By Wolf & Associates’ John Foster, President, and Connie Karr, Managing Director
Anyone who has worked in organic certification knows the sector can turn practical questions into complicated debates. A simple tool can become a referendum, a framework can be seen as a threat, and a proposed concept can earn a reputation before people have a chance to understand what it actually does. The Common Organic System Plan (OSP) is in that phase now. Some people understand it and want the Common OSP as soon as possible. Others are intrigued, while some remain skeptical. Many seem to have encountered the idea through secondhand sources that suggest anything new must either save the sector or quietly undermine it. In short, the Common OSP needs clarity. That is why Wolf & Associates (W&A) is hosting an educational webinar on July 1, 2026, at 2 p.m. ET. (Register HERE).
The purpose of this brief pre-read is to make the proposed Common OSP more understandable before our webinar discussion begins. W&A’s goal is to clarify exactly what the Common OSP is and provide context for:
- Why the Common OSP emerged
- Where the confusion around it originated
- How the Common OSP and Quick Organics software platform are related but distinct
- Why certifiers, inspectors, certification reviewers, decision makers, and regulatory staff should become familiar with it, sooner than later
We all appreciate that organic certification already has plenty of genuine complexity. There is little value in adding invented mystery to the list. This is why our W&A webinar—The Common OSP Demystified—will offer relevant and current facts and insights by four leading experts in the organic industry:
- Connie Karr, Managing Director, Wolf & Associates
- Rachel Myers, Industry & Community Engagement Lead, Quick Organics
- Joe Dickson, Senior Associate, Wolf & Associates
- Mark King, Senior Associate, Wolf & Associates
- Moderated by Sylvia Tawse, Founder, Fresh Ideas Group
This conversation is especially timely because certification capacity and usability are not theoretical concerns. They are active pressures in the system right now. Anything that might reduce unnecessary strain while preserving rigor deserves close attention. At the same time, first impressions around the Common OSP are already beginning to solidify. That creates both opportunity and risk. The opportunity lies in engaging the concept on its actual terms before narratives harden. The risk lies in allowing shorthand, rumor, or platform anxiety to do the explanatory work for us. Once that happens, clarification becomes a longer, duller task, and organic paperwork has already consumed enough human vitality for one generation.
W&A’s webinar has a modest but important goal: to make the Common OSP more familiar, place it in the proper context, and support informed discussion. By the end of the webinar, there should be no mystery left to untangle around the Common OSP. We look forward to connecting with you soon.