#YourStandardsYourSay Webinars: Topics in the Canadian Organic Standards Review

The Organic Council of Ontario and our partners at the Canadian Organic Growers hosted a series of webinars over the past several months on the Canadian Organic Standards (COS) Review. These webinars are intended to help members and organic stakeholders understand how the revision of the organic standards works, and better understand some of the key issues at play in this revision process. Check out the webinar recordings and links to further resources below, and to learn more about the COS Review, click here.

Thank you to our part series sponsors Freeman Herbs and Cambrian Solutions.

#YourStandardsYour Say Webinar Series

Click on the image below to jump to that webinar:

#YourStandardsYourSay: How to Have Your Say on the Organic Standards Review

July 18, 2019

This first webinar in our series gave an introduction to the Organic Standards Review, including how the process works and how to make a petition. It was also an opportunity for participants to give OCO feedback on priorities for the review process. View the webinar below:

#YourStandardsYourSay: Small-Scale Solutions

September 5, 2018
Featuring:

• Carolyn Young, Organic Council of Ontario, Executive Director
  • Results from the Ontario small-scale certification solutions survey
• Tony McQuail, Meeting Place Organic Farm
  • Recommendations from the OFC working group and reactions to findings
• Dave Lockman, Pro-Cert Certification Program Manager
  • Pro-Cert’s Local organic program and thoughts on national level changes
• Cameron Dale, Evergreen Brickworks Farmers’ Market, Project Manager
  • Evergreen Brickworks’ farmers’ market peer-to-peer verification pilot
• Rochelle Eisen, BC Organic expert and COG President
  • Experiences with small-scale certification solutions in BC

Watch the Webinar:

#YourStandardsYourSay: Something Fishy About Aquaponics

November 7, 2018
Featuring:

• Justin Henry, Aquaculture Consultant and Chair of the Aquaponics Technical Committee
• Allison Grant, Southfield Organics
• Tyler Levitan, Canada Organic Trade Association, Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs Manager
• Ian Ritchie, Greenbelt Microgreens, Marketing and Business Development Manager
• Frederick Miner, Miner Aquagreens, Founder and CEO
• Brandon Hebor, Rafterra, Founder and CEO
• Marco DeLeonardi, Freeman Herbs, R & D Operations Manager

With support from:

Watch the Webinar:

#YourStandardsYour Say: Parallel Production

October 24, 2018
Featuring:

• Hugh Martin, Chair of Standards Interpretation Committee
• Joel Aitken, EcoCert Inspector Coordinator
• Mike MacGillivray, Kirkview Farms
• Andrew St. Jean, Beechwood Agriservices
• Rob Wallbridge, Thompson’s Ltd.
• Allison Squires, COG director and farmer with Upland Organics

Watch Part I of the Webinar:

Part II:

Please note, the webinar recording cut off before Allison Squires’ presentation – please see her slides below. Allison farms with Upland Organics in Saskatchewan, and shared her perspective on the benefits of not allowing parallel production:

Allison Squires Presentation – #YourStandardsYourSay Parallel Production Webinar from Organic Council of Ontario

#YourStandardsYourSay: Cannabis

November 28, 2019
Featuring:

• Av Singh, Cannabis Consultant
• David Perron, The Green Organic Dutchman
• Adam Gibson, Canadian Health Food Association
• David Cohlmeyer, consultant on behalf of dicentra Cannabis Consulting

Watch the Webinar:

With support from:

#YourStandardsYourSay: Poultry Outdoor Access

February 12, 2019
Featuring:

• Francois Labelle, Valacta (chair of livestock working group)
• Lynn Kavanagh, World Animal Protection
• Gerald Poechman, Poechman Family Farms
• Katrina McQuail, Meeting Place Organic Farm
• Joel Aitken, Ecocert Canada

Watch the Webinar:

OCO Member Feedback Results on the Standards Review

Feedback on First Round of Decisions: Buffer Zones, Parallel Production, Manure Sourcing and More

In December 2018, OCO circulated a survey to collect feedback from our members to share with the Organic Federation of Canada on the first round of decisions made by the Technical Committee. This round of decisions covered topics such as buffer zones, parallel production, manure sourcing and more. Click here to read the results of the survey, which we shared with the Organic Federation of Canada.

Feedback on Second Round of Decisions: Poultry Outdoor Access, Sprouts, Shoots and Microgreens and Permitted Substances List

In February 2019, the Organic Federation of Canada released the decisions made at the December meeting of the Committee on Organic Agriculture of the Canadian General Standards Board (also known as the Technical Committee). Click here to read the proposed recommendations from the Technical Committee, which included decisions with regards to outdoor access for poultry; production of shoots, sprouts and microgreens; and recommendations for the Permitted Substances List. Click here to read the results of the second survey to OCO members, which we shared with the Organic Federation of Canada.