The BCCOP Then and Now

Originally produced for the 2022 BC Organic Conference

This episode is all about the British Columbia Certified Organic Program (BCCOP), the first province-wide organic program that existed in BC, and at present, fairly unique in North America because of its regional focus and its use of the peer-review process. There’s so much to say about this program. It represents a through-line from the grassroots of the organic movement to the current regulatory environment. It was the first program in the world to implement a low-risk component. And it comes with built-in flexibility to innovate by creating certifications for emerging sectors like cannabis and aquaculture. Herein, we learn about the program’s history and highlight a current debate about the program’s basis in peer-review.