On June 21, organic agriculture researchers and graduate students from across Canada gathered in person and virtually at the University of Guelph for Organic Science Symposium 2026, a day dedicated to sharing research, strengthening connections and discussing strategic directions for the future of organic agriculture research in Canada. The event was organized by the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada and the Organic Federation of Canada.
The morning program featured presentations from Organic Science Cluster 4 lead researchers who shared insights and outcomes on a range of activities from horticulture and field crops to pest management and livestock systems.
The afternoon keynote was delivered by Dr. Martin Entz, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Plant Science at the University of Manitoba and one of Canada’s leading researchers in organic and regenerative agriculture. In his presentation, Organic Agriculture Research as a Foundation for Food System Adaptation, he described the organic agriculture movement as “a necessary and effective antidote to the hubris that has overtaken the modern food system.” Rather than assuming that technological innovation can overcome all production constraints, he argued that food system adaptation depends on understanding and working within ecological limits. Success, he suggested, should be measured not solely by yield, but by the health and function of ecological processes that ultimately sustain agricultural systems.
Participants also explored cross-cutting themes relevant to organic agriculture research. Katie Fettes, Director of Policy and Research at Canadian Organic Growers, led a discussion on the role of research data in supporting evidence-based policy development. Consultant Margaret Graves discussed strategies for measuring, optimizing and communicating research impact, while Dunling Wang, Provincial Specialist for Alternative Cropping Systems with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, focused on best practices for transferring research knowledge to producers.
The symposium concluded with an interactive idea-generation session in which attendees explored opportunities to strengthen Canada’s organic agriculture research through a renewed national organic science strategy.
Beyond the formal presentations, the event provided valuable opportunities for researchers and graduate students to exchange ideas, inspire one another and build connections. By bringing together scientists from across the country, the symposium reinforced Canada’s organic agriculture research network and helped lay the foundation for future collaboration.
(Front row, sitting, L to R) Rebecca Veenhuis, Valerie Zimmerman, Inoka Amarakoon, Michelle Carkner, Stéphanie Lavergne, Caroline Halde, Margaret Graves, Xiawei Shi, Katie Fettes, Victoria Allicock, Hiroshi Kubota, Desirée Jans, Alessia Marchesan, Kim Schneider, Andrew Hammermeister.
(Back row, standing, L to R) Joanne Thiessen Martens, Sean Smukler, Norm Hansen, Liette Vasseur, Ralph Martin, Emma Borkowski, Martin Entz, Dunling Wang, Nitesh Kumar.
(Virtual) Nicole Boudreau, Henry Wilson, Marie-Noëlle Thivierge, Carly McGregor, Martine Dorais.
Gallery of presenters
Organic Science Cluster 4 is an industry-led research and development endeavour co-managed by the Organic Federation of Canada and the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada at Dalhousie University and supported by the AgriScience Program under Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership together with over 80 funding partners.
