Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada will invest over $640,000 to the Canadian Organic Growers (COG) to help get more Canadian consumers buying local, Canadian-made organic products.
The announcement was made at Chelsea Market, during Canada’s National Organic Week, an annual event to showcase and celebrate organic food farming and products across the country. The demand for organic foods in Canada continues to rise, and there are many hard-working and entrepreneurial organic food producers across the country. However, much of the Canadian demand for organics is met by imported products.
With this investment, COG will develop a strategy to identify and find solutions to organic supply chain barriers so that Canadian organic producers can realize their full economic potential and more Canadian consumers can buy locally produced Canadian organic food.
Strategy recommendations will be assessed and evaluated by an independent industry-wide national advisory committee and a final report will be published that will explore investment opportunities to meet domestic demands and recommendations on how to best seize the opportunities. The report will also help quantify the economic and environmental benefits of increasing domestic organic production and supply chains.
“Demand for organic food is growing rapidly and we want to ensure that it is Canadian producers who are benefitting from that increased demand. Our government is focused on ensuring Canadians have greater self-sufficiency and sustainability in our food supply system, and this investment in the organic sector strategy will help us get there.”- The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
“Canada’s organic growers have reason to celebrate. More and more Canadians are buying the fresh organic produce that we have to offer, both locally and across the country. This strategy will help the organic industry seize new opportunities to ensure Canadian consumers have access to Canadian organic food.”- William Amos, Member of Parliament for the Pontiac
“As we stand at the juncture of the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis, the launch of this collaborative, industry-wide project is vital for Canadians. Gaining an understanding of the barriers that exist between organic farmers and consumers will help the organic industry meet the growing demand for organic food in Canada and abroad, and play a prominent role in Canada’s economic recovery. This project will also help Canada advance action on climate change through its support for sustainable agriculture practices and the Canadian farmers on the front lines of the climate crisis.”- Gillian Flies, President, Canadian Organic Growers Board of Directors
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