Organic Agriculture in the Prairies (2016 Data)

Since 2014, the Organic Agriculture in the Prairies report has been commissioned by the Prairie Organic Grain Initiative in response to the demand for organic specific data in the Prairies. This valuable data helps organic businesses take advantage of opportunities and prepare for future challenges, allows organic stakeholders to align programming with sector realities and supports policy asks that rely upon understanding the current trends in the organic sector.

This report is free and will be sent to you automatically upon ordering. 

Key findings of the 2016 analysis: 

• The number of certified operations in the Prairies reached a new milestone of 1,632 in 2016
• Organic acreage expanded from 1.4 to 1.6 million between 2015 and 2016
• The Prairies are home to over half of Canada’s certified farmland; however, this proportion is on the decline
• The number of certified crop producers is the highest it’s been since 2010, at 1,442
• The proportion of Canadian organic crop producers in the Prairies has increased slightly to 35%
• Alberta had the greatest increase in crop producers in the country, recording an additional 70 producers in 2016
• Despite more stagnant crop producer numbers, both Saskatchewan and Manitoba organic farmland expanded by 20%
• Livestock operations have grown from 118 to 132 in the Prairies