1. Overview of Organic Production in Saskatchewan Overview of Organic Production in Saskatchewan Mission of European Buyers to Canada Brenda Frick, Prairie Coordinator, Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada August 27, 2003

2. Saskatchewan lends itself to organic production Clean natural environment Open skies, abundant farmland Dry and cold discourage diseases, pests Diverse growing conditions Established organic agriculture community Saskatchewan Environment

3. 773+ farms reporting certified organic products in Saskatchewan Statistics Canada; Census of Agriculture 2001 35% of Canadian organic farms are in Saskatchewan Organic Agriculture is Saskatchewan Saskatchewan has more organic farmers than any other province in Canada

4. Organic Producers Increasing Ann Macey, Organic Statistics, 1996-2001

5. Organic Acreage in Saskatchewan Organic Acreage in Saskatchewan Frick, Brenda; Production Statistics for Organic Agriculture in Saskatchewan for 2000 ~ 160,000 ac cereal ~ 113,000 ac forage ~ 35,000 ac oilseed ~ 39,000 ac pulses ~ 14,000 ac other crops ~ 340,000 ac other ~ 700,000 ac TOTAL

6. Organic Cereals in Saskatchewan Organic Cereals in Saskatchewan Wheat, Durum Oat Kamut®, Barley, Rye, Spelt, Millet, etc

7. Organic Oilseeds in Saskatchewan Organic Oilseeds in Saskatchewan Flax is the major organic oilseed Smaller amounts of mustard Hemp, sunola, etc.

8. Organic Pulses in Saskatchewan Organic Pulses in Saskatchewan Lentil, field pea Chickpea, dry bean Pulses as cover crops, chickling vetch, etc

9. Additional Crops in Saskatchewan Additional Crops in Saskatchewan Growing herb and spice industry Borage, Caraway, Echinacea Development of horticultural options Sprouting seeds, vegetables, fruit Wild crafting of fruits, forest products Berries, mushrooms, syrups

10. Wild Rice in Saskatchewan Wild Rice in Saskatchewan Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 2002, Canadian Wild Rice Industry. http://www.agr.gc.ca/misb/spcrops/wildrice_e.phtml http://www.agr.gc.ca/misb/spcrops/wildrice_e.phtml more than 70% of Canadian production in SK harvested from natural water bodies 1000 – 2000 tonnes per year

11. Processing and Exporting Processing and Exporting Nearly 40 organic processors in Saskatchewan Cleaning, mixing, grinding flours, crushing oil Bulk sales - GIOSI, world’s largest private organic cereal grain supplier and exporter Cereal based food ingredients

12. Processing Support Processing Support

13. Organic Forage in Saskatchewan Organic Forage in Saskatchewan Alfalfa, sweet clover, red clovers Plowdown for soil building Seed Greenfeed – oat pea mixtures Wild oat, kochia Feed grains

14. Organic Livestock in Saskatchewan Organic Livestock in Saskatchewan Vast areas needed for organic animal production Clean water, grass, lower disease potential 100% organic feed – grass, forage, feed

15. Organic Livestock in Saskatchewan Organic Livestock in Saskatchewan 62 organic livestock producers 7,000 – 8000 head of cattle Sales of 3,000 finished organic beef / yr Lamb, pork, poultry Could be certified organic bison

16. 2 EU approved organic slaughter facilities in Western Canada Free Farm – US humane society accredited CFIA hormone free tags European contact – Alexander Gibb, Scotland http://www.colabeef.ca COLA headquartered in Saskatchewan COLA headquartered in Saskatchewan

17. Support for Saskatchewan Producers Saskatchewan Organic Directorate, SOD, a producer-controlled organization with international credibility promotes the organic industry in Saskatchewan Canadian Organic Growers provides networking and extension to organic producers

18. Support for Saskatchewan Producers Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada provides marketing and trade officers Saskatchewan organic farmers can purchase organic crop insurance Saskatchewan government provides an organic specialist and a system of extension agrologists

19. Support for Saskatchewan Producers University of Saskatchewan assists the organic industry with production and economic research and training Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada provides research and extension through a Prairie Coordinator, and education through web based courses

20. References and Acknowledgements Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 2002, Canadian Wild Rice Industry. http://www.agr.gc.ca/misb/spcrops/wildrice_e.phtml http://www.agr.gc.ca/misb/spcrops/wildrice_e.phtml Macey, Ann; 1997 - 2001, various statistical reports, Eco-Farm & Garden Frick, Brenda; Production Statistics for Organic Agriculture in Saskatchewan for 2000, Report for Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food & Saskatchewan Organic Directorate. February 2001 Saskatchewan Agriculture Food and Rural Revitalization. 2000. Saskatchewan Organic Marketing and Processing Directory Saskatchewan Agrivision Corporation Inc. 2002. The Organic Agriculture Industry. Fact Sheet. Statistics Canada; Census of Agriculture 2001 Thanks also to Janine Gibson, Canadian Organic Growers; and Sam Rhode, Certified Organic Livestock Association for information and materials; and Susan Howse for photographs