National organic groups want to get a bigger space at the table when it comes to federal policies and the work of departments like Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
The goal is part of a proposed national organic action plan launched in September.
Organic industry groups say their products are gaining popularity among consumers and government should pay more attention to the sector.
The U.S. and Europe “are looking into the future and recognize the benefits of organic farming on climate, biodiversity, sustainable agricultural practices, and the rise of value-enhanced goods,” said Tia Loftsgard, executive director of the Canadian Organic Trade Association, in a Sept. 18 news release.
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In Canada, “similar investments are needed to remain competitive and to maximize the positive outcomes for Canadian agriculture, the economy and society,” she said.
The association and its national partners, Canadian Organic Growers and the Organic Federation of Canada, unveiled a draft of their national action plan Sept. 18 and asked for industry input.
Alongside market development and research goals, the plan would push for organic food and farming to get its own unit within AAFC, and would see organic interests integrated in policy across federal departments.
“We get lost in the fold,” Loftsgard told the Co-operator.
While AAFC provides the organic sector with some funding for research or development of export strategies, Loftsgard said the overall contribution is “nominal” and government support is dropping in some provinces.
Demand for organic food in Canada, meanwhile, is rising. In September 2021, the trade association said the previous year’s organic food market share was 3.3 per cent, up from 1.7 per cent in 2012. Sales topped $6.5 billion in 2020, up 33 per cent from 2017.
“The market continues to grow like crazy,” Loftsgard said.
If Canadian farmers can’t meet domestic needs, “that means we’re just going to start feeding more and more imported foods to Canadians.”
According to a summary of the national organic plan, organic groups want to see AAFC develop something akin to the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program.
That program is “a federal regulatory program that develops and enforces consistent national standards for organically produced agricultural products sold in the United States,” says its website.
In Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency oversees organic standards.
The USDA program also contains supports such as a partnership program to help farmers transition to organic, and supports for research, marketing and business development.
Call to action
The Canadian plan will be multi-year and multi-pronged, Loftsgard said.
When she spoke to the Co-operator on Sept. 21, organic groups were days away from meeting with AAFC’s policy and programs division for the first time.
Organic sector representatives have also been speaking with members of parliament and senators to gauge who will champion their asks, she added.
“We need to co-ordinate, not just with the feds. We also have to co-ordinate with the provincial governments. There’s a lot of work to be done.”
AAFC had not provided comment as of press time.
