring and engaging keynote addresses from field experts.

Organicology was created by four leading organic trade organizations – Oregon Tilth, Organic Seed Alliance, the Food Trade Sustainability Leadership Association and Organically Grown Company. It is the only gathering of its kind that provides an in-depth, educational and interactive appraisal of a sustainable food future across the organic sector. The 2011 conference will feature an intense look at sustainability, farming and seed issues, including the impact of climate change on agriculture, news and views on the Farm Bill currently before Congress and the “50 Year Farm Bill” being advocated by leaders in the sustainable agriculture community. For complete conference information, including registration, lodging, a schedule of intensives and workshops, visit www.organicology.org

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Keynote Speakers
Three world-class keynote speakers will deliver thought-provoking and entertaining addresses.

– Jim Hightower is a national radio commentator, writer, populist activist and author. Twice elected Texas Agriculture Commissioner, Hightower believes that the true political spectrum is top to bottom, not right to left. Swim Against The Current: Even A Dead Fish Can Go With The Flow is his most recent book.

– Stephen Jones, Ph.D., is Director of the WSU-Mt. Vernon Research and Extension Center. He teaches graduate courses in Advanced Transmission Genetics and the History and Ethics of Genetics and his research has been mentioned widely, in both national and international news journals.

– Andrew Kimbrell is one of the country’s leading environmental attorneys and the author of several articles and books on environment, technology and society, and food issues, including Your Right to Know: Genetic Engineering and the Secret Changes in Your Food (2006). Learn: Intensives and Workshops

On the conference’s first day, attendees can choose to attend one of five day-long intensive sessions on soil management for organic farmers, seed growing, sustainable business, food and farm policy, or the evolving roles of those who interact directly with eaters.  Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the topics at hand and receive the tools and knowledge to further the organic trade through their work.

On day two, a variety of two-hour workshops will provide in-depth examination of all facets of organic systems and trade. Topics include: the state of organic seed production; achieving zero waste in operations; farm food safety, and a USDA National Organic Program and National Organic Standards Board listening session.

Connect: Trade Show and Networking The conference will culminate with an organic trade show featuring more than 100 exhibitors ranging from small farms, breweries and food manufacturers, to farm input and organic seed suppliers, organic seed suppliers, and advocacy and education groups. Entertainment and informal gatherings round out the experience.

Generous underwriting for Organicology comes from industry partners including: Covilli Brand, Organics Unlimited, Organic Valley, Earthbound Farms, Newman’s Own Organics, Heath &  Lejeune/Uno Mundo, Organic Trade Association, Clif Bar and Company, Ashland Food Co-op, Cross Creek Trading Co., Cal-Organic Farms, Small Planet Foods, United Natural Foods, IFCO
Systems, Inc., Bejo Seeds, Inc., B-Lab and Johnny’s Selected Seeds. Promotional support is provided by Organic Processing Magazine, Sustainable Industries Journal, Cooperative Grocer, Sustainable Food News, and KBOO Radio.

About Organicology’s Organizers
Recognizing the educational needs of the ever growing organic and sustainable food and farming trade, four organizations leading the organic revolution founded Organicology in 2009:

– Oregon Tilth is the nation’s premiere certifier for organics and a nonprofit research and education membership organization dedicated to biologically sound and socially equitable agriculture.

– Organic Seed Alliance supports the ethical development and stewardship of the genetic resources of agricultural seed.

– The Food Trade Sustainability Leadership Association works to foster leading sustainable business practices in the organic food trade through education, consult, peer learning and annual reporting while promoting organic farming as the foundation of sustainability in the food trade.

– Employee and grower-owned Organically Grown Company is the largest organic fresh produce purveyor in the Pacific Northwest, and dedicated to promoting the health and vitality of the region through organic agriculture and a thriving sustainable food system.