2017 Advanced Training Speaker Bios

Dr. Jochen Neuendorff Born 1961, agronomist. managing director of Ressouce Protection Ltd. (GfRS Gesellschaft fuer Ressourcenschutz mbH) since 1989. Inspection and certification of organic farms, processors and importers of products from organic agriculture since 1991 in Austria, Germany and other member states of the European Union (GfRS is not active in third countries as a certification body). Since 1998, assessor of different accreditation bodies, mainly DAkkS, for EN 45011 / ISO 65 and ISO 17021. Various evaluations of control bodies certifying to equivalent standards active in third countries, in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Chairman of the accreditation advisory board “consumer protection” and chairman of the sector committee Agriculture, Nutrition and Sustainability of DAkkS.

GfRS Gesellschaft fuer Ressourcenschutz mbH, Göttingen/Germany Ltd., main offices in Goettingen/Germany. 24 staff members, 55 inspectors, approved control body according to Reg. (EC) No. 834/2007 in Austria, Germany and Luxemburg. GfRs is not certifying in third countries. About 2.500 operators (organic farming, processing, importing facilities and traders). Close co-operation with EU certification bodies in other EU member states through the Quavera Alliance.

Norm Hansen is a cum laude graduate of The Ohio State University, and a graduate of the University of Windsor. He has spend his years since graduating teaching, growing cut flowers, and most recently, growing organic greenhouse vegetables. He is the Director of Research and Development for Erieview Acres. --- Norm likes to pontificate about the benefits of organics.

Erieview Acres is the premier Leamington area grower of certified organic greenhouse vegetables. Currently they grow in 19 acres of greenhouses at 3 locations. Erieview Acres has collaborated with the Harrow Research Centre, the Vineland Research Center, the University of Guelph, and the University of Windsor on various research projects.

They are passionate about growing organic vegetables. Dr. Jean Richardson

In May 2014 Dr Jean Richardson was elected Chair of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). Jean is Professor Emerita, University of Vermont, where she taught Environmental Studies and Environmental Law. She currently works with her family to produce certified organic maple syrup, and is an independent inspector of organic farms, processors and handlers, and a member of the IOIA.

Dr. Richardson’s research included work on the impact of long distance transportation of air pollution on dioxin uptake in dairy feeds and milk, and a major rural development project, Environmental Partnerships in Communities (EPIC) which included considerable research on pasture management. The ten year EPIC project which Jean directed also provided extensive technical assistance to farmers on pasture management and on sustainable livestock systems, encouraging new farmer-run organizations which continue today. Lessons learned can be found in her book “Partnerships in Communities, reweaving the fabric of rural America”, Island Press, 2000. She also taught as an Adjunct Professor at the Vermont Law School, Environmental Law Center, and in the 1970’s and 80’s she and her first husband ran an electric fence franchise, and sheep farm.

Jean has extensive state, national and international experience.

Jean lives in an old house on a trout stream surrounded by sugar maple trees, a small orchard, berries, vegetable gardens, perennial beds, and thousands of daffodils in spring.

Jacques Theriault

1982-1989 : Bac and Master degree in Plant Science (phytopathology and greenhouse vegetable crop)

1989-1999 : grower for greenhouse tomatoes under supplemental light

1999-now : Crop adviser in greenhouse vegetable crops in Québec and New Brunswick and senior partner of Climax Conseils

I'm active on the Québec greenhouse vegetable board and Centre de référence en agriculture et alimentation du Québec (CRAAQ), Réseau d'Avertissement Phytosanitaire (RAP)

I participated to the National Greenhouse, Nursery and Floriculture biosecurity program advisory committee. (2014-2017).

Leanne Cooley, MSc. L.H. Gray & Son Limited Raised on a small hobby farm in Anmore, B.C. Leanne first studied at the University of Saskatchewan and worked at the Poultry Research Centre while completing a BSA and B.Sc; and graduate studies with Dr. Henry Classen in poultry & amino acid nutrition. Leanne holds a MSc. in Behavior & Welfare from the University of Guelph, where she is also presently completing a PhD in poultry epigenetics.

Leanne moved to Ontario in 2003 to work as the Poultry Nutritionist for New Life Mills Limited. In 2006, Leanne transitioned to her current position with L.H. Gray and Son Limited, where she works as Poultry Scientist, a certified P.A.A.C.O Poultry Auditor and industry liaison with diverse responsibilities within the company and farm division. Leanne has served on a number of industry committees and organizations: Director for the Poultry Industry Council, Director for Ontario Agri-Food Education, Director for Farm & Food Care Foundation, Director for the Center for Food Integrity, Councillor for Egg Farmers of Ontario, Member Elect of EFC Research Committee & Animal Welfare Advisory Committee, and is the CPEPC Grader Representative on the NFACC Layer Codes of Practice Committee.

Leanne feels fortunate to have developed strong relationships with a network of industry and research professionals from across the country, and globally. Continuing education, knowledge transfer and extension are important aspects of her career, and she maintains professional research affiliations with the Poultry Science Association, the World’s Poultry Science Association, the International Society of Applied Ethologists and the Campbell Centre for Animal Welfare.

Francois Labelle Valacta, Canada

Valeriya Staykova, Lead Auditor, Organic Office Canadian Food Inspection Agency

2017 AGM Speaker Bios

Keynote Speaker – Jim Thomas Jim Thomas is Programme Director with ETC Group – an international civil society organization that tracks the impact of new technologies, especially in food and agriculture, as they affect marginalized peoples, human rights and the environment. ETC Group has been leading international analysis and action on genetic engineering technologies for over thirty years working with farmer and peasant movements as well as at the United Nations. Jim previously worked for Greenpeace International, engaging food companies and leading market and consumer campaigns promoting organic production and against GMO foods in UK, US, New Zealand, Australia and South East Asia. He is the author of several reports on the topics of Synthetic Biology, Nanotechnology and Geoengineering. He is a convenor of the International Civil Society Working Group on Synthetic Biology and the Synbiowatch collaborative of organizations, a partner in the European Union's SYNENERGENE project on Responsible Research and Innovation in Synthetic Biology and currently sits on the United Nations ‘Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group' on Synthetic Biology under the UN Biodiversity Convention. He has served on organic standards advisory committees on nanotechnology (in the UK) and new genetic engineering technologies (in the US). He lives with his family in the snowy mountains of Quebec. www.etcgroup.org

Endnote Speaker - Joe Smillie

Joe Smillie has been involved in the organic movement and industry since 1975 as a farmer, consultant, inspector, author and certification agent. Originally from Canada, he moved to Vermont. He became Senior Vice President at Quality Assurance International for 18 years (1995-2013). In that position, he managed the company's eastern U.S. and Canada sales, operations, government regulatory affairs, and international business development. Joe served on the National Organic Standards Board from 2005-2010 in the US. He was a founding member and Past President of the Organic Trade Association and was the recipient of the 2005 Organic Leadership award. He is currently retired and spends the summers at his home in Vermont and the winters in Florida.

He accepted IOIA’s invitation to speak on some of his early memories of IOIA as he served on the founding Board in 1992.

He was the co-author of The Soul of Soil (1986), with Grace Gershuny. He also co-authored Rodale's Chemical-Free Yard and Garden: The Ultimate Authority on Successful Organic Gardening (1991) and The Orchard Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to Healthy Fruit Trees (1995).

Tia Loftsgard Tia Loftsgard is the Executive Director of the Canada Organic Trade Association. With extensive experience working in the organic food industry, Tia co-founded Camino (La Siembra Co-operative) in 1999, going on to become the organic and Fairtrade cocoa company’s Director of Sales until 2009, when she joined Fairtrade Canada. As its Business Development and Licensing Director, she led strategy, building the not- for-profit’s membership base and encouraging sustainable and ethical sourcing standards in North America. In 2013, she moved over to Fairtrade America, where as its Chief Operating Officer, she successfully developed advocacy initiatives and grew U.S. market opportunities for small farmers via the Fairtrade model. Tia joined COTA as the Executive Director in March 2016.