This Organic Month comes at an important moment for Canadian agriculture.
Farmers are facing rising costs, thin margins, and increasingly unpredictable weather and markets.
At the same time, Canada is looking for ways to strengthen domestic food production and supply chains, improve farm resilience, and build a more competitive and independent agricultural economy with diversified markets and trading partners.
Organic agriculture can be part of the solution.
Organic is already a significant and growing market in Canada. But much of the organic food Canadians buy is imported. Growing more of it here represents an opportunity to turn existing demand into more Canadian production, processing, and farm profitability, while also supporting trade opportunities.
Organic farming can also help address some of the risks facing agriculture. By relying less on purchased synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, building soil health and using more diverse production systems, organic farms can reduce exposure to input costs while delivering environmental benefits and strengthening resilience. Recent research by the Organic Task Force found that organic farming in Canada uses up to 50% less energy and is up to 40% more energy efficient, based on long-term Prairie trials; and reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 35% per acre and 15% per unit of production. The Organic Task Force also estimated that tripling organic acreage in Canada would:
- Reduce synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizer use by 79.5 million kg N/year, contributing 14% of Canada’s fertilizer emissions reduction target.
- Reduce pesticide use by 1.8 million kg active ingredient/year.
- Avoid GHG emissions of 769 kt CO₂e annually, offsetting 1% of Canada’s agricultural emissions.
Because organic is backed by a regulated standard, it provides an established framework for advancing regenerative practices and delivering lasting outcomes.
The opportunity now is to make sure Canada’s agricultural policies give farmers and businesses the tools to grow.
That is what Canada’s Organic Action Plan (OAP) is working toward. Developed by the sector, launched by the Canadian Organic Alliance, and championed by organic organizations and industry partners across the country, the OAP calls for actions to:
- reduce the financial risk farmers face when transitioning to organic and better support farm risk management;
- strengthen organic research, extension and farmer knowledge to improve performance and success on organic farms;
- improve access to organic data and market intelligence;
- maintain strong Canadian Organic Standards and international trade equivalency arrangements; and
- invest in domestic organic processing, markets and supply chains so more Canadian demand can be met by Canadian production – and more Canadians can access organic food.
The OAP is both a policy roadmap and a sector action plan. The two go hand in hand.
Governments are now shaping the next agricultural policy framework for 2028-2033, while also advancing work on food security, soil health, domestic production and competitiveness.
We already have a strong Canadian market for organic, as well as opportunities to grow exports, including with diverse trade partners. The question is whether we will take the opportunity to produce more of it here, and capture more of the benefits for Canadian farmers, consumers and communities.
This Organic Month, COG and our partners are working to make sure organic is part of that conversation, as a “shovel ready” tool for a more profitable, resilient, and competitive Canadian food system.
Join us! We’ll be hosting a community briefing in November to share updates on COG’s policy and advocacy activities – including our work on the OAP, what’s ahead, and how you can get involved. Stay tuned for dates!