The Organic Trade Association (OTA) has created a new membership category to engage students in the world of organic. OTA wants to connect with young visionaries as they begin their career path and are seeking students studying agriculture or business at a university, majoring in science or health at a community college, or interning and mentoring on a farm, with a food brand, or in a Congressional office.
The association’s new student membership category will plug students in with professionals in the organic sector, engage them with ongoing policy and cutting-edge research, and help them lay the groundwork for future careers in organic industry, farming, policy, science, and more. Student members of the OTA will have access to market insights, data forecasts, regulatory information, and to experienced organic farmers and others who can provide insights into the workings of organic agriculture.
The OTA has begun recruiting for student members, and is working with identified schools where curriculum and programs supporting organic agriculture are in place. While these schools are forming the core of initial outreach, the association is welcoming students from a wide range of schools, including universities and community colleges, internships and mentorship programs, and disciplines reflecting the diversity of the fields represented in the organic. As part of the association’s commitment to helping shape a more inclusive agricultural future for the good of the organic market and our communities, the trade association is also investing in direct outreach to historically Black colleges and universities and 1890 Land Grant Institutions.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that there are some 22 million jobs in the agriculture and food sectors, and many of these jobs are increasingly focused on how to support and create an organic and sustainable food system.
“Organic is a growth industry,” said Angela Jagiello, director of education & insights for the OTA. “With organic expanding at more than twice the rate of conventional products, we’ll need plenty of bright, innovative thinkers to lead the industry’s evolution. By welcoming students from a diversity of programs and disciplines, we will support these individuals in their career pursuits, and thus pave the way for organic’s continued success.”
In addition to access to the expertise of the OTA, future plans for the program include opportunities to complete a foundational organic curriculum through a professional certification program, as well as opportunities for networking, internships and more.
The annual membership fee to join the trade association for this category is $50. However, the association has established a scholarship program to allow qualified candidates to participate regardless of their ability to pay. Interested students will undergo a simple application process that asks why they are inspired by organic, as well as where and what they are studying. The application can be made online or via video submission.
For more information, visit www.ota.com.
