By Katie Fettes, Director of Policy and Research, Canadian Organic Growers
In early December 2024, I joined hundreds of farmers, researchers, policymakers, and advocates at the 21st IFOAM Organic World Congress (OWC) in Taiwan. It was a week of inspiring conversations, knowledge exchange, and powerful grounding in the transformative potential of organic agriculture to address global challenges.

The event took place at Nanhua University, set in the hills north of Chiayi City, between the mountains and Taiwan’s southwest coast. The university’s team worked tirelessly to provide a warm welcome and excellent organization, making the Congress an energizing and engaging experience for all.
Cultivating Global Solutions
Many delegates had toured organic farms across the island before arriving at the Congress to dive into the agenda centered on “Cultivating Organic Solutions for True Sustainability.”
A pre-conference session explored how regenerative, organic, and agroecology movements can work and grow together. This set the tone for the week: a celebration of organic farming’s successes and a call for greater collaboration across borders, sectors, and systems.
Themes included the role of policy, market development, and farmer engagement in advancing organic agriculture. Delegates from Nepal, Tanzania, Brazil, Taiwan, and beyond shared how grassroots movements have influenced national policies.
During a plenary session on “Regional and National Organic Policy: Breakthroughs and Lessons Learnt across the Globe,” I shared Canada’s experience—highlighting the sector’s potential for growth, our research linking organics to key policy goals, and the work of the Canadian Organic Alliance (COA) in building advocacy momentum.




Presenting Canada’s organic policy work during a global policy plenary session. Photo Credit: IFOAM
From discussions on outcomes-based frameworks that measure the environmental benefits of organics to innovative strategies for making organic farming more accessible to smallholder farmers, the Congress provided a platform to exchange global best practices and innovations.
Building Global Connections
Throughout the week, we strengthened ties with key IFOAM platforms, including the Inter-Continental Network of Organic Farmer Organizations (INOFO). INOFO facilitates farmer-to-farmer exchanges, providing an opportunity for Canadian farmers to learn from and share knowledge with global peers.
We also connected with members of IFOAM North America, our regional body. As part of this network, we’re excited to collaborate with North American partners to advance organic agriculture regionally and globally.
I was pleased to join a strong Canadian delegation at the Congress, including representatives from the Canada Organic Trade Association, Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada, Riverside Natural Foods, CETAB+ (Centre d’expertise et de transfert en agriculture biologique et de proximité, or Centre of Expertise and Transfer in Organic and Local Agriculture), and Bishop’s University. Together, we contributed to discussions and brought back valuable ideas to strengthen Canada’s organic sector.
A Closer Look at Taiwan’s Organic Journey
Taiwan offers an interesting case study, having made significant strides in organic food and farming over the past decade.
The Organic Agriculture Promotion Act, passed in 2019, reinforced Taiwan’s commitment to food sovereignty, biodiversity protection, and climate resilience through agriculture. Since the end of 2018, organic and eco-friendly farmland has more than doubled (1), with the government supporting farmer incentives, organic research, local supply chains, public procurement, and regional branding.
You Si-Kun, Former Premier of Executive Yuan, opened the conference with an invigorating speech on Taiwan’s work to develop the Act as a commitment to address the climate crisis.
Taiwan’s holistic approach reflects the core principles of organic agriculture—health, ecology, fairness, and care—and its policy journey reminds us that while the process may be long, the outcomes are deeply impactful.
Looking Ahead
On December 5-6, 2024, following the Congress, I participated in the IFOAM General Assembly (GA). This decision-making body votes on motions, elects the World Board, and selects the next Congress location—set for the Philippines in 2027.
The OWC reaffirmed that the global organic movement is growing and evolving, with excellent work underway all around the world. Countries like Nepal and Tanzania are advancing national organic strategies that could serve as models for Canada.
Returning home, I felt energized by these examples and grateful to be immersed in a dynamic global community. These global experiences will undoubtedly shape our work in Canada as we advocate for supportive policies and stronger networks to grow the organic sector.
The message was clear: organic agriculture isn’t just an alternative—it’s the future. The work ahead is exciting, and the momentum is global.
See you in The Philippines in 2027!
Want more info about the Organic World Congress?
- Check out IFOAM’s recap
- See content from the Organic World Congress, including videos about organic products in Taiwan: owc.ifoam.bio
- Watch a recap video here


Katie Fettes is the Director of Policy and Research with Canadian Organic Growers, where she works with farmers and advocates to support the shift to a more regenerative and resilient food and farming system through federal policy and research.