The government of Canada has announced that it is investing in what it describes as 'cutting-edge research' to grow market opportunities and maintain a bright future for the country's organic industry.
An investment of some C$6.5m will help bring together scientific expertise from academia, industry and government to develop more efficient and profitable processes for organic farmers, according to agriculture minister Gerry Ritz and MP Scott Armstrong.
'Demand for organic products is growing and this government wants to help our hardworking Canadian farmers capture as much of this market as possible,' said Mr Ritz. 'By creating this all-star team, we can maximise the investment and focus Canada's organic expertise on the research that shows the most promise in delivering a profitable, competitive edge to farmers.'
The Organic Federation of Canada will manage the investment to address the priorities of organic producers, focusing on soil fertility, grain cropping, greenhouse production and food processing, also helping to develop a recognisable brand to establish the country as an organic leader.
'The government of Canada knows the value of investing in a sector that gives so much to Canadian families and our economy,' said Mr Armstrong. 'This investment will benefit organic farmers, as well as conventional farmers here in Nova Scotia and across Canada, who will have access to research results that could improve their cost effectiveness and environmental management.'
The Canadian organic sector has grown considerably in the last 10-15 years, with retail sales of organic food products valued at over C$2bn in 2008.
