Government of Canada helps equip farmers with tools and knowledge to increase organic farming practices

From: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

News release

December 21, 2021 – Regina, Saskatchewan – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Today, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, announced an investment of up to $297,330 for the Prairie Organic Development Fund (PODF) to enable farmers to adopt best practices in organic farming production. This funding will provide farmers with tools and support to incorporate organic farming practices that help meet the growing demand for organic foods in Canada.

This investment will help PODF deliver its Canada Organic Ingredient Strategy, which transfers specialized skills, knowledge and best practices to existing organic farmers and those interested in adopting more organic production methods. PODF will also raise awareness and understanding about the benefits of organic farming to help strengthen public trust in Canada's agriculture and agri-food system.

Through this project, PODF will offer business extension tools and skills development to farmers across Canada through producer conferences and webinars, podcasts, online agronomic tools and training to support the adoption of organic best practices.

This initiative will help Canadian farmers to benefit from increased knowledge and skills in organic farming methods, which can improve soil health and boost farm resilience in the face of changing markets and climate change.

The Government of Canada has announced over $550 million in new programming to enhance sustainability and mitigate climate change. This includes the Agricultural Climate Solutions (ACS) Living Labs program, which is creating a Canada-wide network of regional collaborations made up of farmers, scientists and other sectoral stakeholders to engage in co-development, evaluation and adoption of beneficial management practices to better store carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Also under the ACS is the On-Farm Climate Action Fund stream, which will encourage more farmers to adopt and implement beneficial management practices that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon sequestration in the areas of nitrogen management, cover cropping and rotational grazing. It also includes the Agricultural Clean Technology Program, which supports the adoption and development of cleaner, more energy-efficient equipment, including grain dryers, in the agriculture and agri-food sector.

Quotes

"As consumer interest in organic food continues to grow, we need to ensure that our farmers have the knowledge and skills to meet that increasing demand. This investment will help grow the Canadian organic agriculture sector and address market demands by providing support to farmers who want to incorporate more organic farming techniques in their operations."

- The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

"This investment will accelerate the adoption of organic best practices among farmers and increase the supply and quality of organic grains, fruits and vegetables, and livestock, fostering the expansion of the Canadian organic food processing sector. The development of the organic sector creates opportunities for Canadian farmers and processors to meet the increasing demand for organic food domestically and internationally."

- Marla Carlson, Program Manager, Prairie Organic Development Fund

Quick facts

  • The funding announced today is provided through the AgriCompetitiveness Program, one of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership's federally delivered programs, which helps leverage, coordinate and build on existing capacity, share best practices, provide mentorship opportunities, agriculture awareness, farm business management, and farm safety information and tools.

  • The Prairie Organic Development Fund is a not-for-profit organization that is engaged in a national project to enhance the development and growth of organic agriculture across Canada.

  • Canada's organic farming sector is valued at $8 billion and is the sixth largest in the world. Demand for organics in Canada is increasing at a rate of 8.7% annually, and despite increases in Canadian organic production, the growth in global and Canadian markets continues to outpace supply.

Associated links

Contacts

Marianne Dandurand
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
marianne.dandurand@agr.gc.ca 
343-541-9229

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
1-866-345-7972 
aafc.mediarelations-relationsmedias.aac@agr.gc.ca 
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