During Election 2025, two Agricultural Leaders Debates, one hosted by the Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA) and the other by the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA), highlighted agriculture’s vital role in Canada’s economy and communities—contributing 1 in 9 jobs and playing a central role in food security, trade, and climate resilience.

We were encouraged to see all parties participate in those debates; engaging with critical issues for the future of Canada’s agri-food sector, including market diversification, strengthening domestic processing, climate adaptation, support for new entrants, and modernizing risk management programs.

We were especially pleased to hear organic agriculture and food included in the dialogue. Organic was recognized across party lines during each debate as a high-potential sector—economically and environmentally—and as a key strategic opportunity for diversifying Canada’s markets, strengthening our trade resilience, and maximizing domestic job creation, economic growth, and agri-food sector sustainability.

Looking ahead, the Canadian Organic Alliance* is eager to work with all partners in the next Parliament to develop a Federal organic strategy that enables farmers and other agri-food businesses to successfully meet the opportunities and risks ahead while ensuring a strong organic sector.

Highlights from the debates included:

• Organic agriculture and food as a smart diversification strategy to meet existing demand, grow domestic and export markets, and strengthen trade resilience.
• The need for federal policies to assist farms in transitioning to organic, building on successful provincial models.
• The need for regulatory review and modernization to enable interprovincial trade and better serve both domestic and global organic markets.
• Aligning risk management programs to support diversification, biodiversity, and climate-resilient farming practices.

* The Canadian Organic Alliance (COA)—a coalition of the Canadian Organic Growers (COG), the Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA), and the Organic Federation of Canada (OFC)—represents over 7,500 organic operators, including nearly 6,000 farmers and 1,600 processors, managing 3.18 million acres of farmland and providing healthy food to Canadians and the world. COA has a clear Organic Action Plan to drive sector growth and market expansion.