Organic Agriculture
Want to know more about… Organic Agriculture?
Organic agriculture has been practiced in one form or another for millennia. In recent times, modern agricultural techniques have emerged that have greatly increased the capacity for food production. Some of these techniques include the use of fertilizers, pesticides, veterinary drugs, and genetic engineering. In organic agriculture, these types of techniques are minimized or prohibited in favour of methods which focus on reducing synthetic inputs.
Organic agriculture seeks to promote responsible environmental stewardship and the ethical treatment of animals by developing a harmonious system of crops and livestock and minimizing the use of veterinary drugs and synthetic chemicals. The expectation is that this method of agriculture will reduce the prevalence of unwanted residues in food, improve the quality of the environment, and promote the well-being of animals. The Canadian government enacted the Organic Products Regulations in 2009.
Further Information:
Canadian Government websites
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. (2007). Organic Production. Retrieved from,http://www.4.agr.gc.ca/AAFC-AAC/displat-afficher.do?id=1183748510661&lang=e
Canadian Food Inspection Agency. (2007). Organic Products System Task Force. Retrieved from, http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/orgbio/otfgtspbe.shtml
New link: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/food/organic-products/eng/1300139461200/1300140373901
Canadian General Standards Board. (2007). Organic Agriculture. Retrieved from,http://www.pwgsc.gc.ca/cgsb/on_the_net/organic/index-e.html
New link: http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/ongc-cgsb/programme-program/normes-standards/comm/32-20-agriculture-eng.html 2012-07
Canadian Regulations and Standards
Canada Gazette. (2006). Organic Products Regulations (SOR/2006-338). Retrieved from,http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partII/2006/20061221-x6/html/extra-e.html
New link: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2009-176/
Canadian General Standards Board. (2006). National Standard CAN/CGSB-32.311 – Organic production systems permitted substances lists. Retrieved from,http://www.pwgsc.gc.ca/cgsb/on_the_net/organic/032_0311_2006-e.pdf
New link: http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/ongc-cgsb/programme-program/normes-standards/internet/bio-org/permises-permitted-eng.html 2012-07
Canadian General Standards Board. (2006). National Standard CAN/CGSB-32.310 – Organic production systems general principles and management standards. Retrieved from,http://www.pwgsc.gc.ca/cgsb/on_the_net/organic/032_0310_2006-e.pdf
New manual available from: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/orgbio/man/orgbiomane.shtml
Non-governmental Organisations
Canadian Organic Growers. (2007). Retrieved from, http://www.cog.ca/
· A national membership-based education and networking organization
Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. (2007). Codex Alimentarius. Retrieved from, http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/index_en.jsp
· Joint FAO and WHO commission to develop global food standards
Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada. (2007). Retrieved from,http://www.oacc.info/index_e.asp
· A national website for organic research and education
Organic Trade Association. (2007). North America. Retrieved from, http://www.ota.com/
· An association for the organic business community in North America
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements. (2005). Retrieved from,http://www.ifoam.org/
· World-wide resource for organic agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture, National Organic Program. (2007). Retrieved from,http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/indexNet.htm
· Government site for the organic agriculture program in the U.S.A.
Peer-reviewed scientific studies and reviews
Clark, E. Ann. Various types, various dates: http://www.plant.uoguelph.ca/research/homepages/eclark/publications/
Magkos, F., F. Arvantit, A. Zampelas. (2006). Organic food: Buying more safety or just peace of mind? A critical review of the literature. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 46, 23-56.
Winter, C.K. and S.F. Davis. (2006). Organic foods. Journal of Food Science, 71, R117-R124.
Popular literature
Reader's Digest Canada. (2007). Organic foods: The debate. Retrieved from, http://www.readersdigest.ca/mag/2007/03/organic_foods.php
Now available from: http://www.cof.orst.edu/cof/teach/agbio2010/Other%20Readings/ReadersDigest-Organic.pdf 2012-07
· Two pro and con essays presented for organic agriculture
Date modified: 2012-07-31