Diverse organizations play a role in regulating, promoting, certifying or representing organics.

 

Regulating organics

 

CFIA:

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is the federal government agency overseeing all food regulations in Canada.

 

Canada Organic Regime:

This regime is a partnership between the CFIA and the organic industry which oversees organics in Canada. The Regime defines organic and helps protect consumers from misleading labeling.

 

Canadian General Standards Board

Orgainic production systems -- General principles and management standards

and

Organic production systems -- Permitted substances lists

 

Promoting Organics

 

COG: the Canadian Organic Growers

 

OFCM:

The Organic Food Council of Manitoba is a registered charitable association which promotes local, organic food through education and community building in Manitoba. It provides information about how to find organic food and connects growers with information about organics. OFCM is a chapter of COG with a diverse membership which includes producers, consumers, distributors, retailers, gardeners, artists, and entrepreneurs.

Pivot and Grow

Pivot and Grow is a program of the Prairie Organic Grains Initiative which is a program dedicated to achieving resiliency and stability in the prairie organic sector by focusing on increasing the quantity and quality of organic grains, and developing relationships across organic market value chains.

 

Representing Organics

 

OPAM:

The Organic Trade Association is a membership-based business association that focuses on the organic business community in North America.

 

MOA:

The Manitoba Organic Alliance is a membership driven, non-profit association which represents organic farmers, processors, buyers, retailers and researchers in Manitoba. MOA strengthens the organic community through leadership, networking, education, communication and advocacy.

 

Certifying organics

 

There are many organizations offering certification services to organic businesses in Manitoba including:

 

OPAM:

The Organic Producers Association, based in Manitoba

 

OCIA:

Organic Crop Improvement Association International, based in Nebraska

 

ProCert:

based in Saskatchewan and Ontario

EcoCert:

based in Quebec

 

Publications

COG´s free online reference series:  Organic seed sources, alternative medicines for dairy cattle, crop transition from conventional to ecological production, and more


COG’s Practical Skills Handbooks: Titles include Crop Planning for Organic Vegetable Growers, Growing Potatoes Organically, Living with Worms in Organic Sheep Production, Record-Keeping for Organic Farmers: how to get and stay certified, Scaling Up Organically (Feb 2011), Growing Strawberries Organically (Nov 2010).


Gaining Ground: Reference book for farmers, whether conventional, transitional or organic, who are interested in organic farming.  Gaining Ground covers a wide range of topics from soil-building and planting to certification and marketing.


Organic Field Crop Guide (2nd edition): Practical reference guide for both organic field crop farmers and conventional farmers who are considering making the transition to organic farming.

Organic Livestock Handbook: A reference guide providing the principles of organic livestock husbandry and management tools.


Introduction to Certified Organic Farming - Canadian Farm Business Management Council

 

 

Government

Manitoba Agriculture Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI) Organiculture Page


Manitoba Agriculture Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI) Organic Production Basics

 

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Organic Sector Information


Canadian Food Inspection Agency Organic Products page


Global Agriculture Information Network (GAIN) Canada Organic Food Industry Report

 

 

 

Organizations

Canadian Organic Growers


Manitoba Organic Alliance


Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada


Organic Biologique.ca

 

Organic Trade Association 

 

Organic Federation of Canada

 

Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada


The Organic Trade Association


Organic Consumers Association


The Organic Centre

 

 

Research

 

Needs Assessment of Canadian Organic Producers

 

The Research Institute of Organic Agriculture

 

Nutritional Benefits of Organic Foods from the Organic Trade Association

 

 

Resources

Resources on Organic Farming on the Prairies  - Prepared by the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada, includes a listing of organic contacts, books, website links, and researchers.


Extension Organic – Organic agriculture section of an online space where university content providers can gather and produce new educational and information resources on wide-ranging topics. (USA)

Background Info about Farmers for Climate Solutions Feb 6 2020

 
Farmers for Climate Solutions is is calling for major changes that could transform their industry from a major polluter to a solution in the fight against climate change. It's possible, experts say, but it likely won't be easy. Check out this CBC newstory. How Canadian farmers can go from climate change polluters to a key part of the solution