Name of Presenter

Organic MarketingOrganic Marketing

Roger Rivest, Roger Rivest, Organic Division Manager, Organic Division Manager,

Keystone Grain Ltd.Keystone Grain Ltd.

Value of OrganicValue of Organic>$1.2B organic sales in Canada (retail)

$11B USA, $13B EU (2005 - US$)~ 1.9% of total food sales (US)growing 10-20% per year

limited sales in food service industrylarge potential growth market

Canada imports 80-85% of organic consumption export 70-80% of production (to USA, EU, Asia)

What is it?

•• A method of productionA method of production•• Organic farmers chose not to use Organic farmers chose not to use

syntheticsynthetic fertilizers, pesticides, GMO (>36 months)

• It is not old science or no science• It is not “do nothing”

What’s Not Permitted

• genetically modified crops• synthetically produced pesticides and

fertilizers• sewage sludge and municipal wastes• antibiotics, growth hormones

Philosophy• Organic systems rely on prevention

rather than cure. – Change the production system to

reduce the need for inputs

• “If it is found in nature it can be broken down by nature”

StandardsStandards• National Standard of Canada for

Organic Agriculture – accepted in 1999 by the Standards

Council of Canada (SCC)– Currently Under Final Review

• Standards applied by certification bodies

• Canadian federal regulation

Certification MarksCertification Marks

CCSI

Certification BodiesCertification Bodies•

Certification bodies each have their own standard based on similar principles (IFOAM, CODEX, national standards, etc)

•

All major certification bodies in Canada are accredited to USDA National Organic Program (NOP)

• Certification of the production process … not the product

2007 ac Soybean Corn Wheat SpeltOntario 22,000 6500 2,700 6,000Quebec 12,000 4,100 1800 1200

Ohio 13,000 7,500 1,000 2,000Mich 25,000 6,800 2,000 2,200

Indiana 4,000 1700 1500 -Illinois 12,000 8,500 1,500 200Wisc 14,000 25,000 1,200 40Minn 35,000 30,000 2,000 80Iowa 23,000 18,000 1,200 -

Organic Weed Control Practices

• Must have a good rotation• Food grade, non-GMO variety seed• Cultivate early spring – repeat @2 weeks

• Plant late May• Tine harrow before emergence• Tine harrow or rotary hoe after emergence• Row cultivate (2x)• Walk fields

Mechanical Weed Control

Weeder harrow

IFOAM criteria for organic inputs• Necessity.• Natural – mineral, plant, or animal origin• Low impact on the environment, including:

environmental safety, degradability, acute toxicity to non-target organisms, long-term chronic toxicity, chemically synthesized products and heavy metals.

• Human health.• Ethical aspects – animal welfare.• Socio-economic aspects.

Name of Presenter

Name of Presenter

www.keystonegrain.com

Organic Grain Marketing Grain Purchasing and Handling for Milling Purposes

• Knowing what grains, and what varieties of grains to purchase directly from farmers - and what not

• Knowing who can supply quality organic grains in your area - what will grow, what will not

• Learning how to access grains from further afield when local crops are unavailable

• Stimulating local organic production to encourage growth of this industry • Recognizing your skills as a Milling Company to process various grains • Keeping an eye on a changing Marketplace --first local, and then in a widening

circle for distribution • Making a profit at what you do!