Cultivating the Organic Opportunity for Canadian Farmers and Consumers
Sept. 11, 2025 – At the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm, research is underway to improve farm management practices in tandem with producers. In its goal to be a model organic farm, UBC Farm is investigating ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen biodiversity to reduce agriculture’s impact on the environment, while helping industry become more resilient to weather fluctuations and socio-economic pressures.
Today, a new report from Canadian Organic Growers (COG)’s Organic Task Force finds that investing in organic agriculture will boost farm profitability, meet rising demand for organic food, diversify trade, and deliver climate and biodiversity benefits for Canada.
In 2023, Canada’s organic market was valued at over $9 billion, up from $6.38 billion in 2019, making it the fifth largest in a growing global market.
During this time, however, domestic organic production has not increased, contributing to rising imports and missed opportunities for Canadian farmers. This report finds that with targeted investment, we can grow Canadian organic production to better meet growing demand at home and abroad, while advancing both economic and environmental outcomes.
The report calls for a public investment of $68.5 million annually to triple and strengthen organic agriculture in Canada, including to support existing organic farmers and to reduce barriers for others to transition to organic farming.
This report is the result of collaboration led by Canadian Organic Growers with farmers, researchers, policy experts and many community partners. Dr. Sean Smukler, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm, served as one of the advisors for the Task Force.
For more information about the Task Force and to read the report, visit: www.cog.ca/policy/organic-task-force/
Watch a video about our research at the UBC Farm:
Tagged with: 2025, Applied Biology, Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, Sustainable Agriculture and Environment, UBC Farm