New Strategy Aims to Boost Canada’s Organic Agriculture
The Canadian Organic Alliance; a coalition of the Canada Organic Trade Association, Canadian Organic Growers, and the Organic Federation of Canada has unveiled an Organic Action Plan for Canada.
The initiative urges federal and provincial governments to implement a unified national strategy that strengthens the organic sector’s competitiveness, boosts investment, and enhances domestic supply chains to meet increasing consumer demand.
Developed collaboratively with extensive sectoral input, the plan lays out a roadmap for positioning organic agriculture as a key pillar of Canada’s agri-food economy. It proposes a public–private partnership model to drive coordinated growth, investment, and innovation across jurisdictions.
“Organic agriculture represents one of Canada’s most underused economic opportunities,” said Karen Murchison, Executive Director, Canadian Organic Growers. “This plan gives the government a clear roadmap to unlock billions in net farm income and help Canadian farmers and processors compete globally while driving growth here at home.”
Despite Canada’s growing organic market-valued at $9.75 billion in 2024 - domestic production has stagnated, forcing processors to rely on imports.
In contrast, the U.S. and EU have significantly outpaced Canada in organic investment, with the EU spending roughly 200 times more per acre, according to the Organic Task Force.
“With shifting global trade dynamics and strong consumer demand, organic policy must shift from an enforcement-based approach to a strategic driver of economic growth,” said Tia Loftsgard, Executive Director, Canada Organic Trade Association.
“Canada has the standards, certification system and international credibility to lead. With the right policy framework, Canada can build supply, attract investment, and strengthen the organic value chain–while delivering the environmental and social benefits that consumers increasingly seek.”
The plan is structured around three pillars: accelerating organic innovation and production, expanding domestic and export markets, and strengthening policy, regulation, and data infrastructure.
“Canada already has the regulatory foundation for organic agriculture,” said Nicole Boudreau, Executive Director, Organic Federation of Canada.
“The next step is coordinated leadership and investment to turn that foundation into growth—for farmers, processors and rural communities.”
Photo Credit: Canada Organic Trade Association