Ministry of Agriculture & Lands

British Columbia Organic Industry Overview - December 2007

The purpose of "The British Columbia Organic Industry Overview" is to serve as a reference for new and existing organic farmers, government agencies, industry members and the general public seeking information pertaining to the certified organic agricultural sector in British Columbia. The compilation of statistics, descriptions of industry structure, function, and resources devoted to the sector highlight that organic agriculture is an important industry in and of itself and has its own unique strengths and challenges.

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I. TABLE OF CONTENTS, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: II. PURPOSE: III. LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS IV. LIST OF TABLES

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 BRITISH COLUMBIA CERTIFIED ORGANIC PROGRAM
1.2 GLOBAL PRINCIPLES AND STANDARDS OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE
1.3 ORGANIC CERTIFICATION
1.4 THE CANADIAN NATIONAL STANDARD FOR ORGANIC AGRICULTURE 
1.5 CERTIFICATION BODIES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

2. INTERNATIONAL MARKETS AND PRODUCTION 

2.1 THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
2.2 EUROPEAN UNION 
2.3 ASIA 
2.4 LATIN AMERICA 

3. CANADIAN ORGANIC MARKET AND PRODUCTION 

4. BRITISH COLUMBIA ORGANIC FARMING STATISTICS – METHODOLOGY 

5. SUMMARY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA ORGANIC INDUSTRY 

6. ORGANIC HORTICULTURE IN BRITISH COLUMBIA 

6.1 FIELD VEGETABLES 
6.2 TREE FRUIT 
6.3 GRAINS 
6.4 BERRIES AND GRAPES 
6.5 ORGANIC GREENHOUSE VEGETABLES 
6.6 MUSHROOMS 
6.7 HERBS AND SPECIALTY CROPS 
6.8 NUTS 

7. ORGANIC ANIMAL PRODUCTION IN BRITISH COLUMBIA 

7.0.1 Principles of Organic Animal Production 
7.0.2 Certified Organic Diet 
7.0.3 Finding a Place Among Supply Managed Commodities 
7.1 MEAT – LIVESTOCK 
7.2 DAIRY
7.2.1 Cattle
7.2.3 Sheep
7.3 POULTRY
7.3.1 Eggs
7.3.2 Chicken
7.3.3 Turkey

8. CERTIFIED ORGANIC PROCESSING AND HANDLING IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

9. REGULATIONS

9.1 FOOD CHOICE AND DISCLOSURE ACT
9.2 DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL ORGANIC PROGRA
9.3 OTHER REGULATORY ISSUES

10. CHALLENGES AND ISSUES

10.1 CHALLENGES COMMON TO CONVENTIONAL AND ORGANICS
10.2 CHALLENGES SPECIFIC TO ORGANICS
10.3 OTHER ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE

11. SECTOR ADVANTAGES

12. RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

13. GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES

13.1 PROVINCIAL
13.2 JOINT PROVINCIAL AND FEDERAL
13.3 FEDERAL

14. RESOURCES

15. REFERENCES

APPENDIX

APPENDIX 1: CERTIFICATION BODIES
APPENDIX 2: CERTIFIED ORGANIC PROCESSORS AND HANDLERS IN BC (2006)
APPENDIX 3: BRITISH COLUMBIA CERTIFIED ORGANIC SEED GROWERS
APPENDIX 4: BRITISH COLUMBIA MARKETING BOARD - CONTACTS
APPENDIX 5:REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

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