What to Do at Expo East? Eat Party Learn! part 2

This is the second installment leading up to Natural Products Expo East in Baltimore, Maryland that I will be highlighting the many ways your experience at Expo East can be enhanced by the myriad of events and happenings. If you are coming to the show to buy or sell, there is something additional and essential for you to partake in!

Learn About Pertinent Science!

The Organic Center will host two panels during the All Things Organic Conference from September 17-20. The panels will focus on current and emerging science supporting the benefits of organic, focusing on hot-topic issues and recently published research.  Speakers will include researchers, policy specialists, dieticians, and industry representatives to provide a comprehensive look at the science supporting organic. The Conferences are co-located with Expo East in Room 314 of the Convention Center.

Discover Pollinator & Human Health Ramifications: The link between pollinator health and human health is difficult to overstate. Come learn about several new studies that emphasize organic’s benefits to humans and to pollinators. The speakers will be Jessica Shade, Director of Science Programs, The Organic Center; Chensheng (Alex) Lu, Associate Professor of Environmental Exposure Biology, Harvard University, and Melinda Hemmelgarn, registered dietitian and investigative nutritionalist, Food Sleuth Radio Host. Friday September 19th, 2014 at 12:15 – 1:30 p.m. | Room 314

Find Out More About Climate Change and Agriculture: This panel will take a science-based look at global warming, and the effect of various agricultural methods. Get a sense of the prospects for policies at the federal and state level on climate change and agriculture. The esteemed speakers for this panel are: Mark “Coach” Smallwood, Executive Director, Rodale Institute; Marni Karlin, Vice President & General Counsel, Organic Trade Association (OTA), and Jake Schmitz, Regional Manager from Organic Valley. Friday September 19th, 2014 at 2:00 – 3:15 p.m. | Room 314

Be Aware of Emerging Science and Technologies!

Synthetic Biology is a confusing, and invariably eerie term which can be best understood as an extreme version of genetic engineering. Also known as “Syn-Bio” this extension of genetic engineering is creating something radically new, life forms never before seen on the planet. A new wave of virtually unregulated, untested “extreme” GMOs is rapidly entering food and cosmetics, and they’re being marketed as “natural.” Learn how to get ahead of this trend before it impacts your brand, reputation and bottom line. UNFI and Nutiva will be sponsoring “GMO’s 2.0: Synthetic Biology” on Thursday September 18^th at 2:00PM | Room 322 in the Baltimore Convention Center.   Like most GMOs, Syn-bio technology is untested and unnatural, and in most cases not necessary. There are no regulations or safety tests framed to oversee the new risks of synthetic biology. Algaes and yeasts are some of the most basic and prolific building blocks of life and can travel easily throughout the environment. If they are released into nature there could be genetic contamination on a wide scale producing new forms of invasive species or exotic pervasive pollutants. Sign up here to RSVP to this event.

Go to The Ballgame and Support the Organic Political Action Campaign!

On Friday September 19^th the Baltimore Orioles will play the Boston Red Sox and you can cheer them on from left field in the comfort of a private box! Kick back, have a barbecue dinner and frosty beverages while watching the game in the company of your organic colleagues. Give back to the industry that supports you by investing in Organic Political Action Campaign (PAC). This is the single most important way you, as an individual, can strengthen our voice in Washington, D.C. and gain support for the organic industry. The Organic PAC is the only PAC dedicated to advancing organic agriculture and trade in order to benefit the environment, farmers, the public, and the economy. Organic PAC provides financial assistance to candidates for Congress who understand and support issues that affect organic agriculture and trade. Organic PAC is supported by the voluntary, personal contributions of owners and executives of OTA member companies who recognize the importance of our industry’s voice on Capitol Hill. By pooling and targeting funds from individuals affiliated with OTA’s member companies, Organic PAC makes small political donations go further. Sign up here to support the PAC and go to the game!

Natural Products Expo East has a wide array of value added workshops and events to help stimulate your business, titillate your taste buds and expand your horizons. If you are an active member of the organic and natural community don’t miss this east coast opportunity! Register today.