IFOAM North America

Established in 2016 following years of discussion and planning, IFOAM North America’s first meeting incorporated member surveys to set its priorities and develop a strategic plan.

Today IFOAM North America works to educate the general public, provide a forum to exchange ideas, and engage in North American-specific activities to advance organic agriculture and its principles.

These activities are carried out in partnership with IFOAM - Organics International and the global organic community. IFOAM North America endeavors to advance the Landmarks of Organic Agriculture, which include the Principles of Organic Agriculture and Organic 3.0.

Latest News 

IFOAM North America held its elections in March 2021. In a bold move demonstrating the goals of increasing equity and international cooperation in organic agriculture, the Board of Directors of IFOAM North America have appointed two outstanding women as its new co-presidents, sharing the positions of president and vice president for their one-year term. 

Ken McCormick is IFOAM North America's Coordinator.

Board Members

Jennifer Taylor, Co-President

Jennifer has been the IFOAM NA Vice President and has served on the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) as chair of the NOSB Materials Committee, ad-hoc GMO subcommittee, and on the Policy Committee. She is Associate Professor and coordinator of Small Farm Programs at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. She is also a farmer Board Member of Organic Farmers Association, serves on the Board of Directors of Rodale Institute, Standards Board for the Real Organic Project, and advisor to the National Organic Coalition.

Marla Carlson, Co-President

Marla has been working for and with organic farmers in Saskatchewan since 2006. She currently works for SaskOrganics as their Executive Director. She is President of Organic Connections, the largest organic farming conference in Western Canada, President of the Prairie Organic Development Fund and a member of the kwayēskastasowin wâhkôhtow- in Steering Committee, a Rockefeller Food Systems Top Visionary Prize Project. She also serves as a director on two food related community initiatives in Regina – Every Bite Project and Food Regina.

Steve Walker, Secretary

Steve is the Accreditation & Industry Affairs Manager for MOSA Certified Organic.

Margaret Scoles, Treasurer

Margaret Scoles serves as Executive Director of IOIA, maintaining their office in Montana since January 1999.

Alison Squires

Allison is an owner and operator of Upland Organics, an organic grain farm in Saskatchewan with her husband and three children. She is an active member of the organic agriculture community and currently sits on several local, regional and national boards.

Alan Lewis

Alan navigates government affairs and food and agriculture policy for Natural Grocers, a Colorado based health food chain founded in 1955 with over 160 stores in 20 states. 

Mary-Howell Martens

Mary-Howell manages Lakeview Organic Grain, an organic feed and seed business in upstate New York.

Jeff Schahczenski

Jeff is an agricultural and natural resource economist with the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) in Montana.

Nicolas Walser 

Nicolas is the Field Manager at Linden Lane Farms, located in the Kootenays, BC, Canada.

Contact

For questions and additional information please send your inquiry to info@na.ifoam.bio