Why We’re Organic: A farmer perspective on the importance of the Canadian Organic Standards

At OCO, we took the initiative and asked farmers to give their opinion about the new blog post on Canadian Organic Standards. 

Here is what they said: 

“With the recent revisions to the Canadian Organic Standard(COS), we took the time to review the standards that guide our practice. It is through this process that we become more steadfast in our belief that we are doing the right thing by being certified. Reviewing the COS made us realize that what may be common practice for some farmers, is not acceptable to us from an animal rights, environmental protection, or human dignity perspective. We are grateful to be part of a third party verification system that validates our compliance with the COS. With the constant pressures of farming, it could be easy to compromise on the standards of practice if we were not audited.

Being part of the Canadian organic agriculture system makes us proud as we know that we are working towards a better future for all beings, above and under the soil.”

“There is a lot of miscommunication and understanding of the differences in agricultural production.”

-Three Forks Farm

Three Forks Farm has chosen organic certification as it eliminates confusion or nuances in practice and assures their customers about what is in their food. The Organic Council of Ontario (OCO) has championed organic agriculture as a critical component in building a truly sustainable food system. The Canadian Organic Standards (COS) and the principles of health, ecology, fairness and care on which they were founded remain the most important mechanism by which we can achieve that food system. At OCO, we believe the Canadian organic standards should not only provide clarity to consumers about their food, but also increase ecological health by incorporating environmental, animal welfare, and community factors into organic practices.

For details on some of the COS changes that might affect your farm, check out our reflection in Better Farming Magazine.