{"id":25556,"date":"2019-09-05T00:00:32","date_gmt":"2019-09-05T04:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/?p=25556"},"modified":"2019-09-05T20:17:56","modified_gmt":"2019-09-06T00:17:56","slug":"breaking-news-veteran-policy-experts-form-organic-industry-watchdog-agency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2019\/09\/breaking-news-veteran-policy-experts-form-organic-industry-watchdog-agency\/","title":{"rendered":"Veteran Policy Experts Form Organic Industry Watchdog Agency"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"(Beyond Pesticides<\/em>, September 5, 2019)
\nUSDA Failures Necessitate Independent Corporate and Governmental Oversight
\n<\/strong>WASHINGTON, DC, Beyond Pesticides, a Washington, DC-based public interest organization founded in 1981 to advocate for healthy air, water, land, and food by eliminating the use of toxic pesticides and advancing organic practices, has announced the formation of its new investigative arm, OrganicEye. The watchdog agency will focus on defending the time-honored philosophy and legal definition of organic farming and food production.<\/p>\n

\u201cTrusted certified organic production must continue to offer a healthier marketplace alternative and critical environmental protection,\u201d stated Jay Feldman, Executive Director of Beyond Pesticides and former National Organic Standards Board member.<\/p>\n

As organic agriculture and food marketing has grown into an over $50 billion industry, corporate agribusiness has influenced USDA to shift primary organic production from family-scale farms to large livestock factories, and allow massive hydroponic\/soilless greenhouses and fraudulent imports \u2013 all devastating to ethical farmers, businesses, and consumers.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are happy to announce the hiring of Mark Kastel to serve as the Director of OrganicEye,\u201d Mr. Feldman said. Mr. Kastel, one of the founders of The Cornucopia Institute, a venerable organic farm-policy research group, brings over 30 years of diverse involvement in the organic industry. He has worked as a certified agricultural producer, business development consultant, and registered lobbyist, and is one of the most experienced independent fraud investigators in the organic industry. He has advanced major enforcement actions leading to decertification, fines, modifications to ongoing operations, cessation of organic fraud by international crime syndicates, and millions of dollars in settlements of consumer fraud class action lawsuits.<\/p>\n

With Mr. Kastel\u2019s deep roots in the farming community and high degree of respect among key organic business leaders, we will amplify the voices of committed organic stakeholders who share our strong belief that continued growth of trusted organic<\/p>\n

practices is essential to solving escalating environmental and health problems, from the climate crisis to the insect apocalypse,\u201d said Mr. Feldman.<\/p>\n

Mr. Kastel stated,\u201d We launch this project with the backdrop of thousands of cases of fraud submitted to the USDA\u2019s National Organic Program (NOP), a number of independent audits by the agency\u2019s Office of Inspector General (OIG) criticizing their weak oversight of certifiers and poor record of bringing fraudulent operations to justice.\u201d A recent legally mandated peer review also sharply criticized USDA oversight of documented cases of illegal organic certificates, domestic fraud, and imports laundering conventional commodities as organic.<\/p>\n

In their first official action, OrganicEye has sent formal letters urging the OIG and Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate NOP\u2019s recent enforcement failures.<\/p>\n

With 113 years of organic industry-related experience, the OrganicEye team is also joined by Terry Shistar, PhD, an ecologist and one of the nation\u2019s top experts in analyzing synthetic substances used or proposed for use in organic production.<\/p>\n

OrganicEye has established a toll-free hotline, 1-844-EYE-TIPS (844-393-8477), to gather confidential tips from the public on threats to organic integrity.<\/p>\n

For more information, visit www.organiceye.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Contact:
\n<\/strong>Mark A. Kastel<\/strong>, 608-625-2042 \/ mkastel@organiceye.org
\nJay Feldman<\/strong>, 202-255-4296 \/ jfeldman@beyondpesticides.org<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[Long Version of Press Release (with more details)]<\/p>\n

Veteran Policy Experts Form Organic Industry Watchdog Agency
\n<\/strong>USDA Failures Necessitate Independent Corporate and Governmental Oversight<\/strong><\/p>\n

WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Beyond Pesticides, a public interest organization founded to advocate for healthy air, water, land, and food by eliminating the use of toxic pesticides, and advance healthy practices, has announced the formation of an investigative arm, OrganicEye. The new watchdog agency will focus on defending the \u201ctime-honored philosophy and legal definition of organic farming and food production\u201d from USDA\u2019s systemic failure to protect the interests of organic farmers, ethical businesses, and consumers.<\/p>\n

\"\"As organic agriculture and food marketing has grown into an over $50 billion industry, corporate agribusiness has used its influence within USDA\u2014and many independent certification agencies it oversees\u2014to shift primary organic production from family-scale farms to large livestock factories, massive hydroponic\/soilless greenhouses, and imports that have proven less than trustworthy.<\/p>\n

\u201cCertified organic production must continue to offer a viable alternative for shoppers, who want to protect the environment and provide healthier food for their family\u2014with industry stakeholders stepping up to rein in the wholesale abuse that is an attack on the working definition and integrity of organics,\u201d stated Jay Feldman, Executive Director of Beyond Pesticides, a Washington-based public interest group.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are happy to announce that Beyond Pesticides has hired Mark Kastel to direct the new project,\u201d Mr. Feldman continued. Mr. Kastel, one of the founders of The Cornucopia Institute, a venerable organic farm-policy research group, brings over 30 years of diverse involvement in the industry. His background includes work as a certified agricultural producer, business development consultant, and registered lobbyist, making Mr. Kastel one of the most experienced independent fraud investigators in the organics industry.<\/p>\n

Research and public pressure spearheaded by Mr. Kastel has compelled USDA to take a number of major enforcement actions resulting in decertification, fines, modifications to ongoing operations, and millions of dollars in settlements of class action lawsuits related to consumer fraud. His efforts have also been instrumental in helping bust large international crime syndicates laundering conventional commodities as \u201corganic.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMark is highly respected in the organic farming community, and by key business leaders who walk their talk<\/em>, while at the same time feared and reviled by powerful interests profiting from the weakening of organic standards,\u201d Mr. Feldman added. \u201cWith Mark on board, we will amplify the voices of committed organic stakeholders who share our sense of urgency to stop the degradation of the environment and health, with organic as a critical piece of the solution,\u201d said Mr. Feldman.<\/p>\n

Mr. Kastel, the new Director of OrganicEye, stated, \u201dYou don\u2019t have to take my word for the inadequacy of enforcement actions by the USDA\u2019s National Organic Program. With the backdrop of thousands of cases of fraud submitted to the NOP, there is a legacy of independent audits by the agency\u2019s Office of Inspector General (OIG) criticizing their oversight of certifiers and poor record of bringing fraudulent operations to justice.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to the OIG audits, a recent legally mandated peer review sharply criticized the USDA organic program for grossly inadequate staffing and management overseeing the burgeoning number of documented cases of illegal organic certificates, domestic fraud, and imports laundering conventional commodities as organic.<\/p>\n

In their first official action OrganicEye has sent formal letters to the OIG<\/a> and the Government Accountability Office<\/a> (GAO) requesting an investigation of a recent incident where a large shipment of imported grain from Turkey was identified as fraudulent and the USDA National Organic Program failed, when they had the opportunity, to collaborate with other federal and state agencies in quarantining the shipment and testing the cargo prior to unloading.<\/p>\n

The tip on the allegedly fraudulent shipment came from an authoritative industry source and was relayed by the Organic Farmers Association. Instead of collaborating with agricultural regulators in North Carolina, and federal Customs and Border Protection agents, NOP chose to rely exclusively on paperwork from the certifier.<\/p>\n

\u201cTurkey is a country with past documented, wholesale fraud in the organic arena, and the certifier was currently under investigation by USDA, and shortly thereafter lost its accreditation,\u201d said Mr. Kastel, \u201cIt\u2019s unconscionable that, at a time when the credibility of the organic seal is in jeopardy, NOP would not choose to take decisive action in this matter.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Along with Mr. Kastel and Mr. Feldman, a 40-year veteran of organic policy work and former member of USDA\u2019s National Organic Standards Board, the team is joined by Terry Shistar, PhD, one of the nation\u2019s top experts in analyzing synthetic and non-organic materials proposed for use in organic production. The depth and breadth of the leadership at OrganicEye, with cumulatively over 110 years of organic industry-related experience, could very well be unparalleled in the public interest sector.<\/p>\n

In addition to its organic gumshoe work, OrganicEye will continue the tradition that Beyond Pesticides has established in commonly being the only public interest group thoroughly analyzing every single synthetic and non-organic material petition for use in organic farming or food production before the National Organic Standards Board.<\/p>\n

\u201cExamining materials petitions will be a continuing, in-depth commitment. Our board members and staff have been deep in the organic weeds<\/em> since the beginning\u2014from helping to write the Organic Foods Production Act, to examining the USDA\u2019s draft regulations, word-by-word, to supporting organic farmer Arthur Harvey in his successful court challenge of USDA\u2019s misinterpretations of the law,\u201d Dr. Shistar stated. \u201cInvestigative scrutiny by OrganicEye will give the organic community one more tool for ensuring that consumers and growers derive the benefit of the law.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to the scores of industry \u201cintelligence agents\u201d with whom Mr. Kastel has worked over the past fifteen years as the organic industry\u2019s best-known watchdog, OrganicEye has established a new toll-free hotline, 1-844-EYE-TIPS (844-393-8477), to help facilitate tips from the public.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are not in the rumor business. Intel has to be verified with additional witnesses, documentation, photographs, or other evidence,\u201d Mr. Kastel added. \u201cWe encourage stakeholders to come forward if they have firsthand knowledge concerning fraud, which damages the value of the organic label for all those producing food in an honest and ethical manner.\u201d<\/p>\n

The organization emphatically stated that the identity of all whistleblowers and tipsters will be held in strict confidence.
\nFor more information, visit www.organiceye.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

-30-<\/p>\n

OrganicEye endeavors to leverage the extensive experience of our management and staff in farm policy, scientific research, and political and marketplace education\/advocacy, acting as corporate and governmental watchdogs, educating the public and preventing the erosion of the foundational precepts of the organic movement.<\/em><\/p>\n

Founded in 1981, Beyond Pesticides (formerly National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., which works with allies in protecting public health and the environment to lead the transition to a world free of toxic pesticides. Organic is Beyond Pesticides.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Beyond Pesticides, September 5, 2019) USDA Failures Necessitate Independent Corporate and Governmental Oversight WASHINGTON, DC, Beyond Pesticides, a Washington, DC-based public interest organization founded in 1981 to advocate for healthy air, water, land, and food by eliminating the use of toxic pesticides and advancing organic practices, has announced the formation of its new investigative arm, OrganicEye. The watchdog agency will focus on defending the time-honored philosophy and legal definition of organic farming and food production. \u201cTrusted certified organic production must continue to offer a healthier marketplace alternative and critical environmental protection,\u201d stated Jay Feldman, Executive Director of Beyond Pesticides and former National Organic Standards Board member. As organic agriculture and food marketing has grown into an over $50 billion industry, corporate agribusiness has influenced USDA to shift primary organic production from family-scale farms to large livestock factories, and allow massive hydroponic\/soilless greenhouses and fraudulent imports \u2013 all devastating to ethical farmers, businesses, and consumers. \u201cWe are happy to announce the hiring of Mark Kastel to serve as the Director of OrganicEye,\u201d Mr. Feldman said. Mr. Kastel, one of the founders of The Cornucopia Institute, a venerable organic farm-policy research group, brings over 30 years of diverse involvement in the organic […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,1,368],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25556","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-alternativesorganics","category-uncategorized","category-us-department-of-agriculture-usda"],"yoast_head":"\nVeteran Policy Experts Form Organic Industry Watchdog Agency - Beyond Pesticides Daily News Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2019\/09\/breaking-news-veteran-policy-experts-form-organic-industry-watchdog-agency\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Veteran Policy Experts Form Organic Industry Watchdog Agency - Beyond Pesticides Daily News Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"(Beyond Pesticides, September 5, 2019) USDA Failures Necessitate Independent Corporate and Governmental Oversight WASHINGTON, DC, Beyond Pesticides, a Washington, DC-based public interest organization founded in 1981 to advocate for healthy air, water, land, and food by eliminating the use of toxic pesticides and advancing organic practices, has announced the formation of its new investigative arm, OrganicEye. The watchdog agency will focus on defending the time-honored philosophy and legal definition of organic farming and food production. \u201cTrusted certified organic production must continue to offer a healthier marketplace alternative and critical environmental protection,\u201d stated Jay Feldman, Executive Director of Beyond Pesticides and former National Organic Standards Board member. As organic agriculture and food marketing has grown into an over $50 billion industry, corporate agribusiness has influenced USDA to shift primary organic production from family-scale farms to large livestock factories, and allow massive hydroponic\/soilless greenhouses and fraudulent imports \u2013 all devastating to ethical farmers, businesses, and consumers. \u201cWe are happy to announce the hiring of Mark Kastel to serve as the Director of OrganicEye,\u201d Mr. Feldman said. 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The watchdog agency will focus on defending the time-honored philosophy and legal definition of organic farming and food production. \u201cTrusted certified organic production must continue to offer a healthier marketplace alternative and critical environmental protection,\u201d stated Jay Feldman, Executive Director of Beyond Pesticides and former National Organic Standards Board member. As organic agriculture and food marketing has grown into an over $50 billion industry, corporate agribusiness has influenced USDA to shift primary organic production from family-scale farms to large livestock factories, and allow massive hydroponic\/soilless greenhouses and fraudulent imports \u2013 all devastating to ethical farmers, businesses, and consumers. \u201cWe are happy to announce the hiring of Mark Kastel to serve as the Director of OrganicEye,\u201d Mr. Feldman said. Mr. Kastel, one of the founders of The Cornucopia Institute, a venerable organic farm-policy research group, brings over 30 years of diverse involvement in the organic […]","og_url":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2019\/09\/breaking-news-veteran-policy-experts-form-organic-industry-watchdog-agency\/","og_site_name":"Beyond Pesticides Daily News Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/beyondpesticides","article_author":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/beyondpesticides\/","article_published_time":"2019-09-05T04:00:32+00:00","article_modified_time":"2019-09-06T00:17:56+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/OrganicEye.jpg","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"author":"Beyond Pesticides","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@ByondPesticides","twitter_site":"@ByondPesticides","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Beyond Pesticides","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2019\/09\/breaking-news-veteran-policy-experts-form-organic-industry-watchdog-agency\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2019\/09\/breaking-news-veteran-policy-experts-form-organic-industry-watchdog-agency\/"},"author":{"name":"Beyond Pesticides","@id":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/#\/schema\/person\/1b5c0a0981b549cc5b628770073031f4"},"headline":"Veteran Policy Experts Form Organic Industry Watchdog Agency","datePublished":"2019-09-05T04:00:32+00:00","dateModified":"2019-09-06T00:17:56+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2019\/09\/breaking-news-veteran-policy-experts-form-organic-industry-watchdog-agency\/"},"wordCount":1664,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2019\/09\/breaking-news-veteran-policy-experts-form-organic-industry-watchdog-agency\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/OrganicEye.jpg","articleSection":{"0":"Alternatives\/Organics","2":"US Department of Agriculture (USDA)"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2019\/09\/breaking-news-veteran-policy-experts-form-organic-industry-watchdog-agency\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2019\/09\/breaking-news-veteran-policy-experts-form-organic-industry-watchdog-agency\/","url":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2019\/09\/breaking-news-veteran-policy-experts-form-organic-industry-watchdog-agency\/","name":"Veteran Policy Experts Form Organic Industry Watchdog Agency - 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The founders, who established Beyond Pesticides (originally as National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides) as a nonprofit membership organization in 1981, felt that without the existence of such an organized, national network, local, state and national pesticide policy would become, under chemical industry pressure, increasingly unresponsive to public health and environmental concerns. Beyond Pesticides believes that people must have a voice in decisions that affect them directly. We believe decisions should not be made for us by chemical companies or by decision-makers who either do not have all of the facts or refuse to consider them. Learn more about our work, read A Year in Review\u20142021, our accomplishments are your victories! Beyond Pesticides seeks to protect healthy air, water, land, and food for ourselves and future generations. By forging ties with governments, nonprofits, and people who rely on these natural resources, we reduce the need for unnecessary pesticide use and protect public health and the environment. Beyond Pesticides provides hands-on services to the public and supports local action by: identifying and interpreting hazards; and, designing safe pest management programs. With the information provided by Beyond Pesticides, people may not only be able to make informed choices and adopt practices that protect themselves and their families from unnecessary exposure to pesticides, but they will be able to effect changes on community-wide pest management decisions and policies that govern pesticide use, such as pesticide uses in parks, schools, for community insect control and along roadsides. 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