The 13th Annual Iowa Organic Conference, scheduled for Nov. 17-18, will once again bring national experts, the latest in organic agriculture production research, and the voices of local experience together on the University of Iowa campus.

The conference will be held in Iowa Memorial Union with an evening reception and film showing on Sunday. Nov. 17 and the full conference beginning at 8 a.m. Monday, Nov. 18.

Conference organizers are Iowa State University Extension and Outreach organic agriculture, the University of Iowa Office of Sustainability, and New Pioneer Food Cooperative in Iowa City.

“This is the second year this partnership has organized the conference,” says Kathleen Delate, extension organic agriculture specialist with Iowa State University. “There is a great concentration of producer and consumer interest in organic production in eastern Iowa, with Iowa City being the central location for the some of the largest organic producer and consumer communities in Iowa.”

Organic producers, consumers, conventional farmers, and others interested in science-based research in organic agriculture and practical applications for farming systems will find a wide variety of topics and speakers at the 2013 conference.

The keynote speaker is Bob Quinn, a Montana organic farmer with 4,000 certified acres producing organic grains, alfalfa hay, vegetables, and fruits. He will speak about on-farm biodiversity and the benefits of multiple crops in terms of spreading risk and providing ecological services.

Other conference speakers include Miles McEvoy, U.S. Department of Agriculture National Organic Program, speaking about efforts to increase the understanding of organic; Bill Stowe of Des Moines Waterworks, on curtailing nitrate pollution in Iowa’s waters; experts on many aspects of local food systems; area organic farmers offering tips for best practices during transition to organic farming; and Iowa State researchers—Delate and Cynthia Cambardella—sharing findings from a 16-year comparison of organic and conventional rotations and recent research quantifying carbon sequestration benefits.

A pre-conference reception begins at 6 p.m. Sunday Nov. 17, followed by a 7 p.m. showing of the film GMO-OMG in the IMU Ballroom. Conference registration begins at 7:30 a.m. on Nov. 18 with a welcome at 8 a.m. and concluding at 5 p.m. An all-organic lunch will be prepared by UI Dining Executive Chef Barry Greenberg and his staff, featuring regional foods as well as produce grown by UI and ISU students.

Registration information is available at the conference website, and online registration is available here. Early registration deadline is Nov. 1. For more information, contact Delate at 515-294-7069 or kdelate@iastate.edu.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all UI-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in any of these programs, contact the Office of Sustainability in advance at 319-335-5517.