Organicology 2027 Announces Program & Speaker Lineup Exploring What’s Next for Organic
Farmers, researchers and changemakers will gather in Portland as the USDA organic standard marks 25 years
PORTLAND, Ore. — September 28, 2026 — Twenty-five years after implementation of the USDA organic standards, the organic movement has much to celebrate and big questions about what comes next. Organicology 2027 will bring together some of the people working at the heart of those questions for three days of learning, candid conversation and connection, February 16–18 in Portland, Oregon.
With the theme Organic at 25: Honoring the Standard. Growing the Future, Organicology 2027 will look at what’s shaping organic today and its future, from farmer viability, soil health and resilient supply chains to consumer trust, evolving marketplace claims, organic transition and the integrity of the organic label itself.
Organicology is known for combining big-picture conversations with practical education participants can put to work. The three-day program brings together 28 speakers representing a wide range of perspectives and experience across the organic movement: farmers and food-system leaders, researchers, advocates, certifiers and standards experts, retailers, distributors and others working throughout the organic supply chain.
Leading the conversation are four keynote speakers:
· Dr. Jennifer Tucker, Deputy Administrator of the USDA National Organic Program
· Qiddist Ashé, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Black Oregon Land Trust
· Jonalee Squeochs, Interim General Manager of Yakama Nation Farms
· James Cassidy, Instructor, College of Agricultural Sciences & Faculty Advisor, Organic Growers Club Student Farm, Oregon State University
They will be joined by experts including Kelly Damewood, CEO of California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF); Orsi Dezsi, Executive Director and CEO of the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI); Abby Youngblood, Executive Director of the National Organic Coalition; and Amy McCann, CEO of Local Food Marketplace, alongside practitioners from across the regional food system.
“Organicology has always been about bringing the right people together to dig into the questions that matter,” said Brenna Davis, CEO of Organically Grown Company. “Twenty-five years into the USDA organic standard, there is so much to build on and important work ahead. This year’s speakers bring an extraordinary depth of knowledge and lived experience. We're creating space for people across organic to learn from each other and help shape what comes next.”
Big Questions. Practical Learning.
The 2027 program tackles some of organic’s most pressing and sometimes complicated questions. Featured sessions include:
· What Should Regenerative Mean? Standards, Claims, and the Role of Organic
· What Organic Farmers Need Now: Findings from Organic Farm Research Foundation’s Latest National Farmer Needs Assessment
· The Fragility of Trust: Label Saturation and Consumer Perceptions of Food Certifications
· From Silos to Systems: How Food Hubs and Distributors Partner to Strengthen Organic Supply Chains
· The Organic Journey: From Story to Shelf. Reframing and Reigniting Consumer Connection
· TOPP 2.0: Turning a Federal Sunset into Organic’s Next Sunrise
· The Next Chapter of Organic: Scaling Impact Without Losing Our Way
· Movement Building: Creating Equity and Inclusivity in Organic Certification
Longer-form workshops give participants the opportunity to go deeper into organic inputs, biodiversity and soil health, farm financial resilience and succession planning. Behind-the-scenes tours take attendees into Organically Grown Company’s produce distribution operation and leading Portland-area organic retailers.
The complete program is available at https://www.organicology.com/. Tickets are on sale now.