Which statistics?

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Published: January 29, 2015

Number of organic farmers in Canada:


Verifying the number of organic farms in Canada is not an easy task. News releases and promotional materials from organic groups often report that the number of certified organic farms grew by 66.5 percent in Canada from 2001-2011.

That number is from federal census data, but organic industry estimates tell a different story. The number of Canadian organic farms stopped growing in 2004, and there was a “significant drop” in the number of prairie producers from 2010-2012.

Organic associations representing countries around the globe publish an annual report called the World of Organic Agriculture: Statistics and Emerging Trends. The 2013 edition of the document, which provides organic statistics from 2011, shows almost zero growth in Canada between 2004 and 2011.

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2004     3,670

2005     3,618

2006     3,566

2007     3,782

2008     3,713

2009     3,914

2010     3,732

2011     3,718

Source: 2013 World of Organic Agriculture

The World of Organic Agriculture data shows the number of organic producers in Canada hit a plateau in the mid 2000s. The industry was expanding rapidly before 2004:

1994     1,355

1996     1,724

1998     1,932

2000     2,981

2002     3,120

Source: 2013 World of Organic Agriculture

Matthew Holmes, executive director of the Canadian Organic Trade Association and one of the report authors, said organic industry statistics are more “rigorous” and “current” than census data.

“The census is accurate and the numbers are based on fact, but the next census will not be until 2016, and so I recommend that the annual data from certifiers is a better reflection of more recent trends since 2011,” he said in an email.

“The census is a point in time, separated by five year intervals. It’s interesting for describing historic or macro-level trends, such as the sudden and significant growth in organic farming since it was first tracked in 2001.”

Organic statistics are based on data provided by certifiers. COTA and Canadian Organic Growers used to co-ordinate data collection, but COTA assumed full responsibility in 2014.

Additionally, the number of producers declined following the global recession, but more organic processors and handlers entered the sector. In 2013, 1,447 businesses were manufacturing, distributing or handling organic products, which was up 14 percent from 2012. B.C. added 57 processors-handlers in 2013 and Ontario gained 65.
Additionally, the number of producers declined following the global recession, but more organic processors and handlers entered the sector. In 2013, 1,447 businesses were manufacturing, distributing or handling organic products, which was up 14 percent from 2012. B.C. added 57 processors-handlers in 2013 and Ontario gained 65.

See also: Consumers want organic, so why are farmers wary?

See also: U.S. a ready-made market for prairie organics

About the author

Robert Arnason

Robert Arnason

Reporter

Robert Arnason is a reporter with The Western Producer and Glacier Farm Media. Since 2008, he has authored nearly 5,000 articles on anything and everything related to Canadian agriculture. He didn’t grow up on a farm, but Robert spent hundreds of days on his uncle’s cattle and grain farm in Manitoba. Robert started his journalism career in Winnipeg as a freelancer, then worked as a reporter and editor at newspapers in Nipawin, Saskatchewan and Fernie, BC. Robert has a degree in civil engineering from the University of Manitoba and a diploma in LSJF – Long Suffering Jets’ Fan.

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