The federal government is investing $170,000 into Canada’s organic sector to help with quality development and marketing.
“We want to give Canadian farmers and processors a competitive edge in the organic sector and help them meet consumer demands at home and abroad by providing organic products of the highest standards,” said Gail Shea, minister of fisheries and oceans, announcing the investment on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz.
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) in Canada will receive more than $118,000 to help it participate in international trade shows, develop promotional materials, and build a long-term international strategy for the organic sector.
Read Also
Nanotechnology used to develop genetic pest control
Researchers from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada are working with nanotechnology and RNA to develop new pest insect control methods as an alternative to chemical spray on crops.
“We are excited about what this federal funding means in terms of building new markets for Canadian organic products,” said Matthew Holmes, OTA in Canada’s managing director.
“The global organic market is expanding rapidly and this support will allow Canada to establish itself as a supplier of quality organic products.”
The Canadian Organic Growers Association (COG) will receive almost $50,000 to develop a strategy for determining how current on-farm food safety systems can best meet the specific needs of organic agriculture. Five organic commodities will be chosen for this project in consultation with organic farmers across the country.
Both contr ibut ions are funded under the Government of Canada’s Growing Forward framework.
The Canadian organic retail market was valued at close to $2 billion in 2008, representing a 66 per cent growth from the $1.2 billion organic retail value in 2006.
