When was organic farming introduced

The world market for organic food has grown for over 15 years. Growth of retail sales in North America is predicted to be 10 per cent to 20 per cent per year during the next few years. It is estimated that imported products make up over 70 per cent of the organic food consumed in Canada. Canada also exports many organic products, particularly soybeans and grains. The Canadian Organic Farmers reported certified organic farms in Ontario in with over , certified organic acres of crops and pasture land.

This is an annual increase of approximately 10 per cent per year in recent years. About 48 per cent of the organic cropland is seeded to grains, 40 per cent produces hay and pasture and about five per cent for certified organic fruits and vegetables. Livestock production meat, dairy and eggs has also been steadily increasing in recent years. The main reasons farmers state for wanting to farm organically are their concerns for the environment and about working with agricultural chemicals in conventional farming systems.

There is also an issue with the amount of energy used in agriculture, since many farm chemicals require energy intensive manufacturing processes that rely heavily on fossil fuels. Organic farmers find their method of farming to be profitable and personally rewarding.

Consumers purchase organic foods for many different reasons. Many want to buy food products that are free of chemical pesticides or grown without conventional fertilizers.

Some simply like to try new and different products. Product taste, concerns for the environment and the desire to avoid foods from genetically engineered organisms are among the many other reasons some consumers prefer to buy organic food products.

In it was estimated that over 60 per cent of consumers bought some organic products. Approximately five per cent of consumers are considered to be core organic consumers who buy up to 50 per cent of all organic food.

There are several certification bodies operating in Ontario. A grower wishing to be certified organic must apply to a certification body requesting an independent inspection of their farm to verify that the farm meets the organic standards.

Farmers, processors and traders are each required to maintain the organic integrity of the product and to maintain a document trail for audit purposes. Products from certified organic farms are labelled and promoted as "certified organic. In June , the Canadian government introduced regulations to regulate organic products.

The Canadian organic regulations require certification to these standards for agricultural products represented as organic in import, export and inter-provincial trade, or that bear the federal organic agricultural product legend or logo. Figure 1 Products that are both produced and sold within a province are regulated by provincial organic regulations where they exist Quebec, British Columbia and Manitoba. Figure 1. Canadian Agriculture Product Legend logo. The federal regulations apply to most food and drink intended for human consumption and food intended to feed livestock, including agricultural crops used for those purposes.

They also apply to the cultivation of plants. The regulations do not apply to organic claims for other products such as aquaculture products, cosmetics, fibres, health care products, fertilizers, pet food, lawn care, etc. Food products labelled as organic must contain at least 95 per cent organic ingredients not including water and salt and can bear the Canada Organic logo. Multi-ingredient products with less than 70 per cent organic content may identify the organic components in the ingredient list.

Exported products must meet the requirements of the importing country or standards negotiated through international equivalency agreements. Products exported to the U. All products that meet the requirements of the Canada Organic Regime can be exported to the U. Canada is also exploring other international equivalency agreements with other trading partners to enhance trade opportunities for export and to assure the organic integrity of imported products.

When considering organic certification, know the requirements and accreditation s needed in the marketplace where your products will be sold. When comparing certification bodies, make sure they have the certification requirements and accreditations needed to meet market requirements. As a minimum certification bodies should be accredited under the Canadian Organic Products Regulations.

Some markets may require accreditation or equivalency agreements with countries in the European Union, or with the Japanese Agricultural Standard JAS , Bio-Swisse or other international organic certification systems. As Canada develops international equivalency agreements the need for the certification body to have these international accreditations will diminish.

The first few years of organic production are the hardest. Organic standards require that organic lands must be managed using organic practices for 36 months prior to harvest of the first certified organic crop. This is called the "transition period" when both the soil and the manager adjust to the new system. In , in Cuba, the combination of the U. This was because they found it very difficult to import the chemical fertilizers and heavy machinery needed for traditional agriculture, therefore they turned to organic farming.

In the s around the world, farmers and consumers started to advocate for government regulation of organic farming. This sparked the creation of the certification standards that were enacted in the s. In the European Union and the United States, the majority of aspects of organic food production are government-regulated. The global retail market for organic food has expanded exponentially each year due to increasing consumer demand.

This was a result of the concern over the safety of food that was produced using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. In , U. The OFPA resulted in the creation of the National Organic Standards Board that would make recommendations for which substances could be used in organic production and handling.

The board also would assist the USDA in writing regulations to explain the law to farmers, handlers, and certifiers. The regulations under the OFPA took more than a decade to write and the final regulations were finally implemented in In the s, the worldwide market for organic food began to grow rapidly. Organic farmland increased from 11 million hectares in to In , there were approximately 2.

Additionally, during the s and s, more countries around the world began to implement government-regulated organic certifications. For example, in the European Union Organic Certification was enacted to enforce strict requirements for organic food production. The global organic market was greater than billion U.

There are approximately 2. Farmland also increased to a total of Additionally, some have criticized the high costs of organic food as they believe there is a lack of evidence to back that it is more beneficial to health. Still, organic food continues to grow in popularity, and it is expected that it will become more affordable as production and distribution increase. Additionally, consumers have been seeking out new organic plant-based alternatives, such as oat and soy milk.

The popularity of restaurants that only cook food with organic ingredients is also on the rise, specifically in places like Bali, Indonesia.

Overall, organic food continues to rise in quality, choice, and affordability. Department of Agriculture. Seufert, Verena, et al. Willer, Helga, et al. Paull, John. Willer, Helga and Julia Lernoud. Carlson, Andrea and Edward Jaenicke. Department of Agriculture , Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. View our online oral history interviews with people who have provided leadership and inspiration in the field of alternative or sustainable agriculture.

A bibliography of selected resources about organic production, food and marketing published by USDA primary agencies.

Includes Web links, when available, to full-text publications. An official website of the United States government. Here's how you know.