Thu, 17 May 2012 08:08:51 -0800WeeblyWed, 07 Mar 2012 12:12:40 -0800http://ics-intl.com/1/post/2012/03/ics-launches-new-certified-gluten-free-standard.htmlInternational Certification Services, Inc. (ICS) recently released a new Certified Gluten-Free food standard. Manufacturers and brands in both the organic and conventional markets may use this standard to label products in the market as Certified Gluten-Free.

Increasing numbers of consumers report a sensitivity to eating grain-based foods that contain gluten proteins, (from minor reactions to severe sensitivities that may be diagnosed as celiac disease), and wish to limit or eliminate their intake of them. ICS developed the Certified Gluten-Free Standard to help consumers make informed dietary choices that avoid gluten in the foods they purchase and consume.

“The new Certified Gluten-Free Standard is a convenient complement to our existing organic and sustainable certification services,” said Christina Dockter, ICS President and CEO. “ICS is now a one-stop solution for food manufacturers that market Certified Organic products in U.S. and international markets, and also want to differentiate their gluten-free products with a highly-credible certification. Clients and consumers can continue to depend on ICS’ high level of integrity and veracity in this new certification standard, just as in the other certifications we offer.”

Compliance with the ICS Certified Gluten-Free Standard is based on a combination of quantitative analysis of the ingredients and products being marketed as Certified Gluten-Free, along with required management practices aimed at minimizing the introduction of gluten proteins in the production stream.

The ICS Gluten Free Standard also includes guidelines and requirements on the kinds of labeling and marketing claims that may be made on Certified Gluten-Free products. This combination of verification of practices, analytical testing, and labeling guidelines creates a powerful regime to give purchasers of Certified Gluten-Free products a high level of confidence.

Learn more about the ICS Certified Gluten-Free Standard.


]]>Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0800http://ics-intl.com/1/post/2012/02/ics-imi-acquisition.htmlInternational Certification Services, Inc. (ICS), a leading provider of organic and sustainable certification services to agricultural operations and the food industry announced today it has sold controlling interest to Integrated Management Information, Inc. (IMI Global) (OTCBB: INMG), a leading provider of verification and Internet solutions for the agricultural/livestock industry under the Where Food Comes From® brand.

“This transaction has tremendous synergies for both IMI Global and ICS,” said John Saunders, CEO of IMI Global.  “As industry leaders in our respective product and service offerings, we are now positioned to offer one another’s customers new solutions across the verification and certification spectrum.  And in addition to better serving our customers, we expect this transaction to accelerate our revenue growth and to be accretive to earnings.”

Leann Saunders, president of IMI Global, added, “The addition of a premium organic certification to our solutions portfolio gives us the ability to make an immediate impact with many of our customers that seek an organic solution in addition to our other verification services – particularly our retail customers who have organic offerings in their meat and produce departments.”

ICS, the nation’s premier provider of organic certification services, has a strong reputation and a large and growing customer base that includes food retailers as well as producers and processors of fruits, vegetables, dairy, livestock, grain and honey.  The Company’s flagship certification program is Farm Verified Organic® – an ISO 65 and IFOAM accredited program that meets the requirements of the USDA National Organic Program – that is designed for organic producers selling to U.S. and international markets.  ICS also offers USDA National Organic Program, Canadian Organic Regime (COR) and Food Alliance sustainability certification as well as facilitation and compliancy of European Union, Japan and Bio Suisse standards.  It is estimated that the total organic market segment in the U.S. and E.U. is more than $50 billion annually.

“We are excited about our new relationship with IMI Global and the benefits this transaction will bring to our customer base in the form of IMI Global’s Where Food Comes From suite of solutions,” said Christina Dockter, president and CEO of ICS.  “Together we offer an unparalleled array of quality solutions which will benefit thousands of producer, processer and retail customers and ultimately the millions of consumers who are increasingly demanding more information about where their food comes from. We want to stress this transaction will be seamless to ICS customers, who will continue to work directly with existing ICS personnel and will not be subject to any changes in organic standards.”

ICS’ programs will be incorporated into IMI Global’s Where Food Comes From® labeling program, which uses USDA Process Verified Programs (PVP) to connect consumers with the food supply chain at the point of purchase, providing an unprecedented level of transparency.  Specifically, consumers using a smart phone can scan the quick response code on product labels to access information about the product’s origins and verify a range of product claims – soon to include organic – and provide consumers with an added level of confidence in a product’s attributes.  For more information, go to www.wherefoodcomesfrom.com.

About International Certification Services (ICS)
Founded in 1979, International Certification Services is one of the oldest organic food and agriculture certifiers in the United States. ICS' private organic certification standard, Farm Verified Organic (FVO) is an early predecessor of the USDA National Organic Program. FVO certification meets the requirements of the USDA and international requirements for ISO 65 accreditation. FVO is also part of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements’ (IFOAM) internationally recognized IFOAM Family of Standards. ICS is the only IFOAM accredited certifier in North America. ICS conducts certification inspections for a full range of agricultural and food businesses including family farms, cottage industry, commercial farms, cooperatives, retailers, processors/manufacturers, contract services, auxiliary handlers, and international operations.

About IMI Global
Founded in 1995, Integrated Management Information (d.b.a. IMI Global) is a USDA Process Verified (PVP) company and is a leading provider of verification and Internet solutions for the agriculture industry.  Go to www.IMIGlobal.com and www.wherefoodcomesfrom.com for additional information.  IMI has worked with some of the largest agricultural organizations in the United States, providing web-based applications for verification and identification as well as a range of consulting services tailored to meet each customer’s needs.

]]>Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:40:03 -0800http://ics-intl.com/1/post/2012/02/european-union-and-united-states-agree-to-historic-new-partnership-on-organic-trade.htmlThe European Union and the United States announced that beginning June 1, 2012, organic products certified in Europe or in the United States may be sold as organic in either region. This partnership between the two largest organic-producers in the world will establish a strong foundation from which to promote organic agriculture, benefiting the growing organic industry and supporting jobs and businesses on a global scale.

The organics sector in the United States and European Union is valued at more than $50 billion combined, and rising every year.

Formal letters creating this partnership were signed on 15 February 2012 in Nuremberg, Germany, by Dacian Ciolos, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development; Kathleen Merrigan, U.S. Agriculture Deputy Secretary; and Ambassador Isi Siddiqui, U.S. Trade Representative Chief Agricultural Negotiator. The signing took place at the BioFach World Organic Fair, the largest trade show for organic products in the world.

"This partnership connects organic farmers and companies on both sides of the Atlantic with a wide range of new market opportunities," said U.S Deputy Agriculture Secretary Merrigan. "It is a win for the American economy and President Obama's jobs strategy. This partnership will open new markets for American farmers and ranchers, create more opportunities for small businesses, and result in good jobs for Americans who package, ship, and market organic products."

"This agreement comes with a double added value. On the one hand, organic farmers and food producers will benefit from easier access, with less bureaucracy and less costs, to both the U.S. and the EU markets, strengthening the competitiveness of this sector. In addition, it improves transparency on organic standards, and enhances consumers' confidence and recognition of our organic food and products," stated the EU Commissioner responsible for agriculture and rural development, Dacian Ciolos. "This partnership marks an important step, taking EU-U.S. agricultural trade relations to a new level of cooperation".

"This is a significant step in strengthening our bilateral trade relations," added Ambassador Isi Siddiqui. "I am confident that this arrangement will facilitate and boost agriculture trade between the European Union and the United States - and lead to more jobs in this important sector for both America and Europe ."

Previously, growers and companies wanting to trade products on both sides of the Atlantic had to obtain separate certifications to two standards, which meant a double set of fees, inspections, and paperwork. This partnership eliminates significant barriers, especially for small and medium-sized organic producers. All products meeting the terms of the partnership can be traded and labeled as certified organic produce, meat, cereal, or wine.

Leading up to today's historic announcement, both parties conducted thorough on-site audits to ensure that their programs' regulations, quality control measures, certification requirements, and labeling practices were compatible.

Although there are small differences between the U.S. and European Union organic standards, both parties individually determined that their programs were equivalent except for the prohibition on the use of antibiotics. The USDA organic regulations prohibit the use of antibiotics except to control invasive bacterial infections (fire blight) in organic apple and pear orchards. The European Union organic regulations allow antibiotics only to treat infected animals. For all products traded under this partnership, certifying agents must verify that antibiotics were not used for any reason.

In addition, all products traded under the partnership must be shipped with an organic export certificate. This document will show the production location, identify the organization that certified the organic product, verify that prohibited substances and methods weren't used, certify that the terms of the partnership were met, and allow traded products to be tracked.

Both parties are committed to ensuring that all traded organic products meet the terms of the partnership, retaining their organic integrity from farm to market. The European Commission's Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Organic Program—which oversees all U.S. organic products—will both take on key oversight roles.

The United States and the European Union will continue to have regular discussions and will review each other's programs periodically to verify that the terms of the partnership are being met. The EU and U.S. will also begin to work on a series of cooperation initiatives to promote organic production and tackle important topics such as animal welfare and other issues. Both programs will share technical information and best practices on an ongoing basis to further enhance the integrity of organic crops and livestock production systems.

Currently, this agreement only covers products exported from and certified in the United States or the European Union. 

For additional details on this agreement, please visit:
http://www.ams.usda.gov/NOPTradeEuropeanUnion http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/organic/home_en

]]>Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:20:39 -0800http://ics-intl.com/1/post/2012/01/local-foods-college-series-provides-opportunity-to-learn-from-practitioners-and-educators.htmlIf you are interested in growing more of your own food or scaling up production to market garden scale, the upcoming Local Foods College is designed for you. The series, which begins on January 24, 2012, will offer an overview of the basics, from planning to soils, fruit and vegetable production and business planning. The series, available via interactive television (ITV) at several locations across northwestern Minnesota, continues on Tuesday evenings through mid-March. Registration is $10 per session or $50 for the entire series.

Session topics will include: Whole farm planning, nutrient cycles and interactions; soils and composting; vegetable production and planning a market garden; starting and managing an apple orchard; small fruit production; backyard poultry; and farm business management. For more detailed information or questions, visit www.rsdp.umn.edu/Northwest  or call 888-241-0781.

The Local Foods College is one aspect of a movement to strengthen local and regional food systems. It encompasses healthy foods for healthy people, stronger demand for healthy local foods, available accessible and affordable healthy local foods, and marketing and policy support for farmers and food producers. To learn more, visit www.localfoods.umn.edu.
]]>Mon, 09 Jan 2012 07:20:24 -0800http://ics-intl.com/1/post/2012/01/survey-regarding-pest-issues-in-cucurbits-in-hawaii.htmlThe Organic Agriculture and Research Initiative (OREI) grant opportunity is coming up, and a group of researchers at the University of Hawai'i are thinking of putting together a proposal to address pest issues in cucurbits (cucumbers, squashes, melons, and gourds).

In order to address the current needs of our stakeholders we would like to get your input by answering the following questions:

1. Which cucurbit crop do you think we should focus on? Why?
2. Which cucurbit pests are a challenge for you?
3. What organic options do you feel are lacking for dealing with these pests?
4. Do these pests impact your ability to retain your “organic” status?

** Important: Send the survey responses to Dr. Leyla Kaufman: leyla@hawaii.edu

Thanks,

Leyla V. Kaufman, PhD.
Junior Researcher/ Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences University of Hawaii at Manoa 3050 Maile Way Room 310 Honolulu Hawaii 96822

Email: leyla@hawaii.edu
Phone: 808-956-2450

]]>Wed, 02 Nov 2011 07:53:25 -0800http://ics-intl.com/1/post/2011/11/european-union-canada-organic-equivalency-arrangement-eucoea.htmlCanadian organic producers will have increased opportunities to export their products and families shopping for organic food in their local grocery stores will have more choices following an arrangement reached between Canada and the European Union (EU).

The Canada—European Union Organic Equivalency Arrangement is the outcome of an extensive analysis of the Canadian and EU organic production and certification systems. The arrangement will allow the import and export of certified organic products between Canada and the EU without the need for additional certification.

For the full text of the agreement see the Winter 2011 issue of Sustainable Times.
]]>Wed, 26 Oct 2011 13:36:52 -0800http://ics-intl.com/1/post/2011/10/scholarships-available-in-mntransitioning-to-organic.htmlGet a Better Handle on Your Bottom Line – Financial Management During Transition and After

We all know that the period of transition to organic can be a financially risky and/or scary time for farmers, and that there is very little “real world” information available about the financial performance and profitability of farms during transition.  

A project led by researchers at the University of Minnesota is aiming to generate useful information and insights about the transition period.  The program offers farm business management education scholarships to transitioning and recently certified (three years or fewer) Minnesota organic farmers, who work 1:1 with a Farm Business Management (FBM) instructor to develop accurate business records, financial statements (e.g., cash flows, projected profitability statements, balance sheets, and risk analysis), and annual farm business analyses.  Individual participant information is kept strictly confidential; only summary data averaged across participating farms is made public.

Transitioning and recently certified Minnesota field crop and/or dairy farmers are eligible.  The scholarships cover up to 90% of this FBM education program, and right now, 22 farmers are involved.   In addition to the scholarships, they have a chance to attend workshops, meet other transitioning farmers, get help with business planning, and give other feedback about how the transition is going for them.  

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Meg Moynihan conducts short intake interviews over the phone; call her direct at 651-201-6616. You can also get more details about the program in a brochure posted at www.mda.state.mn.us/fbm

This project is funded by the USDA’s Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative. 

Meg Moynihan
Organic and DIversification Specialist, Minnesota Department of Agriculture |625 Robert Street North | St. Paul, MN 55155 | 651-201-6616; (f) 201-6120 | www.mda.state.mn.us/amd

]]>Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0800http://ics-intl.com/1/post/2011/07/alerts-west-nile-virus-special-notice-for-organic-producers.htmlJohn Hollinger 
MAFRI Organic Agriculture Specialist

West Nile Virus (WNV) is a mosquito-vectored disease which can be serious and sometimes fatal. Humans can become infected with the virus if they are bitten by mosquitoes that have previously bitten an infected bird.  Most mosquito species do not pose a significant risk of transmitting WNV. The main vector of the virus in Manitoba is the adult Culex tarsalis mosquito, which takes blood from either birds or mammals.  Fortunately, C. tarsalis mosquitoes occur in much smaller numbers than many of the other commonly occurring nuisance mosquito species found in Manitoba. Adult mosquito traps around the province have been indicating low numbers of C. tarsalis up to mid-July. 

In most cases, people who are bitten by an infected mosquito do not become ill. Of those who do become ill, most will experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache and body aches. In Manitoba, the risk of people contracting WNV is low (less than one in 10,000). 

Manitoba Health is responsible for coordinating the activities of the WNV program in Manitoba, the goal of which is to assess risk and take appropriate measures to limit the negative impact to human health. They are also aware of the impact that control programs may have on the organic and beekeeping industries.

Larviciding is generally considered the first option in mosquito control intervention.  A Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) product is normally used for larviciding in the early part of the season. Adulticiding is the second option in mosquito control, where a synthetic insecticide is used to control the adult stage of the mosquito. This is an issue of concern for organic producers.

Municipalities normally have the choice of whether to undertake mosquito control measures or not. Many will comply with buffer zones around organic properties if notified well in advance of spraying for nuisance mosquitoes, including the City of Winnipeg. However, if public health is threatened, a Health Order can be issued by the province for control measures in certain areas targeted at C. tarsalis. In this case, buffer zones will not be considered. At the present time, Manitoba Health has stated that only ground applications (usually from roads) will be used in 2011 and that aerial applications are not planned. The fogging applicator disperses a treatment for about 90 metres. 

Be aware, be informed!
All organic producers are urged to be aware of any adulticiding activities in their areas. Keep in close contact with your municipal office. Some RM offices maintain a contact list of organic and bee producers. Adulticiding depends on trap counts and is often done on very short notice. Generally, control measures will occur within town limits of larger communities (population of 1000 or higher) and up to about 3 km beyond, but if the mosquito numbers warrant, virtually any community may be applied with adulticide. 

Remember that a minimum buffer of 25 feet (8 metres) is required between an organic field and an area treated with a synthetic pesticide. Any production from that area is considered conventional for a full three years. Hopefully the mosquito spraying won’t affect anyone in this manner, but organic producers must be aware of the consequences if it does happen. Manitoba Health is concerned with the risks of WNV to human health, so they are prepared to do whatever is best for “the common good”, but in the past they have made efforts to reduce the potential impact that control measures would have on organic and bee operations.

Contacts:

• For more information about Manitoba’s WNV program, visit the Manitoba Health website at   http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/wnv/   or phone 204-788-6795.
  
• Health Links at 204-788-8200 or toll-free 1-888-315-9257 also has good WNV information.
  
• City of Winnipeg BUGLINE at 311 (Wpg. area) or toll-free 1-877-311-4974  http://winnipeg.ca/cms/bugline/    

Contact the Bugline if you have any part of your operation in the City of Winnipeg limits and up to 12 km beyond. Buffers for organic operations may be considered when the control of nuisance mosquitoes is involved.
]]>Wed, 04 May 2011 00:00:00 -0800http://ics-intl.com/1/post/2011/05/first-post.htmlThe 2012 North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (NCR-
SARE) Research and Education Grant Program Call for Preproposals is now available online at http://sare.org/ncrsare

NCR-SARE’s Research and Education program supports innovators with competitive Research and Education grants. Individual grants range from $10,000 to $200,000. NCR-SARE expects to fund about 8-12 projects in the twelve-state North Central Region.

The deadline for Research and Education Program preproposals is 4:30pm CDT June 9, 2011.

Since 1988, NCR-SARE has awarded more than $40 million worth of competitive grants to farmers and ranchers, researchers, educators, public and private institutions, nonprofit groups, and others exploring sustainable agriculture in 12 states. NCR-SARE’s Administrative Council represents various agricultural sectors, states and organizations. It sets program priorities and makes granting decisions for the region. A collection of farm and non-farm residents, the Administrative Council includes a diverse mix of agricultural stakeholders in our 12 states. Council members come from regional farms and ranches, university extension and research programs, and nonprofits. In addition, the Administrative Council includes regional representatives of the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, state agencies, and agribusinesses.

For more information contact:
North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program
(NCR-SARE)
612-626-3113
www.sare.org/ncrsare
ncrsare@unm.edu]]>Mon, 25 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0800http://ics-intl.com/1/post/2011/04/fvo-standard-gains-international-acceptance-in-ifoam-family-of-standards.html(Medina, ND - April 25, 2011) The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) recently accepted the certification program Farm Verified Organic (FVO) into the internationally recognized IFOAM Family of Standards. IFOAM is the worldwide umbrella organization for the organic movement, uniting more than 750 member organizations in 116 countries.

“International Certification Services, Inc is currently the only North American IFOAM accredited certifier,” says Christina Dockter, Senior Executive Partner. “The acceptance of our Farm Verified Organic certification into the IFOAM Family of Standards provides our clients with an even easier and more cost effective solution to navigating global markets, while guaranteeing true organic compliance through an internationally endorsed set of standards.”

With entrance into the Family of Standards, FVO joins an elite group of 45 organic standards and regulations around the world that have been verified as meeting the Common Objectives and Requirements of Organic Standards, agreed upon by the IFOAM membership and endorsed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and the UN Conference on Trade & Development (UNCTAD). Clients can contact International Certification Services, Inc. (ICS, Inc.) for information on using the new IFOAM Family of Standards Logo.

The IFOAM Family of Standards is a tool that enables multi-lateral equivalence for organic standards and regulations, providing “regulated but streamlined” market access for organic products. In dealing with import approvals, IFOAM, FAO, and UNCTAD have recommended that governments adopt an equivalence approach, using methods as efficient as possible to approve a large number of national organic regulations as equivalent to theirs.]]>