Many opportunities for organic farmers, ranchers, handlers, and processors to participate in public agencies are now available. The hands-on expertise of organic practitioners and producers is of great value to these decision-making agencies. The following agencies have current openings:
California Biodiversity Collaborative: California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a groundbreaking executive order in early October 2020 that directs the California Natural Resources Agency to work with other state agencies, including the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), to form a California Biodiversity Collaborative that will advise state agencies and
- assess California’s biodiversity and current efforts to protect it;
- project how climate change will impact California’s biodiversity;
- develop messages on the importance of monitoring and protecting California’s natural resources; and
- work to conserve at least 30 percent of California’s land and coastal waters by 2030 (inspired by the “30 by 30” movement).
Please contact CCOF’s policy team if you are interested in being considered for the California Biodiversity Collaborative.
California Organic Products Advisory Committee (COPAC): Four voting and 13 alternate seats are open on COPAC, which advises the California secretary of food and agriculture on the State Organic Program and on current issues in the state’s organic sector. The open voting seats are for
- one producer representative,
- one wholesale distributor representative,
- one technical representative with scientific credentials related to agricultural chemicals, toxicology, or food science, and
- one consumer representative.
For more information, refer to CDFA’s Fact Sheet, Serving on COPAC. An application is available online. Please contact the CCOF Policy team for further information.
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Administrative Council: Western region SARE, a federal agency that offers grants and education to advance innovations in sustainable agriculture, currently has an opening for an individual who represents a nongovernment organization involved with underrepresented or socially disadvantaged agriculture groups. There will also be a second opening for a position to represent agribusiness, preferably from the processing sector, available in early March 2021. Visit the Western SARE website for more details on Administrative Council member responsibilities and information on how to apply.