National Organic Standards Board adds 2 members, opens comment period

The National Organic Standards Board has added new members, appointing two to its Environmental Protection and Resource Conservation seat.

Franklin Quarcoo is an Assistant Research-Extension Professor of Entomology at Tuskegee University. He has extensive experience with integrated pest management in organic vegetable production systems, ecological approaches to insect pest management, and insect behavioral toxicology with particular interest in the behavioral response of insects to insecticides.

He also led Tuskegee’s Human Capital Development Project in partnership with the National Organic Program, establishing an organic internship program for high school and graduate school students to explore careers in the organic sector.

Nathaniel Lewis works as the South Sound Conservation Manager for the Washington Farmland Trust in Washington state and has close to two decades of experience as an organic farmer and organic certifier.

He previously held positions with the Organic Trade Association and the Washington State Department of Agriculture.

“Dr. Franklin Quarcoo and Mr. Nate Lewis bring valuable experience to help the board continue providing a key voice in the conversations that are keeping organic central to our work to build a more climate-smart, resilient and equitable food system,” said Jenny Lester Moffitt, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, in a news release.

“New members always bring fresh perspectives to the ongoing work of the 13 continuing members. Together this volunteer board does a wonderful job representing the knowledge, needs and passion of the organic community as we strive for continuous improvement.”

The board is currently accepting public comments and registration for its spring 2023 meeting.

Meeting materials, including the tentative agenda, proposals and discussion documents, are now available online.

Written comments and requests for speaking slots must be received by 11:59 p.m. on April 5.