Dr. Dilip Nandwani Appointed As Member of National Organic Standards Board

The United States Department of Agriculture has nominated four new members to the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). The NOSB is made up of 15 volunteers from the organic industry. It assists USADA in developing organic production substance guidelines and gives guidance on aspects of the National Organic Program. 

Dr. Dilip Nandwani, an Indian American professor, is one of those who will serve a five-year term that will finish in January 2027. He has a Ph.D. in Botany and has taught for 10 years, specializing in organic agriculture, certification, and crop science. 

Elizabeth (Liz) Graznak (Missouri) was nominated to an environmental protection and resource conservation seat, Allison Johnson (California) was nominated to the public interest or consumer interest group seat, and Javier Zamora (California) was assigned to a farmer seat. 

In the next five years, the new appointees will be using their expertise to help USDA focus on providing farmers and handlers with the techniques they need to meet customer needs for organic foods and to also ensure that organic is a part of efforts to construct a more climate-smart, resilient, and equitable food system. 

More about Dilip Nandwani and his Research Interests 

Nandwani has nearly two decades of experience working with Land Grant institutions on agricultural research, outreach, and teaching. He has published over 130 articles on organic agriculture, sustainable horticulture, crop production and development, micropropagation, and cultivar assessments of fruits, vegetables, and root crops. He is a member of the American Society for Horticultural Science and a Certified Professional Horticulturist.  

Nandwani is a member of the Tennessee Organic Growers Association(TOGA). He has earned several awards, such as the Western Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors' Award of Excellence and the Faculty Engaged Scholar Award from the Center for Service-Learning and Civic Engagement. 

Nandwani's research interests include sustainable agriculture, vegetable production experts (organic and conventional), grafting fruit trees, and micropropagation.