Organic Agriculture and Advocating for the Organic Marketplace with Kestrel Burcham | EP 65

Kestrel Burcham is the Policy Director for the Cornucopia Institute. The Cornucopia Institute acts as a watchdog for the organic industry and advocates for an organic label that can be trusted. In this fascinating conversation, Dianne and Kestrel talk about the benefits of organic agriculture, how the Cornucopia Institute advocates for the industry, how consumers can help shift conventional agriculture to organic, and more! Kestrel lives in northwest Oregon, in the lush Willamette Valley. Kestrel has a background in Animal Science and English from the University of California, Davis. They have worked as an animal technician in both research and industry settings and have experience with different types of livestock. Organic and environmentally conscious food production is part of their background, having grown up on familial farms and assisted in all aspects of farm management. Their favorite part of living with the land has always been getting their hands dirty caring for and nurturing crops that would end up on the dinner table. Kestrel Burcham holds a J.D. with a certificate in Environmental and Natural Resource Law from Lewis and Clark Law School. After completing law school and passing the Oregon Bar exam, they practiced in animal and agricultural law for a few years before joining Cornucopia as a policy analyst. Kestrel is particularly passionate about sustainable agricultural, environmental protection, and animal welfare. As a policy director, Kestrel champions authentic organic agriculture in their research, writing, education, and direct advocacy. Kestrel enjoys exploring the outdoors through hiking, photography, gardening, and horseback riding. **Timestamps for the topics discussed can be found on this episode's NTI PodTalk page. Are you ready to start your journey as a Nutrition Therapist Master or Natural Food Chef? To learn more about NTI's Nutrition Therapist Master Certification, visit ntischool.com for more information, or call 303-284-8361 to speak with our admissions team. This discussion is not intended to provide Medical Nutrition Therapy, nor in any way imply that Nutrition Therapists who graduate from NTI are qualified to provide Medical Nutrition Therapy.  The scope of practice for graduates of NTI is to deliver therapeutic nutrition guidance to our clients which helps support their natural biology to achieve optimal function in whatever wellness path they are on.