BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, US — Jennifer Tucker, PhD, deputy administrator of the US Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP), will be the keynote speaker at the sixth annual Organic & Non-GMO Forum, which will be virtual Nov. 9-10.

Jennifer Tucker, deputy administrator for USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service National Organic Program. Photo courtesy of USDA.

 Tucker, who has been in her position since 2018, will speak on the new amendments to USDA organic regulations sought to strengthen oversight and enforcement of the production, handling, and sale of organic agricultural products. She will provide an overview of the efforts and achievements by many across the organic industry and government to protect the organic market. She also will present the 2021 high-priority goals for the National Organic Program, and discuss the past, present and future of organic integrity.

Previously, Tucker was associate deputy administrator of the National Organic Program since 2011. Before joining USDA, she was a group facilitator and organization development consultant, working primarily with scientific and technical government and non-profit organizations.

She received a bachelor’s of arts degree in environmental science from Wesleyan University, a master’s of science degree in management from Purdue University, and a doctorate in science and technology studies from Virginia Tech.

Others presentations to be heard at the Organic & Non-GMO Forum, which brings together producers, processors, manufacturers and buyers for critical industry discussions, include Update on Organic and Non-GMO Acres, Litigating Over Organic Packaging and Investing in Organic & Non-GMO.

Additional topics on the agenda include trade policy, compliance and traceability, sustainability, and a case study on committing to non-GMO, as well as the ever-popular producer’s panel.

Learn more and register at ongforum.com.