Floral industry members and other interested parties vying for a spot on the committee that will develop the first national standard for sustainable agriculture have been given an extension for submitting their applications (found here) to the Leonardo Academy.

The Academy, which is overseeing the process of choosing an estimated 40 "stakeholders" to sit on the committee for developing the standard, is extending the deadline for applications from April 7 to May 23, 2008. 

The Draft National Standard for Sustainable Agriculture Production, which would certify a company's products as sustainable, is being considered by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to become a national standard by 2010. As part of the process, representatives from all parts of the industries affected by the standard are invited to offer their input to the process.

Amanda Raster, a project manager at Leonardo Academy, says a high volume of interest in the standards following the most recent informational meeting, held at the end of February in Arlington, Va., led Leonardo to issue an extension.

"We wanted to give those people time to get caught up on the issue and decide whether or not they want to apply," she says. The committee selection date has likewise been extended from April 11 to June 16. Committee meetings, originally expected to be held in May or June will now be pushed back to either the end of June or July, Raster adds.

To learn more about proposed National Standard for Sustainable Agriculture and other facts and news regarding sustainable agriculture visit SAF's Sustainability Resources Page.

--Kori Kamradt
kkamradt@safnow.org

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