Overview of Organic Production Overview of Organic Production in Saskatchewanin Saskatchewan

Mission of European Buyers to Canada

Brenda Frick, Prairie Coordinator, Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada

August 27, 2003

Saskatchewan lends itself to organic production• Clean natural environment

• Open skies, abundant farmland• Dry and cold discourage diseases, pests

• Diverse growing conditions• Established organic agriculture community

SaskatchewanSaskatchewan EnvironmentEnvironment

773+ farms reporting certified organic products in Saskatchewan

Statistics Canada; Census of Agriculture 2001

35% of Canadian organic farms are in Saskatchewan

Organic Agriculture is SaskatchewanOrganic Agriculture is Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan has more organic farmers than any other province in Canada

Organic Producers IncreasingOrganic Producers Increasing

Saskatchewan - Certified Producers

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 2000 2001

Ann Macey, Organic Statistics, 1996-2001

Organic Acreage in SaskatchewanOrganic Acreage in Saskatchewan

Frick, Brenda; Production Statistics for Organic Agriculture in Saskatchewan for 2000

~ 160,000 ac cereal~ 113,000 ac forage~ 35,000 ac oilseed~ 39,000 ac pulses~ 14,000 ac other crops~ 340,000 ac other~ 700,000 ac TOTAL

Organic Cereals in SaskatchewanOrganic Cereals in Saskatchewan

• Wheat, Durum• Oat

• Kamut®, Barley, Rye, Spelt, Millet, etc

Organic Oilseeds in SaskatchewanOrganic Oilseeds in Saskatchewan

• Flax is the major organic oilseed• Smaller amounts of mustard

• Hemp, sunola, etc.

Organic Pulses in SaskatchewanOrganic Pulses in Saskatchewan

• Lentil, field pea• Chickpea, dry bean

• Pulses as cover crops, chickling vetch, etc

Additional Crops in SaskatchewanAdditional Crops in Saskatchewan

• Growing herb and spice industryBorage, Caraway, Echinacea

• Development of horticultural optionsSprouting seeds, vegetables, fruit

• Wild crafting of fruits, forest productsBerries, mushrooms, syrups

Wild Rice in SaskatchewanWild Rice in Saskatchewan

•Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 2002, Canadian Wild Rice Industry. http://www.agr.gc.ca/misb/spcrops/wildrice_e.phtml

• more than 70% of Canadian production in SK• harvested from natural water bodies

• 1000 – 2000 tonnes per year

Processing and ExportingProcessing and Exporting

• Nearly 40 organic processors in Saskatchewan• Cleaning, mixing, grinding flours, crushing oil

• Bulk sales - GIOSI, world’s largest private organic cereal grain supplier and exporter

• Cereal based food ingredients

Processing SupportProcessing Support

Organic Forage in SaskatchewanOrganic Forage in Saskatchewan

• Alfalfa, sweet clover, red clovers• Plowdown for soil building

• Seed

• Greenfeed – oat pea mixtures• Wild oat, kochia

• Feed grains

Organic Livestock in SaskatchewanOrganic Livestock in Saskatchewan

• Vast areas needed for organic animal production• Clean water, grass, lower disease potential

• 100% organic feed – grass, forage, feed

Organic Livestock in SaskatchewanOrganic Livestock in Saskatchewan

• 62 organic livestock producers• 7,000 – 8000 head of cattle• Sales of 3,000 finished organic beef / yr• Lamb, pork, poultry• Could be certified organic bison

• 2 EU approved organic slaughter facilities in Western Canada

• Free Farm – US humane society accredited• CFIA hormone free tags

• European contact – Alexander Gibb, Scotland

http://www.colabeef.ca

COLA headquartered in SaskatchewanCOLA headquartered in Saskatchewan

Support for Saskatchewan ProducersSupport for Saskatchewan Producers

•Saskatchewan Organic Directorate, SOD, a producer-controlled organization with international credibility promotes the organic industry in Saskatchewan

• Canadian Organic Growers provides networking and extension to organic producers

Support for Saskatchewan ProducersSupport for Saskatchewan Producers

• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada provides marketing and trade officers

• Saskatchewan organic farmers can purchase organic crop insurance

• Saskatchewan government provides an organic specialist and a system of extension agrologists

Support for Saskatchewan ProducersSupport for Saskatchewan Producers

• University of Saskatchewan assists the organic industry with production and economic research and training

• Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada provides research and extension through a Prairie Coordinator, and education through web based courses

References and AcknowledgementsReferences and Acknowledgements

• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 2002, Canadian Wild Rice Industry. http://www.agr.gc.ca/misb/spcrops/wildrice_e.phtml

• Macey, Ann; 1997 - 2001, various statistical reports, Eco-Farm & Garden• Frick, Brenda; Production Statistics for Organic Agriculture in Saskatchewan

for 2000, Report for Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food & Saskatchewan Organic Directorate. February 2001

• Saskatchewan Agriculture Food and Rural Revitalization. 2000. Saskatchewan Organic Marketing and Processing Directory

• Saskatchewan Agrivision Corporation Inc. 2002. The Organic Agriculture Industry. Fact Sheet.

• Statistics Canada; Census of Agriculture 2001

Thanks also to Janine Gibson, Canadian Organic Growers; and Sam Rhode, Certified Organic Livestock Association for information and materials; and Susan Howse for photographs