Improving Business Risk Management Programs for Organic and Diversified Farms
Canada’s Business Risk Management (BRM) programs (including AgriInsurance, AgriStability, AgriInvest and AgriRecovery) are designed to help farmers manage financial risks from weather, markets, and other disruptions.
But how well do these programs work for organic and diversified farms?
Organic farms can have different risk profiles, production systems, and economics that may not always be well reflected in program design. Organic price premiums, for example, may not be fully reflected in coverage, while diversified and mixed operations can be harder to fit within standardized programs. At the same time, many organic farmers use diversification, soil health practices and other approaches that help to manage risk over the long term and should be compatible with program design.
UBC researchers are working in collaboration with Canadian Organic Growers (COG) to better understand organic farmer experiences of BRM programs and what kind of supports organic farms need to better manage risk on their farms.
The project builds on earlier COG research into the risks associated with organic production and transition, and recommendations from COG’s 2025 Organic Task Force (OTF) Report. Findings will inform evidence-based input into Canada’s Next Policy Framework (2028-2033) and the future of BRM programs.
How You Can Participate
Do you want to have your say about improvements to Canada’s Business Risk Management (BRM) Programs like AgriInsurance, AgriStability, and AgriInvest?
We’re looking for certified organic farmers who have used or considered using any of the BRM Programs to participate in a 10-20-minute online survey. You’ll be asked about barriers and supports for participating in BRM programs, what kinds of risks you’re worried about in the future (e.g. climate change, market fluctuations), and how government programs could help. Your input will inform COG’s contributions to consultations on the next five-year Agricultural Policy Framework.
As a thank-you for your time, all survey participants will be entered into a draw to win one of three $100 gift cards.
The survey will remain open until February 28, 2027.
This research is being conducted by Drs. Susanna Klassen (Project Contact, susanna.klassen@ubc.ca ) and Navin Ramankutty (Principal Investigator, navin.ramankutty@ubc.ca) from the UBC Institute for Resources Environment and Sustainability.
This research is financially supported by COG and a Mitacs Accelerate Grant. COG is supporting the researchers with recruiting participants and policy recommendations based on the findings and will retain anonymous data following the completion of this study. For further information about COG’s role in this research, please contact Katie Fettes (katie.fettes@cog.ca).
Project Scope
The project will explore:
- Why organic farmers participate – or don’t participate – in BRM programs, and how well programs work for different types of organic farms
- How well programs reflect organic production systems and risks
- How organic farmers manage risk outside BRM programs
- What changes could make BRM programs more useful and accessible to organic farmers
The project includes:
- Interviews with organic farmers across Canada
- A national farmer survey
- Analysis of BRM policies and available data
- Engagement with researchers, organic organizations and BRM experts
- Development of policy recommendations
Findings will be shared with policymakers as the Next Policy Framework is developed, as well as with farmers and the organic sector.
Leading this work is Dr. Susanna Klassen, a postdoctoral fellow at UBC working at the intersection of sustainable food systems, climate change and justice. Susanna uses community-based and collaborative approaches to advance policy-relevant research. Her work has explored labour fairness in organic agriculture, collaborative governance of organic standards, climate change risks and protections for farmworkers, and agroecological diversification.
Susanna’s recent SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowship analyzed farmworker protections from extreme heat in the workplace, which she and her collaborators have mobilized to advocate for stronger heat exposure regulations in BC.
Susanna is also a Professional Agrologist, and runs a small farm where she lives with her family on Tla’amin territory in qathet, BC.
“I’m excited to be working with COG on this research because of its direct policy relevance and potential impact,” shares Susanna. “Farmers should be supported, not excluded or penalized, for adopting management approaches that build resilience over the long term. The available evidence points to significant challenges in how BRM programs work for organic farmers, and how they might act at cross-purposes with other environment and climate action incentives. This research will help policymakers better understand those challenges. Organic farmers are well positioned to inform new policy and program approaches that foster long-term resilience for all farmers in a way that is also more cost-effective for the government.”