A move is afoot for organic growers and traders to join the ranks of other commodity groups by establishing a national organization.
The proposed new body, which is expected take shape at a fall organic summit, should provide a unified voice to what has been a highly fragmented industry.
“We need to react to issues on a national scale and set policy from a national perspective and there is no vehicle to do that,” said Paddy Doherty, co-ordinator of the Canadian Organic Initiative project.
Doherty has been heading the effort to establish a Canadian organic standard but he doesn’t feel like he has a democratic mandate to do so; just some funding from private companies, the federal government and the province of British Columbia.
Read Also
StatCan stands by its model-based crop forecast
Statistics Canada’s model-based production estimates are under scrutiny, but agency says it is confident in the results.
“I’m acting like the co-ordinator for a national organization which doesn’t really exist. In effect I don’t report to anybody.”
He wants to hand over his job to a federal body that could also tackle other issues where the industry is “missing the boat,” such as on-farm safety programs that conflict with organic standards.
That’s why Doherty was pleased that the idea of establishing a national body received the backing of federal government officials attending last month’s organic conference in Guelph, Ont.
He envisions the organization being an all-inclusive collection of regional and national interests but at its core will be three bodies Ñ the Canadian Organic Growers, the Canadian Health Food Association and the Organic Trade Association.
“There is no need to reinvent the wheel. We just need to get together to decide policy and figure out who’s going to do what.”
One of the groups that will play a key role in the proposed new organization is contemplating a metamorphosis. The American-based Organic Trade Association is mulling over the idea of setting up a Canadian chapter.
A business plan and transition proposal for forming OTA Canada will be presented to the association’s board of directors in March.
The association, which represents 1,450 North American organic businesses, has had a presence in Canada since 2001 in the form of a part-time liaison person who worked out of her home.
But with 150 Canadian processors, traders, food handlers, distributors and exporters paying dues, the group decided to beef up its profile by opening an office in Ottawa last November and promoting Stephanie Wells to a full-time position.
Now it may be time to go one step further.
“The Canadian advisory board has made it clear that we want some more autonomy,” said Wells.
She doesn’t know what form the new entity will take other than there is a strong desire to remain affiliated with the OTA, which is the voice for the organic industry in the United States.
No matter what emerges from the March meeting, the priority of the Canadian office will remain lobbying Ottawa to establish an “efficient and affordable” organic regulation system, said Wells.
Doherty said the hodgepodge of groups and affiliations has been one of the biggest challenges in attempting to reach a consensus on the Canadian organic standard, so he welcomes the idea of establishing an industry group.
“I’m very excited that (OTA Canada) may be able to become the voice of the organic trade in Canada and bring the trade together.”
