Canadian Organic Growers

06/05/2026

COG is calling on the Government of Canada to reverse the termination of the Organic and Regenerative Research Program at the Swift Current Research and Development Centre and protect the continuity of Canada’s only dedicated long-term federal organic agriculture research program.

We have confirmed that ongoing and planned research projects remain affected by the termination of the program, including projects expected to continue or begin during the current growing season but not permitted to proceed. These include work related to soil quality and health, regenerative crop production systems, crop yield and quality, and evaluation of farmer-bred wheat lines.

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food issued unanimous all-party recommendations calling on the government to reconsider the cancellation of the Swift Current program, table an action plan for affected research, and pause and reverse agricultural research closures announced in January.

There is still time to prevent irreversible damage — but only if the government acts now.

Read our full statement at the link below:
https://cog.ca/blog/aafc-continues-with-plan-to-terminate-canadas-only-federal-organic-research-program-despite-all-party-warning/

Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan
Atlantic Canadian Organic Regional Network
Canadian Federation of Agriculture
Choose Canada Organic
Common Frontiers
Agrobio Québec
Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario - EFAO
Farmers For Climate Solutions - Fermiers pour la transition climatique
Food Secure Canada / Réseau pour une alimentation durable
Friends of the Earth Canada
Growers of Organic Food Yukon
Manitoba Organics
National Farmers Union / L'Union nationale des fermiers
Ontario Organic
Organic BC
Prairie Food System Vision
Prairie Oat Growers Association
Régénération Canada
SaskOrganics
Sask Wheat
SeedChange / Sème l’avenir
Young Agrarians

06/04/2026

To celebrate Pride Month, COG and our friends at NFU excitedly invite you to join our Pride Farmer Panel event! 🌈

In nature, ecosystems flourish through diversity, queerness, and collaboration and we think the same is true for an abundant food and farming system. Diversity enables innovation, resilience, and adaptation—all key elements of ecological farming—and this Pride Month we’d like to celebrate the contributions of 2SLGBTQIA+ farmers to our sector.

Join our conversation with a panel of 2SLGBTQIA+ farmers who will be sharing their perspectives on pride in farming and ways to make the broader ag community safe and welcoming for all. This is a great opportunity to meet and network with folks in the ecological ag and 2SLGBTQIA+ community as well as allies.

Learn more and register at pride-farmer-panel-2026-cog.eventbrite.ca

06/03/2026

The challenges that regenerative organic farmers need to tackle are not just found in the field. Connecting with the right customers for their crops and their context is also something that can require creative solutions and a regenerative mindset.

In Treherne, Manitoba, Dan and Fran run Top of the Hill Farm. Growing good, healthy crops for their own family and others is at the heart of what Top of the Hill Farm is all about. They grow a wide range of crops that appeal to a variety of consumers - including wheat, spelt, flax, rye, oats, lentils, and buckwheat - and also run their own on-farm mill where they process grains.

Dan and Fran set out to find a local market of folks who were interested in the good, healthy food and ingredients they produce. Read the newest farm story on our blog to find out how they are creating a local market for their crops at https://cog.ca/blog/creating-a-local-market-for-your-crops-a-roo-farm-story/

If you are in Manitoba and eager to visit Top of the Hill Farm for an exciting day of hands-on demonstrations, displays, and discussions on all things regenerative organic farming, you can also learn about our Regenerative Organic Oats Field Day at Top of the Hill Farm at https://cog.ca/event/regenerative-organic-oats-field-day-at-top-of-the-hill-farm/

DeRuyck’s Top of the Hill Farm Manitoba Organics

06/01/2026

On the 1st of each month, COG shares a list of all the exciting organic/regenerative/ecological events happening across the country.⁠
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There are lots of great events happening this June - you can find them in our Monthly Event Listing on our website. Check it out today at the link: https://cog.ca/blog/june-2026-event-listing/

We hope you have fun joining an event online or near you this June!

05/29/2026

On May 27th, COG's Executive Director Karen Murchison joined MPs John Barlow and Jacques Gourde during a news conference on Parliament Hill to voice our urgent concerns regarding the closures of key Canadian agricultural research stations including the Organic and Regenerative Research Program at the Swift Current Research and Development Centre.

"Our message today is straightforward, pause any actions that would compromise the long term organic trial land, allow the planned 2026 operations to proceed, maintain the scientific and technical capacity needed to preserve program continuity and most importantly engage urgently with stakeholders affected by the planned closure of this program and research stations. This is about protecting public science, producer focused innovation in a growing sector, and Canada's capacity to support resilient agriculture for the long term."
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The news conference follows the recent report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, "Science in Canadian Agriculture and the Closure of Research Centres", which recommended that the Government of Canada “reconsider its decision to cancel the organic and regenerative program at the Swift Current Research and Development Centre.” The signors are calling on AAFC to immediately pause any actions that could compromise long-term organically managed trial land and authorize planned 2026 field operations to proceed. ⁠
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The Organic and Regenerative Research Program is the only dedicated organic research program at AAFC and, in contrast to facility closures, is slated for closure at a research facility that remains fully operational.⁠Thank you MP Barlow and Gourde for your leadership on this important issue.

Watch the full press conference at the link below:
https://www.cpac.ca/headline-politics/episode/conservatives-discuss-agricultural-research-stations--may-27-2026?id=5ff74b49-7538-4d9d-ae9d-6ac3a94a93dd

Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan
Atlantic Canadian Organic Regional Network
Canadian Federation of Agriculture
Choose Canada Organic
Common Frontiers
Agrobio Québec
Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario - EFAO
Équiterre
Farmers For Climate Solutions - Fermiers pour la transition climatique
Food Secure Canada / Réseau pour une alimentation durable
Friends of the Earth Canada
Growers of Organic Food Yukon
Manitoba Organics
National Farmers Union / L'Union nationale des fermiers
Ontario Organic
Organic BC
Prairie Food System Vision
Prairie Oat Growers Association
Régénération Canada
SaskOrganics
Sask Wheat
SeedChange / Sème l’avenir
Young Agrarians

05/27/2026

Organizations from across Canada have sent a joint letter to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada expressing urgent concern regarding the planned closure of the Organic and Regenerative Research Program at the Swift Current Research and Development Centre.

The letter follows the recent report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, "Science in Canadian Agriculture and the Closure of Research Centres", which recommended that the Government of Canada “reconsider its decision to cancel the organic and regenerative program at the Swift Current Research and Development Centre.” The signors are calling on AAFC to immediately pause any actions that could compromise long-term organically managed trial land and authorize planned 2026 field operations to proceed.

The Organic and Regenerative Research Program is the only dedicated organic research program at AAFC and, in contrast to facility closures, is slated for closure at a research facility that remains fully operational.

Read the full letter at https://cog.ca/blog/organizations-call-on-aafc-to-pause-closure-of-swift-current-organic-research-program/

Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan
Atlantic Canadian Organic Regional Network
Canadian Federation of Agriculture
Choose Canada Organic
Common Frontiers
Agrobio Québec
Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario - EFAO
Équiterre
Farmers For Climate Solutions - Fermiers pour la transition climatique
Food Secure Canada / Réseau pour une alimentation durable
Friends of the Earth Canada
Growers of Organic Food Yukon
Manitoba Organics
National Farmers Union / L'Union nationale des fermiers
Ontario Organic
Organic BC
Prairie Food System Vision
Prairie Oat Growers Association
Régénération Canada
SaskOrganics
Sask Wheat
SeedChange / Sème l’avenir
Young Agrarians

05/26/2026

Our friends at CBAN have recently shared an alert to let consumers know that the GM purple tomato has been sighted in stores in Nova Scotia (Superstore) and Ontario (Loblaws). Companies are testing consumer acceptance to new genetically engineered fruits and vegetables.

If customers and farmers do not take action now, there are a number of genetically modified fruits and vegetables that could soon be released into our food system and seed supply.

Leave a comment letting us know what questions or concerns you have about more GM produce appearing in stores ⬇️

Alert! Loblaws stores in Ontario and Nova Scotia are selling unlabelled genetically modified (GM) purple tomatoes. Take action today to tell Loblaws/Superstore to stop selling GM tomatoes. www.loblaws.ca/en/contact-us More info: www.cban.ca/LoblawsAction

05/25/2026

Get ready to join COG for an engaging series of regenerative organic field days across the prairies this summer ☀️

We invite you to mark your calendars and save the dates for:

🌱 July 8th in North Battleford, SK
🌱 July 29th in Balcarres, SK
🌱 August 6th in Treherne, MB

Stay tuned for more details!

Manitoba Organics
SaskOrganics
MadeGood Canada
Nature's Path Organic
Bay State Milling Company

05/22/2026

We are so thrilled to see folks who took our Organic Vegetable Seed Production course out in the ag world making seed production and seed saving part of their farming livelihood. Seed is the foundation of our food system 🌱 Thanks for sharing NL Young Farmers and Seed to Spoon 🙌

05/22/2026

It's a in honour of International Day for Biological Diversity - do you remember our Beneficial Insects series shoutout to spiders? 🕷️

Spiders are a superhero in our gardens and fields - a prime example that even inhabitants of the natural world who give us the heebie-jeebies can be important members of healthy ecosystems!

In the regenerative organic ag world, we know that protecting biodiversity isn't just an altruistic effort. It can have major positive impacts on our growing spaces.

Listen in as Dorthea shares how and why we can support and welcome spiders in our outdoor landscapes 🕸️ Then if you want to even learn more about the diversity of beneficial insects all around us, watch the entire Beneficial Insects playlist at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGb8-ATneCNPDmmiAmgopG4IYHbVjR7u6