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National Organic Standards Board | October 2018| Proposals & Discussion Documents National Organic Standards Board Meeting Intercontinental Saint Paul Waterfront Hotel, Saint Paul, MN October 24-26, 2018 Title Page Materials Subcommittee (MS) | Harriet Behar, Chairperson Proposal: 2018 Research priorities 1 Proposal: Genetic integrity transparency of seed grown on organic land 11 Proposal: Excluded methods determinations October 2018 19 Discussion document: Marine materials in organic crop production 27 Compliance, Accreditation, & Certification Subcommittee (CACS) | Scott Rice, Chairperson Proposal: Developing criteria for risk-based accreditation oversight 39 Proposal: Training and oversight of inspector and certification reviewer personnel 43 Verbal update: Analysis of feedback from the Spring 2018 import panel No doc Livestock Subcommittee (LS) | Ashley Swaffar, Chairperson 2020 Sunset Reviews: Alcohols: ethanol, isopropanol; Aspirin; Biologics, vaccines; 47 Electrolytes; Glycerin; Phosphoric acid; Lime, hydrated; Mineral oil; Sucrose octanoate esters Discussion document: Oxalic acid - petitioned 63 Handling Subcommittee (HS) | Lisa de Lima, Chairperson 2020 Sunset Reviews: Calcium carbonate; Flavors; Gellan gum; Oxygen; Potassium 65 chloride; Alginates; Calcium hydroxide; Ethylene; Glycerides (mono and di); Magnesium stearate; Phosphoric acid; Potassium carbonate; Sulfur dioxide; Xanthan gum; Fructooligosaccharides (FOS); Gums: Arabic, Carob bean, Guar, Locust bean; Lecithin - de-oiled; Tragacanth gum Proposal: Sodium chlorite for the generation of chlorine dioxide gas - petitioned 99 Proposal: Silver dihydrogen citrate - petitioned 109 TOC 1 Proposal: Japones pepper - petitioned 121 Proposal: Ethiopian pepper - petitioned 125 Proposal: Tamarind seed gum - petitioned 129 Discussion document: Pullulan - petitioned 139 Discussion document: Collagen Gel (casing) - petitioned 141 Crops Subcommittee (CS) | Steve Ela, Chairperson 2020 Sunset Reviews: Alcohols: ethanol, isopropanol; Sodium carbonate 143 peroxyhydrate; Newspaper or other recycled paper; Plastic mulch and covers; Aqueous potassium silicate; Elemental sulfur; Lime sulfur; Sucrose octanoate esters; Hydrated lime; Liquid fish products; Sulfurous Acid; Ethylene; Microcrystalline cheesewax; Potassium chloride Proposal: Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) - petitioned 169 Proposal: Sodium citrate - petitioned 173 Proposal: Natamycin - petitioned 179 Proposal: Strengthening the organic seed guidance October 2018 185 Discussion document: Ammonium citrate and Ammonium glycinate - petitioned 199 Discussion document: Calcium acetate - petitioned 201 Discussion document: Paper pots - petitioned 203 PLEASE NOTE: Discussion documents, proposals, reports and/or other documents prepared by the National Organic Standards Board, including its subcommittees and task forces, represent the views of the National Organic Standards Board and do not necessarily represent the views and policies of the Department of Agriculture. Please see the NOP website for official NOP policy, regulations, guidance and instructions. TOC 2 USDA National Organic Standards Board Research Priorities, 2018 Executive Summary Overall: The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) presents an annual list of research priorities for organic food and agriculture. The NOSB requests that integrated research be undertaken with consideration of the whole farm system, recognizing the interplay of agroecology, the surrounding environment, and both native and farmed species of plants and animals. The topics listed below are the 2018 priorities. Livestock 1. Evaluation of methionine in the context of a system approach in organic poultry production. 2. Prevention and management of parasites, examining breeds, geographical differences, alternative treatments, and pasture species. 3. Organic livestock breeding for animals adapted to outdoor life and living vegetation. Crops 1. Examination of decomposition rates, the effects of residues on soil biology, and the factors that affect the breakdown of biodegradable biobased mulch film. 2. Organic no-till practices for diverse climates, crops, and soil types. 3. Plant disease management, including alternatives to antibiotics for fire blight in fruits, alternatives to copper, and research into disease-resistant varieties and biopesticides. 4. Mitigation measures for pesticide residues in compost, including identification of problematic feedstock. 5. Strategies for the prevention, management, and control of invasive insects. 6. Factors impacting organic crop nutrition, and organic/conventional nutrition comparisons. 7. Examination of the factors influencing access to organically produced foods. 8. Production and yield barriers to transitioning to organic production to help growers successfully complete the transition. 9. Side-by-side trials of organic synthetic materials, natural materials, and cultural methods, with a request for collaboration with the IR4 project. Coexistence - GE and Organic Crops 1. Outcome of genetically engineered (GMO/GE) material in organic compost. 2. Evaluation of public germplasm collections of at-risk crops for the presence of GE traits, and ways to mitigate small amounts of unwanted genetic material in breeding lines. 3. Techniques for preventing adventitious presence of GE material in organic crops, and evaluation of the effectiveness of current prevention strategies. 4. Testing for fraud by developing and implementing new technologies and practices. Food Handling and Processing 1. Comparison of alternatives to chlorine materials in processing: impact mitigation, best management practices, and potential for chlorine absorption by produce. 2. Production of celery for celery powder yielding nitrates sufficient for cured meat applications, and investigation of agriculturally derived alternatives. 3. Suitable alternatives to BPA (Bisphenol-A) for linings of cans used for various products. NOSB Oct 2018 proposals and discussion documents pg. 1 of 204 National Organic Standards Board Materials Subcommittee Proposal 2018 Research Priorities July 24, 2018 INTRODUCTION The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) presents an annual list of research priorities for organic food and agriculture. The NOSB’s Livestock, Crops, Handling, and Materials/GMO Subcommittees propose the priorities at the Fall Board meeting and reflect both written and oral public comments received by the Board. The topics listed below are the 2018 priorities. BACKGROUND Research needs are prioritized along the following criteria: 1) persistent and chronic, 2) challenging, 3) controversial, 4) nebulous, 5) lacking in primary research, and 6) relevant to assessing the need for alternative cultural, biological, and mechanical methods to materials on the National List1. The NOSB encourages collaboration with and between laboratories, federal agencies, universities, foundations and organizations, business interests, organic farmers, and the entire organic community to seek solutions to pressing issues in organic agriculture and processing/handling. PROPOSAL: 2018 RESEARCH PRIORITIES The NOSB encourages integrated, whole farm research into the following areas: Livestock 1. Evaluation of Methionine in the Context of a System Approach in Organic Poultry Production Methionine is an essential amino acid for poultry. Prior to the 1950’s, poultry and pigs were fed a plant and meat-based diet without synthetic amino acids such as methionine. One former NOSB member stated that in §205.237(5)(b), “We have seemingly made vegetarians out of poultry and pigs”. As the organic community moves toward reducing, removing, or providing additional annotations to synthetic methionine in the diets of poultry, a heightened need exists for the organic community to rally around omnivore producers to assist in marshaling our collective efforts in finding viable alternatives to synthetic methionine and to help find approaches for making them more commercially available. Continued research on the use of synthetic methionine in the context of a systems approach (nutrition, genetic selection, management practices, etc.) is consistent with the NOSB unanimous resolution passed at the La Jolla, California, Spring 2015 full board meeting. A systems approach that includes industry and independent research by USDA/ARS, on farms, and by agricultural land grant universities is needed for (1) evaluation of the merits of natural alternative sources of methionine such as herbal methionine, high 1 The National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances identifies the synthetic substances that may be used and the nonsynthetic (natural) substances that may not be used in organic crop and livestock production. It also identifies a limited number of non-organic substances that may be used in or on processed organic products. The NOSB advises the National Organic Program (NOP) on which substances should be allowed or prohibited. NOSB Oct 2018 proposals and discussion documents pg. 2 of 204 methionine corn, and corn gluten meal in organic poultry production systems, (2) evaluation of poultry breeds selection that could be adaptive to existing organic production systems – inclusive of breeds being able to adequately perform on less methionine, and (3) assessment of management practices for improving existing organic poultry welfare under different conditions. Research findings and collaborations under various climates, housing types, geographical regions, and countries should be noted and researched, where applicable. Certainly, the fruition of these