Research and statistics

Good news: Canada’s organic market continues to grow! There are a record number of certified organic producers across the country, and more consumers eating and using organic products than ever before.

The Organic Market – British Columbia 2021

In 2020, the market for organic food and beverages in British Columbia reached an estimated $508.1 million, showing 15.6% year-to-year growth since 2017!

British Columbia’s organic market is thriving. Dig into stats on the high demand for organic products, plus consumer trends and opportunities, in this new report, created in collaboration with the Canada Organic Trade Association.

Funding for this report has been provided by the Governments of Canada and British Columbia through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.

Download the report Read the media release

Other organic statistics

The Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA) publishes comprehensive reports on the Canadian organic industry, focused on both consumers and producers. Reports include:

Organic in Canada: By the Numbers – national and regional data on organic producers, processors and acreage
Canadian Organic Market Report – up-to-date overview of consumer research, sales figures, trade data, market size and growth trends
Organic Food Processing Report: State of the Industry – comprehensive report of organic food and beverage processing in Canada

All of COTA’s publicly available reports—free and paid—can be purchased and downloaded from their online store.

Some key findings from these reports:

Canada’s total organic market (including food and non-food items) is estimated at $6.936 billion, up from $5.4 billion in 2017
Organic acreage in Canada now reaches 3.4 million acres and represents an estimated 3% of Canadian farmland
The number of certified organic operators in Canada increased from 7,073 in 2018 to 7,500 in 2019
Two-thirds of Canadian grocery shoppers are purchasing organics weekly
British Columbia had 840,520 organic acres in 2018, up from 794,000 acres in 2017
British Columbia had 998 organic operations in 2018, which includes crop producers, livestock producers, and processors

Organic Sector Research Development Program

The Organic Sector Development Program (OSDP) provided funding for organic research from 2002 until 2013. The OSDP is now concluded. The list of completed projects, along with final reports can be viewed here.

Organic research in Canada

UBC Centre for Sustainable Food Systems

An interdisciplinary and inclusive research hub for solutions to local and global food systems sustainability.

Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada

Facilitates and leads research and education supporting organic producers, consumers and other organic sector stakeholders.

Organic Science Cluster

Industry-supported research and development endeavours initiated by the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada in collaboration with the Organic Federation of Canada. The Organic Science Clusters are supported by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and many organic sector partners.

Canada Organic Trade Association

Works to provide in-depth background information and analysis on various segments of the Canadian organic sector.

The Organic Market – British Columbia 2021

Other organic statistics

Some key findings from these reports:

Organic Sector Research Development Program

Organic research in Canada

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