With a booming $6.6 billion in sales, Canada is the sixth largest organic market in the world. Yet, demand continuously outpaces supply, despite double digit production growth. Two thirds of Canadians purchase organic products weekly and organic is the fastest growing part of the Canadian agriculture landscape. These facts are both extremely positive for the Canadian organic industry, yet without continued efforts to train organic techniques and support Canadian farmers to transition to organic, Canada may experience a lost opportunity.
About the program
In 2019, The Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA) announced the launch of our new Organic Conversion Support Program to assist organic producers financially for their added costs incurred while transitioning to organic farming.
This program reimburses producers for their paid certification costs up to $1000 maximum. The fund proved to be a key piece by the organic industry in supporting and growing our supply chain through an incredibly difficult year for farmers.
Seeds of Change is returning as a primary sponsor of the program and we thank them for providing incubator funding in the 2020 program. Without Seeds of Change, we never would have been able to fund 41 farmers and convert 6167 of acres to organic nationwide!
We are thrilled to announce that Mill Street Brewery has joined the initiative to fund 20 farmers in 2021 recognition of their 20th Anniversary as a way to give back to the organic community.
Who is eligible?
This program is for farmers in their first, second or third year of pre-certification or for farmers already certified organic and are increasing their organic acreage. "We have nearly double the amount of funding as last year and we are pleased to provide this level of assistance to farmers in need during the pandemic."
Click here for the organic conversion support program.
For more information:
Canadian Organic Trade Association
Suite 210-4 Florence Street
Ottawa, ON K2P 0W7
canada-organic.ca/en