| Standards and regulations | Certification and inspection | Grower organizations | Provincial governments | Research | Buyers and processors | Miscellaneous sites
The following organic agriculture website links include information on many facets of the organic industry, including the production of crops and livestock, processing, marketing, standards, certification and publications. This is by no means an all inclusive list of organic information available on the internet.
Neither Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development nor any of its employees assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of the information in this directory. Inclusion in this directory is not an endorsement by Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development.
Standards and Regulations
Canadian Organic Regulations
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/orgbio/orgbioe.shtml
Prepared regulations for Canadian Organic certification to come into effect June 30, 2009.
USDA's National Organic Program (NOP)
http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/
Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI)
http://www.omri.org/
An American-based organization that lists materials that can and cannot be used in organic production and processing systems.
Certification and Inspection (see Certifiers for Alberta)
Organic Producers Association of Manitoba Co-operative Inc. (OPAM)
http://www.opam.mb.ca/
This site will keep you up-to-date on all aspects of the organic industry in Manitoba.
Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA)
http://www.ocia.org/
Worldwide organic certification agency.
Organic Crop Producers and Processors Inc./Pro-Cert Canada Inc. (OCPRO)
http://www.ocpro.ca/
A third-party private Canadian certification agency that certifies producers and processors, mainly in Saskatchewan, Alberta and Ontario.
Quality Assurance International (QAI)
http://www.qai-inc.com
A private U.S.-based certification agency that certifies producers, processors, traders and distributors around the world. QAI administers the Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS) for organic products.
Independent Organic Inspectors Association (IOIA)
http://www.ioia.net/
Founded in 1991, IOIA is a non-profit association of trained and qualified organic inspectors dedicated to the verification of organic production practices.
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM)
http://www.ifoam.org/
A worldwide umbrella organization of organic groups, representing about 760 member organizations and institutions in 105 different countries.
Grower Organizations
ACORN
http://www.acornorganic.org/
The voice of the organic industry in Atlantic Canada.
Canadian Organic Growers (COG)
http://www.cog.ca/
Canadian-based education and networking organization.
Certified Organic Producers of BC (COABC)
http://www.Certifiedorganic.bc.ca
Saskatchewan Organic Directorate (SOD)
http://www.saskorganic.com
An umbrella organization that unites Saskatchewan's producers, processors, buyers, traders, certifiers and consumers of certified organic food and fibre.
Organic Trade Association (OTA)
http://www.ota.com/
An organization that represents the organic industry in Canada, USA, and Mexico.
Provincial Governments
Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development
Organic Agriculture: Getting Started
A Factsheet to help producers and processors understand the key elements needed to start an organic business.
Manitoba Agriculture Food and Rural Initiatives
htttp://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/cropproduction/faa01s01.html
Factsheets on fertility and weed management in organic crop production systems in Manitoba
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food (SAF)
http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/
Good variety of information, including a list of organic food processors in Saskatchewan. Click on "search", then type "organic agriculture" in the search box.
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food & Rural Affairs
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/organic/organic.html
Research
The Glenlea Long-Term Crop Rotation Study
http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/afs/plant_science/glenlea/glenlea.html
Western Canada's oldest organic and alternative cropping systems study, co-ordinated by Dr. Martin Entz of the University of Manitoba's Department of Plant Science in the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences.
Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada (OACC)
http://www.organicagcentre.ca
Once established in the fall of 2001, the OACC will provide support for the organic sector through scientific research and formal education. Seven specific projects will provide the backbone of the OACC's national program.
Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF)
http://www.ofrf.org
Fosters the improvement and widespread adoption of organic farming practices.
Buyers and Processors
Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development
Organic Directory
A listing of Alberta organic producers and processors.
Organic Bread Basket
http://www.organicbreadbasket.com/
This new Winnipeg-based company promotes, markets and delivers certified organic foods direct to the home consumer. The company specializes in organic, free-range, grass-fed beef.
Prairie Flour Mills Ltd.
http://www.flour.com/
Elie, MB. - based milling company that has recently been certified organic.
Growers International Organic Sales Inc.
http://www.giosi.com/
Organic grain merchandising company based in Belle Plaine, SK; an alliance between Neil Strayer and N.M.Paterson & Sons Ltd.
New Organics
http://www.neworganics.com/
New Organics buys and also supplies organic products.
Miscellaneous Sites
Organic Agriculture at FAO
http://www.fao.org/organicag
Provides access to information on organic agriculture inside and outside FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations).
Organic Consumers Association
http://OrganicConsumers.org
This group campaigns internationally for food safety, organic agriculture, fair trade and sustainability.
Organic Monitor
http://www.organicmonitor.com
This company assists in the development of the international organic food industry by providing accurate and timely marketing information to organic food growers, suppliers and retailers.
Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (AFSIC)
http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/afslinks.htm
Alternative Agriculture-related Internet sites and documents, including organic production. Although U.S.-based, this site has an extensive library of information from around the world.
Sustainable Farming Connection (SFC)
http://www.ibiblio.org/farming-connection/links/organic.htm
Organic farming, marketing and certification resources. Good links and articles, but the site hasn't been updated since July, 1999. |