Research for Evidence-Based Policy: Organic Task Force Report Launched Today

Close collaboration between farmers, researchers, and policymakers—sometimes called the “triple helix model of innovation”—is vital to shaping innovation in agriculture. Canadian Organic Growers’ (COG) recent Organic Task Force (OTF) project followed this model, convening farmers, researchers, and policy experts to examine how organic agriculture contributes to Canadian economic, environmental, and climate goals, and how public policy can better support and leverage these impacts. 

The final report, Cultivating the Organic Opportunity for Canadian Farmers and Consumers, released today, synthesizes evidence on the impacts of organic farming in Canada, projects the benefits of growth and sets out concrete policy and program recommendations. 

Rooted in Organic Science Cluster Research 

The OTF project was grounded in Canadian science, including research priorities and findings from the Organic Science Cluster (OSC). The OSC’s national research priorities align closely with the goals set out in the OTF report, demonstrating how Canadian organic science can drive agricultural sustainability and competitiveness aligned with policy goals. 

Many OSC researchers contributed directly, including Dr. Andrew Hammermeister (OSC Science Director), Dr. Derek Lynch (Dalhousie), Dr. Caroline Halde (Université Laval), Dr. Martin Entz (University of Manitoba), Dr. Sean Smukler (UBC), and Dr. Ralph Martin (University of Guelph). Technical chapters on soil health, biodiversity, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were co-authored by researchers active in OSC projects. 

What the Research Shows 

Drawing on OSC findings and other studies, the OTF assessed key national implications of organic farming: 

• Farm economics: Crop budgets and rotation analysis show organic crops are, on average, 117% more profitable than conventional, despite high short-term transition costs. 

• GHG emissions: Life cycle assessments and modelling using AAFC’s Holos tool show that organic crops reduce emissions by about 35% per acre and 15% per unit of production. 

• Energy: Prairie trials show organic farms use up to 50% less energy and are up to 40% more energy efficient. 

• Soil health and biodiversity: Organic farms tend to maintain or build soil organic carbon and soil health compared to conventional methods, and support greater biodiversity in plants, insects, and birds. 

• Climate resilience: Frequent use of practices such as green manures, cover crops, and on-farm habitat retention improve resilience to extreme weather and reduce input dependence. 

These findings position organic farming as a multifunctional system—improving farm profitability while advancing climate, soil, and biodiversity goals. 

The soil degradation challenges identified in the recent Senate report on soil health underscore the urgency. Organic systems, with their emphasis on soil management, offer a strong foundation for the development of regenerative approaches across Canadian agriculture. As OTF researcher Dr. Derek Lynch notes, “organic farming systems are ideal production systems for testing and refinement of advanced organic carbon and nitrogen management to improve agri-environmental outcomes for Canada.” 

Organic is a ready-made framework with strong public trust, market mechanisms, and third-party verification. It offers an underused but high-impact strategy to achieve Canada’s sustainability, trade, and agricultural objectives. 

Recommendations to Advance Organic Science 

The OTF report outlines 12 policy actions to reduce transition risks, enhance performance, and build markets. It estimates that $68.5 million in annual public investment could triple organic acreage, generating $1.73 billion in new net farm income over 10 years—an almost 8:1 return. 

Highlighted recommendations for the science community include: 

1. Expand Organic Research Capacity: The OSC has laid the groundwork for coordinated organic science, but funding remains limited, given that OSC is among the most diverse cluster projects, covering many production types and commodities. Strengthened support would enable long-term trials, region-specific studies, and ensure Canadian research drives Canadian policy. 
2. Establish a National Organic Extension Program: Canada lacks sufficient organic advisory services to support farmers through transition and continuous improvement. The report calls for a national network—potentially embedded within OSC nodes and provincial organizations—to deliver transition and agronomic advice, peer-to-peer learning, and train-the-trainer programs. 
3. Support Organic Innovation and Enhanced Performance: Research shows outcomes vary with management intensity. Targeted support for planning, on-farm innovation, and outcome measurement would help organic farmers optimize productivity, profitability, and ecological performance, while further developing innovative practices. 
4. Reduce Financial and Technical Barriers to Organic Transition: High upfront costs deter many farmers. Programs modeled on Quebec’s conversion cost-share program or the U.S. Organic Transition Initiative would reduce risk and accelerate adoption. 
5. Develop an Organic Data Strategy: Canada lacks consistent public data on organic production, markets, and supply chains. A coordinated government-led data strategy, including an Organic Authenticity Database, would drive sector development, and enhance research, program design, and outcomes measurement.  

Other recommendations include certification cost-share, new entrant support, tailored crop insurance, organic standards review funding, processing infrastructure, marketing, and public procurement—drawing on successful models in other jurisdictions. 

Aligning Research and Policy 

The OTF demonstrates the relevance of OSC research—not only for agronomic success but also to inform a coherent national policy framework. By aligning research with environmental policies, the project positions organic farming as a cost-effective strategy to strengthen competitiveness, support rural economies, and advance climate and biodiversity commitments. 

Research investment must expand, especially in long-term trials and region-specific contexts. EU evaluations show that access to organic advice is the most influential factor for adoption until the sector matures, at which point research becomes the most important. 

Bringing farmers, researchers, and policymakers together ensures science reflects real on-farm challenges while providing government with a roadmap for evidence-based policy. With targeted investment in research, innovation, and extension, organic farming can deliver significant economic, environmental, and social returns while driving innovation across Canadian agriculture in the face of rising input costs and climate pressures. 

Click here to access the full report.