Organic inspectors need more training, especially with a new national standard looming over their industry, says the man who headed the federal organic production system task force.
The new national organics standard is expected to come into effect next year and Joe Southall said with that standard will come new powers and responsibilities.
“I don’t think it takes a year and a half to train somebody, but it’s going to take more than a couple of days,” he told the Organics Matters on the Prairies conference held Nov. 12-13 in Brandon.
Read Also
University of Saskatchewan experts helping ‘herders’ in Mongolia
The Canadian government and the University of Saskatchewan are part of a $10 million project trying to help Mongolian farmers modernize their practices.
He said the new standard will prompt the establishment of a national training program for organics inspectors and minimum qualifications, which would help ensure consistency across the country.
However, Southall doesn’t predict wholesale changes.
“You will still be dealing with the same organic inspector, the same organic certification body that you’re currently dealing with and not a new organization that’s been set up by the federal government.”
In an interview, the executive director of Canadian Organic Growers said additional training probably would be acceptable, provided it is easily accessible and not too onerous.
“Currently the inspectors generally are farmers who decided that they wanted to get into this,” Laura Telford said. “
Often that experience is the most valuable. It’s not necessarily a formal university education that’s going to do it for you in this field. I think our inspectors are pretty high quality. I haven’t heard anybody complaining about them.”
Once implemented, the new national organics standard will become the mandatory, minimum standard for organic production and processing in Canada. Consumer protection and continued market access for Canadian organic products were the main reasons for updating the standard.
