LINCOLN, NE: The Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA) would like to invite the public to join them from 3:15pm-5:15pm on Thursday, February 6th, 2014 at the LaQuinta Inns & Suites (located on 303 Blum) in San Antonio, Texas. Mark Kastel, Co-founder and Senior Farm Policy Analyst of The Cornucopia Institute, will be the featured speaker during OCIA’s annual meeting and will talk about maintaining consumer choice and access to ‘authentic’ food. The Cornucopia Institute, a farm policy research group, has become one of the more prominent watchdogs protecting the integrity of organic food and farming. And, Mr. Kastel has been named one of the “50 Visionaries Who are Changing Your World,” by the Utne Reader.
Dr. Rhonda Janke, Professor at Kansas State University will also be offering two workshops during OCIA’s annual meeting. On February 5th at 7:30pm, Dr. Janke’s workshop entitled “Ag and Art” will focus on using art as a way to communicate important issues in agriculture. And, on February 7th at 1:30pm, Dr. Janke’s workshop will discuss soil quality in organic high tunnel production.
You also won’t want to miss a very informative video and discussion presented by Maury Johnson of Blue River Hybrids, the leading producer of organic field corn, on February 5th from 4:00pm-5:15pm. PuraMaize, a completely natural gene blocking system making it possible for the organic farmer to grow a GMO free crop, will be discussed.
For headcount purposes, please contact Angie Tunink, Executive Director of OCIA Research and Education, at atunink@ocia.org if you would like to attend any of the above workshops. The public is also encouraged to attend if they would like to ask questions or discuss organic farming with organic farmers and processors from around the world.