Our Taking “Stalk” of Sustainable Food Labels infographic gives you some insight into the labels you see when shopping, but what’s really behind the Canada Organic label? And what about other descriptive words for farming – like “regenerative” or “regenerative organic”? Or words on products, like “natural” or “hormone free”?
We’re happy to help shed some light on these terms for you!
Organic Farming
Organic is a type of agriculture and production system in Canada with a set of principles that put nature first, including the Principle of Health, Principle of Ecology, Principle of Fairness and Principle of Care.
When you see the Canada Organic label, it means the product has been produced following the Canadian Organic Standards, a set of industry-developed standards that enshrine these principles. These standards are verified by accredited, third party certification bodies and backed by government regulation and oversight.
An organic farmer works day-to-day to grow healthy crops and raise healthy livestock in holistic ways that sustain and work in harmony with the environment.[1]
Organic farmers incorporate practices that help them eliminate substances you may not want to find in your food, such as pesticides, synthetic hormones and artificial colours.
For example, instead of using synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, which are a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, organic farmers use ecological practices such as green manures, cover crops and compost to return nitrogen to the soil for healthy crops.
Some farmers and growers may choose to follow organic principles without becoming certified under the Canadian Organic Standards, but they cannot label their products with the Canada Organic label without certification.
Farmers might choose to practice organic farming because:
- they want to support the health of the environment and climate
- they enjoy working in harmony with nature and local biodiversity
- they want to raise livestock in a healthy and humane way
- they feel it’s important to offer the healthiest food possible to their communities and consumers
You might choose to shop and eat organic because you believe the same!
Things like textiles, clothing, pet food and health products can be made using organic practices, but they cannot be certified with the Canadian Organic Standards. If you are in doubt and it’s important to you, you may want to do a bit more research about a particular producer of these products before you shop.
Regenerative Farming
In regenerative agriculture, farm management is focused on improving the health of the soil while actively farming, through practices like minimizing disturbances to the soil (ex. tillage), incorporating diversity (like diverse plants and animals), and protecting the soil with things like mulch, cover crops, or crop residues.
There are no restrictions on what inputs can be used in regenerative farming. This means a regenerative farmer may use synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
Organic and conventional farmers are adopting regenerative farming practices to support the health of their soil. This might be important to them for the sake of the future of their farm, our climate, or both!
Regenerative farming is currently unregulated, although various independent certifications are available. Because regenerative farmers do not require a specific certification, it can be tough as a consumer to verify if what you are buying is farmed using practices you want to support. But as a consumer, you can always:
- Ask the farmer questions – most farmers are happy to chat about their work
- Visit the website of the farm before shopping and see what they have to say
Regenerative Organic Farming
Farmers practicing regenerative organic farming are weaving together the practices of both organic and regenerative farming. They are finding a balance that includes removing unwanted inputs from their farm, improving health of the soil, and working with nature.
Colin MacDonald of Sylvan Lake Farms in northern Saskatchewan is an alumni of Canadian Organic Growers’ Regenerative Organic Oats program (ROO). ROO is an opportunity for organic oat growers to adopt regenerative practices. Here is what Colin has to say about why they’ve chosen to embrace regenerative organic farming practices for their farm:
“We’re looking at our soils, we’re looking at what we’re doing, and we’re seeing over time that there’s some degradation to the quality of the soil. So we’re starting to look for other answers – how can we improve our fertility and reduce our weed pressures by improving our soil?,” says Colin, “We went searching and learned about regenerative practices, and thought well this is what we need to start implementing… We’ve been organic the whole way through – so this is taking it to the next level.”
Some regenerative organic farmers may choose to become certified through the nonprofit Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA) – to achieve ROA’s Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) status, Canadian farmers must already have their organic certification through the Canadian Organic Standards.
As a consumer, you might choose products from regenerative organic farms because you believe weaving together organic and regenerative practices is beneficial for our food security, our climate future, and for your health!
What about those other farming related words you see in store?
You may also see products in stores that are labeled with words like ‘natural’ or ‘hormone free’. There are no regulations spelling out when these kinds of labels may be used.
Unfortunately, this means some corporations may use these kinds of labels to give the false impression they are using farming practices that consumers are looking to support. This manipulation is often referred to as ‘greenwashing’.
When in doubt, asking questions and doing your research can help you figure out the truth. COG’s Organically Canadian Resource Hub is full of consumer resources like this one to help you make informed decisions.
We hope you feel armed with a bit more information to decide which farming practices you will choose to support and prioritize during your next shopping trip!
[1] Organic production systems — General principles and management standards. CAN/CGSB-32.310-2015. Introduction. I. Description