Consultation on a National Organic Action Plan for Canada
The time is ripe
Canadians are committed to organic – as evidenced by the continued expansion of the organic sector in many segments of the economy. Canada is now the 5th largest organic market in the world worth more than $9.35 billion in 2021 and growing.
A focused plan is needed to ensure that our future food system includes a strong foundation in organic agriculture.
Building on similar actions to grow the organic sector in the United States and the European Union, an Organic Action Plan (OAP) is a comprehensive plan that will recognize the important role that organic plays in the future of sustainable agriculture in Canada.
Organic has positive benefits on climate, biodiversity and social outcomes. It expands on opportunities for value-added products, builds on-farm resilience in the face of extreme weather, strengthens supply chains and increases revenues for producers. These environmental and economic benefits are recognized by major trading partners through concrete support and financial investments.
A comprehensive plan for a resilient food system
The OAP proposes benchmarks, targets and policies that look at incentivizing production, reinforcing the organic supply chain and increasing the overall demand for organic. It will provide a blueprint to mobilize government resources and organic sector stakeholders, by including:
- Ambitious national targets
- Organic transition supports, knowledge transfer and extension services
- Investments in research
- Robust data on production and markets
- Strong market supports
- Efficient collaboration with Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Canadian Food Inspection Agency in its development
As a stakeholder in the organic value chain, your input is key.
The OAP framework will be used as an advocacy tool in discussions with the government. A successful plan depends on the commitment and support of both the organic sector and government.
We want to hear from you!
The three national organizations, Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA), Canadian Organic Growers (COG) and the Organic Federation of Canada (OFC), are developing an Organic Action Plan - an accelerator for growth - that will be unveiled this fall.
On August 22, a consultation was launched and webinar was held to provide an overview of the proposed OAP framework and additional context. A survey was developed to collect feedback on the proposed framework.
Note: This is a preliminary draft of the framework for a comprehensive OAP for the long-term development of the sector.
We are seeking your input to develop the draft framework into a full plan and identify priorities.
by October 20, 2023 - 9pm EDT
Learn more about our vision
- View the recording (53 minutes long.)
- Download the presentation slides and summary of the framework.
- Discuss and share with colleagues and peers.
- Complete the online survey (Quick survey - 5 minutes, extended survey 10-15 minutes.)
Download a copy of all survey questions if you would like to review before submitting your answers online.
Questions
Please direct questions about the consultation or survey to:
My-Lien Bosch
Canada Organic Trade Association
Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs Manager
mbosch@canada-organic.ca
Katie Fettes
Canadian Organic Growers
Director of Policy and Research
katie.fettes@cog.ca
View the webinar presented by COTA, COG, and OFC to learn about the key elements of a National Organic Action Plan for the growth of Canada’s organic sector.