Canadian Organic Standard and Permitted Substances List
The General Principles and Management Standards and Permitted Substances List are available free of charge on the Canada General Standards Board website. Hard copies may be obtained by calling 1-800-665-2472 (Canada only).
Production Related Resources
Saskatchewan Best Organic Management Practices - This is a booklet distilled from interviews with leading farmers about their practices.
Directory of Allowable Organic Inputs - Information, provided by ACORN, on the availability of allowable inputs and resources, as well as identification, prevention and treatment options for pests and weeds.
Canadian Organic Growers - A national charitable producer association with members all across Canada. Provides informative publications, e-newsletters and organic week celebrations.
Cropchoice - Alternative news source for American Farmers: information source about genetically modified crops, alternatives, management options, and profitability.
Seeds of Diversity Canada (SoDC) - Canadian charitable organization dedicated to the conservation, documentation and use of public-domain non-hybrid plants of Canadian significance.
Certified Organic Association of British Columbia (COABC) - As an umbrella association for certification bodies, COABC seeks to educate farmers transitioning to organic production; advocate for organic consumption; provide current research and vital information for consumers, producers, stakeholders and the media; and interface with federal and provincial governments, and various organic sector stakeholders.
Cyber-Help for Organic Farmers - Supported by COABC this site encourages organic and alternative food production in Canada by improving accessibility to organic farming content online.
Rare Breeds Canada - A charitable organization dedicated to conserving, evaluating, and promoting rare and endangered breeds of livestock and poultry.
The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) - A non-profit organization in the
Canadian Coalition for Farm Animals (CCFA) - CCFA, through its member organizations, represents more than 100,000 Canadians concerned about the treatment of animals raised for food.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Organic production site, providing links to statistics, news releases, the regulation and standard.
Research related resources
Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada (OACC) - The OACC is dedicated to enhancing the environmental and social integrity of agriculture through scientific analyses of sustainable farming. The results of this research will be made available to farmers and the public through this web site and web based courses.
Organic Crop Production - University of Manitoba's Natural Systems Agriculture articles and research.
University of Saskatchewan: Organic Information Website
Ecological Agriculture Projects (EAP) -
Rodale Institute: No Till Revolution - This site demonstrates the potential for a front-mounted roller-crimper to save time, lower costs and improve sustainability.
Alternatives to Insecticides for Managing Vegetable Insects
Organic Apple Spray Program - Provided by
The Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (AFSIC) - Specializes in locating and accessing information related to alternative cropping systems.
Organic Farming Research Foundation - An American non-profit foundation that supports organic farming research and education projects.
Organic Centre of Wales - Offers Information, statistical data and research results related to organic farming.
Media
Deconstructing Dinner - Award-winning independent radio show reporting on current issues throughout the world of food but maintains a focus on local BC food systems.
International Organizations and Resources
Soil Association - The UK's leading campaigning charity and certification body for organic food and farming. A pioneer in the organic movement.
ATTRA - The National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service provides the latest in sustainable agriculture and organic farming news, events and funding opportunities.
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) - A membership-based organic business association representing all sectors of the organic industry throughout North America. OTA's mission is to encourage global sustainability through promoting and protecting the growth of diverse organic trade.
The Canberra Organic Growers Society - A non-profit organization provides a forum for organic growers to exchange information, and encourage the general public to adopt organic growing methods.
Warm Earth - An Australian organic growing magazine.
Network for Animal Health and Welfare in Organic Agriculture (NAHWOA) - A research forum on animal health and welfare in organic livestock production.
Canada-Cuba Farmer to Farmer project - A bilateral Canadian-Cuban project aimed to the creation of a brand new, ethical model for international engagement between farmer cooperatives in
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) - The worldwide umbrella organization of the organic agriculture movement uniting over 750 members in 108 countries.
Cropchoice - Alternative news source for American Farmers: information source about genetically modified crops, alternatives, management options, and profitability.Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy - Promotes resilient family farms, rural communities and ecosystems around the world through research and education, science and technology, and advocacy.
Institute for Food and Development Policy - A member-supported, non-profit 'peoples' think tank and education-for-action center.
The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) - A non-profit organization in the
HDRA the Organic Organization - European organic membership organization, dedicated to researching and promoting organic gardening, farming and food.
The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) - A USDA-funded initiative that sponsors competitive grants for sustainable agriculture research and education.
Organic Farming in Europe – Offers publications related to the Economics and Policy of organic agriculture in
Organic Agriculture at Whole Foods Market - Information about
Organic Guide - an international online publication connecting global consumers with the best the organic industry has to offer.
Books
Organic Farming on the Prairies (2000) - The finished product brings 350 pages of top quality information, compiled by more than 25 authors, reviewed by numerous experts, both farmers and scientists, as well as a final editorial committee, and finally polished by Brenda Frick with an eye to relevance, accuracy and readability. (2nd edition soon to be available from SOD)
Canadian Organic Growers Publications (Available from COG)
Organic Field Crop Handbook (2001 - 2nd edition) - A must read practical reference guide for both organic field crop farmers and conventional farmers who are considering making the transition to organic farming.
Organic Livestock Handbook (2004) - A primer manual for anyone currently producing livestock or planning to start.
Gaining Ground: Making a Successful transition to Organic Farming (2005) - An invaluable tool for all farmers interested in organic farming, whether conventional, transitional or organic. The book covers all bases – from soil-building and planting to certification and marketing, revealing an approach that is much more than simply farming without chemicals.
Intro to Certified Organic Farming (2nd edition) - Publication by Canadian Farm Business Management Council (CFBMC). (Available from COG)
Starting your farming business
Starting and Growing a Business: Marketing
Starting and Growing a Business: Regulations
Determining the Type and Source of Financing Required
Thank you to Canadian Organic Growers for compiling many of these resources.
