Registration for the 2023 Guelph Organic Conference is Open!
We’re thrilled to share that registration for the 2023 Guelph Organic Conference is officially open! We have a great variety of registration options available, from online sessions to full-day in-person conference passes.
Don’t miss our fascinating virtual sessions with speakers from around the world running January 23-27. Plus, we will bring together the organic community in-person Saturday, January 28th, and Sunday, January 29th for 40 not-to-be-missed workshops and a public trade show at the University of Guelph (University Centre).
Join 1800+ farmers, consumers, and organic value chain members for the best opportunity to learn and network about organics at Canada’s largest Organic conference!
Register before January 9, 2023, to get Early Bird discount pricing!
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Deadline extended! We've opened up more spaces for the public trade show the weekend of January 28-29th. Register now and don’t miss this opportunity to show off your business at Canada’s longest-running organic event.
We are also looking to fill several volunteer positions for the conference, so be sure to check them out if you're interested!
Prefer to sponsor the conference instead? A few sponsorship opportunities are still available. Register with our sponsor's expression of interest form. For any questions about the conference, reach out to our Events and Conference coordinator Maggie at maggie@organiccouncil.ca
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Open Letter to Premier Ford regarding Farmland Loss in the Greenbelt
OCO extends its support to the OFA, NFU-O, and CFFO's Open Letter to Premier Ford about Farmland Loss regarding the provincial government's proposal to rezone thousands of acres of farmland in the Greenbelt.
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New Report: Understanding Farmers’ Perspectives on Environmentally-Friendly Agricultural Practices in Ontario
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Funded by the Climate Action Awareness campaign, the Organic Council of Ontario has released a brand new report on Ontario farmers’ perspectives surrounding environmentally-friendly practices, within both organic and regenerative farming systems. This report helps us identify trends and potential opportunities to encourage the adoption of environmentally-friendly farming practices for organic, in-transition, uncertified and non-organic producers across Ontario.
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The report also highlights the need for more support on best management practices for the environment and points to opportunities for a robust knowledge exchange catered to commodity-specific farming operations while facilitating peer-to-peer learning between farm operators. You can learn more and read the report on the OCO website! |
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Ontario Investing $6M in Agri-Food Projects in Northern Ontario
The Province of Ontario is investing over $6-million in agricultural projects in Northern Ontario, creating jobs and boosting local economies. The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) will fund 17 agri-food projects in Northern Ontario, including Boreal Naturals Inc., an organic berry business in Warren. To read more about the province’s investment, check out the provincial government website.
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Ontario and Canada Invest in Biosecurity to Limit Avian Influenza Spread
The Provincial and Federal Governments are investing up to $1.5 million to help eligible agri-businesses limit the spread of avian influenza with strengthened biosecurity measures. This funding is through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) and is part of the new Poultry Biosecurity Preparedness Initiative. To learn more about eligibility and the program’s details, check out the Provincial news release.
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Unlocking the Potential of Organic Agriculture
The United States’ Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has published a new report titled Grow Organic: The Climate, Health, and Economic Case for Expanding Organic Agriculture that explores the latest research on organic farming and how it can help ease the challenges of our current agricultural system.
You can read more about the NRDC’s new report on their website. |
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The AAC recently announced a new funding program designed to assist Ontario farms, agri-food processing businesses, and agri-food organizations with economic recovery, and to build stronger supply chains to help mitigate the impact of future industry disruptions.
For information on the program including eligibility, the Program guide, and application materials, visit the AAC website or register here to join one of their upcoming virtual information sessions: Tuesday, December 13, and Tuesday, January 10.
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Organic Agronomy Training
Save the dates! University of Manitoba professor Dr. Martin Entz is running an organic agronomy training course in January 2023. Dr. Entz’s training is intended for private and public sector agronomists who want to respond to the growing demand from producers for more information about organic grain production. While the course was designed with the Prairies in mind, agronomists in other ecoregions will learn universal principles of organic production. Watch for more information this fall about how to register.
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New Study Examines Natural Selection Under Conventional and Organic Systems
A new study by Siddiqui, Schneider, Barbosa, et al explores the adaptability of both conventional and organic spring barley under various environmental stresses. The organic system was found to have higher adaptability to several stressors, including as drought, lodging, and nutrient limitations.
You can access the full study on Nature for free. |
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These and other important facts can be found in OCO's Data Portal! OCO members can access data, research and reports on the organic sector by logging into OCO's Data Portal. If you need support accessing your account, please contact communications@organiccouncil.ca
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Organic Jobs
- Workshop Facilitator: Canadian Organic Growers, part-time, Ottawa
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Marketing Manager: Relocalize, full-time, Hybrid (Montreal or Toronto)
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Farm Staff: Joyfully Organic Farm, full or part-time, GTA
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Microgreen Grower: Paradise Fields, full-time, Hamilton
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Farm Manager: Clearwater Farm, full-time, Georgina
- Assistant Market Gardener: Rutabaga Ranch, full-time, Brinston
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GOC Sponsor Spotlight
Silver Sponsor: St-Brigid's Creamery: an organic Ontario creamery specializing in organic butter.
Silver Sponsor: Glacier FarmMedia: provides trusted and reliable news through print publications, digital properties, listings, weather information, partnerships, and more.
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