Biomethane from a Polish Cowshed and the Fight for Clean Certification Standards – Weekly Roundup

02 · Organic Standards

USDA asks farmers and consumers: how do we protect the "organic" label?

A completely different, though equally important, story for the sector is unfolding on the other side of the Atlantic. The US National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) was accepting written comments until October 1, 2026, on substances allowed and proposed for use in organic production [2]. This is preparation for the fall meeting scheduled for October 27–29, and already the second such public consultation round this year [2].

Organizations defending certification rigor — including Beyond Pesticides — used this period to urge consumers and farmers to actively submit comments, warning against the gradual weakening of standards under industry pressure [2]. It's a reminder that the "organic" label isn't a frozen, once-and-for-all set of rules, but a living system that has to be actively defended — and that in the US, this happens largely thanks to the voice of those directly involved: farmers and buyers themselves.

Placed side by side, both stories illustrate the two pillars sustainable agriculture rests on today: on one hand, hard infrastructure and technology that turns waste into value; on the other, equally hard work on maintaining trust in what sits behind the organic label. Neither makes sense without the other: the best biogas plant won't do much for the industry's image if consumers stop believing in certification, and the strictest standard won't change anything if farms lack the tools to actually reduce their environmental footprint.