Florida A&M University (FAMU) Small Farms Program Coordinator Jennifer E. Taylor, Ph.D., was appointed to the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), adding new vision to the organization.
The Small Farms Program is designed to assist and equip underserved farming communities and their families toward sustainable development.
“I am excited about the opportunity to continue to serve Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, our farming populations and its consumer communities, and to participate and contribute to the National Organic Standards Board,” Taylor said.
Taylor, along with the four other appointees, will serve terms beginning Jan. 24, 2011, and ending Jan. 24, 2016.
“These highly qualified members of the organic community bring years of experience to the board, and we welcome their expertise and appreciate their dedication to the integrity of the organic standards,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
Authorized by the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, as amended (7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.), the NOSB is responsible for making recommendations about whether a substance should be allowed or prohibited in organic production or handling; assisting in developing standards for substances used in organic production; and advising the Secretary on other aspects of the Act’s implementation.
I respectfully request that you consider the following.
ReplyDelete-I object to the NOSB and USDA leadership accommidating corporate interest that want to enhance their profits by including gimmicky symthetics and novel, patented ingredients in certified food. Martek's Biosciences Corporation's DHA/ARA oils are inappropriate for use in certified organic foods. Some Martek oils are extracted with the neurotoxic petrochemical hexane, posing questions about human health and enviromental impacts. These supplements from fermented algea and soil fungus, have never been part of the human diet. The FDA reports a subset of infants suffering serious health complications.
-I object to the NOSB allowing factory farming practices in the production of chickens(both for egg and meat production) and hog production. The live subcommitee's proposal for requiring 2 square feet per laying hen, outside, is woefully inadequate. I support a minimum of 5 square feet per laying hen for other fowl and hogs.
-Enforce the organic standards on factory dairies masquerading as "organic".
And finally, I want to clearly go on record that I want the Obama administration to appoint the best and brightest representatives in the organic community to sit on the NOSB board, truly upholding the will of congress. No more corporate-backed imposters. I am hoping those new members are you.
As a consumer, I buy food with the USDA Organic seal precisely to avoid unproven, questionably safe products like Martek's oils-genetically novel and synthetic-in my diet and to support humane animal husbandry practices resulting in superior nutrition. The NOSB should improve animal husbandry standards and reject the Martek's petition for "DHA Algal Oil" and "ARA Single-Cell Oil". I call on the USDA to immediately remove these materials from the marketplace.
Thank you for listening to my concerns. Sincerely yours, Linda Lenard