FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OTTAWA, ON, June 9th, 2025 – Canadian Organic Growers (COG), Canada’s oldest national organic regenerative association and educational charity supporting farmers across the country, is proud to announce a renewed partnership and supply chain collaboration with Riverside Natural Foods (producers of the snack brand MadeGood), Nature’s Path Organic Foods, and Bay State Milling in support of our Regenerative Organic Oats (ROO) program.
ROO is a farmer-forward program designed to support Prairie-based growers who are interested in transitioning to regenerative, soil health focused, organic farm management. This holistic program is supported by a supply chain collaboration that bolsters the growth of the Canadian regenerative organic oats supply by focusing on soil health and climate resilience in the agricultural landscape. Program farmers receive year round access to our farmer-to-farmer network, online and in person gatherings (including field days, virtual learning sessions, and annual farm visits to establish on-farm benchmarks and collect soil data), tailored training and individual agronomic consultations, and access to the ROO Participant Benefit Fund. After successfully completing a 3 year pilot phase that saw 2 dozen farms and over 36,000 more cultivated acres transition to regenerative organic production, the ROO program is ready to advance this renewed and impactful partnership.
“The ROO program, in this latest iteration, builds upon what we learned through the pilot phase, while creating more opportunities for on-farm innovation and establishing even stronger communities of practice within the program. Not only does ROO support farmers as they transition to more regenerative organic practices, but having committed supply chain partners facilitates market awareness for farmers in the program.” – Karen Murchison, COG’s Executive Director.
Through the ROO program each participating farm is working towards an end goal that will leave their soils healthier, more resilient to changing environmental conditions, and increasingly productive than when they first joined the program. Increases in water infiltration rates and reductions in soil compaction are already being noticed by participants. The journey each farm and farmer takes is unique to their context and, through the support of the ROO program, each participant has a community of program peers and our technical field team at their side each step of the way. The development of our community of practice is a central pillar of the program–farmers learn best from each other and the sense of solidarity which emerges provides additional confidence in assessing and managing risks as well as developing best regenerative organic practices.
“The development of strong, local communities of practice allows participating ROO farmers to take their learning beyond the boundaries of the program, share their experiences with others and take on leadership roles of their own within the regenerative organic community” said Dorthea Gregoire, COG’s Director of Education, Extension and Outreach. “The impact of these communities extends beyond the farmers, bringing them together with subject matter experts, creating learning opportunities for agri-support professionals and strengthening invaluable, direct relationships between the farmers and the millers and brands that turn their ingredients into consumer facing products.”
The risks of transition and farming in a changing climate should not sit on the shoulders of farmers alone. Our partnership is exemplary in showcasing how pre-competitive collaboration and engagement from across the supply chain is key to ensuring successful transition to regenerative organic management and addressing broader environmental concerns that threaten the entire organic sector.
“As a founding partner of the Regenerative Organic Oats (ROO) program, Riverside Natural Foods Ltd. is deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue supporting this important and exciting work as ROO transitions from its initial three-year pilot to a five-year program cycle in 2025. Farmers across the Canadian prairies have been on the frontlines of the real and mounting challenges of climate change since day one, from periods of severe drought to shifting growing seasons and everything in between. From just four curious and committed organic farmers in 2022 to 32 enrolled in 2025, we’ve witnessed firsthand the program’s momentum grow alongside an increasing demand for farming practices rooted in regenerative organic principles and climate resilience. We continue to be inspired by the knowledge, compassion, and dedication shown by each ROO cohort as well as our fellow founding partners.
The ROO program demonstrates what’s possible when motivated people across supply chains, from producers to not-for-profits and businesses, come together in open, honest, and values-driven collaboration to align incentives and build lasting resilience in agriculture and in our communities. We believe the pre-competitive nature of this collaboration is one of ROO’s greatest strengths and we hope this program will serve as an example to inspire others to action! “- Riverside Natural Foods Ltd
“At Nature’s Path, we believe that leaving the Earth better than we found it is essential—not just for our health, but for that of the planet and future generations. Our continued collaboration as founders and supporters of the Regenerative Organic Oats program alongside Canadian Organic Growers, Riverside Natural Foods, and Bay State Milling reflects a shared commitment to advancing regenerative organic practices that support farmers, nourish the soil, and protect precious natural resources. Together, we’re not only cultivating great organic oats—we’re cultivating a brighter food future.” – Jyoti Stephens, VP Mission and Strategy, Nature’s Path Organic Foods
Through this renewed partnership, the ROO program will continue to cultivate change and deliver major on-farm impacts across the Prairies over the next 5 years. The establishment of benchmarks on each participating farm and the annual monitoring of the physical, chemical and biological components of the soil system are empowering farmers to make data based decisions that will drive their farms towards improved soil health and increased climate resilience.
Regenerative Organic Oats
The Regenerative Organic Oats (ROO) program supports Canadian farmers in transitioning to regenerative organic management, promotes an iterative, systems based approach to farm planning, enhances climate resilience, improves soil health and productivity, while improving atmospheric carbon capture and retention in farm soils.
Learn more about the Regenerative Organic Oats program.
About Canadian Organic Growers
Canadian Organic Growers (COG), is Canada’s oldest organic and regenerative association dedicated to supporting farmers and gardeners adopting more ecologically-based agriculture practices. Since its inception in 1975, COG has led the progress and prosperity of the organic movement and sector in Canada.
As a registered educational charity and not-for-profit, we work collaboratively with stakeholders across Canada to be the voice for organic growers and consumers, to advance policy work and industry development at the local, regional and national levels and to train and support organic, regenerative and ecological growers across the country.
To learn more about COG, please visit: www.cog.ca
Media Contact
Jenna Spencer
Director of Marketing and Communications jenna.spencer@cog.ca