Organic: More than a Label

A stroll through the grocery store reveals no shortage of organic options—from produce and dairy to packaged foods and pantry staples. Yet despite the label’s popularity, many consumers aren’t clear about what it actually means. 

In Canada, organic certification is based on a comprehensive set of standards that go far beyond limiting pesticide use.

Tia Loftsgard, executive director of the Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA), points out that organic farming has benefits for both people and the planet. “Organic is not just about avoiding pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, genetic engineering, et cetera,” she says. “It’s also about creating strong standards for animal welfare, environmental stewardship, and ultimately, human health.”

In Canada, the Canadian Organic Standards set the rules for organic foods sold across provinces or imported from other countries. Products that meet these standards and have been certified may carry the Canada organic logo. Some provinces and territories also have their own organic regulations for foods sold only within their borders, separate from the federal standards used for interprovincial and imported products.

Fittingly, September is Organic Month in Canada, a time that COTA has dedicated to raising awareness about organic farming and food production across the country.

Organic standards raise the bar

Because of the strict certification process for organic farmers, consumers can be sure these foods meet high standards, which Loftsgard says are just the baseline. “Some farmers adopt additional techniques beyond the standards,” she says, “such as doing more crop rotations in a year, adding more cover crops, or having zones of flowers that attract pollinators.”

These “extras” may also include regenerative agriculture practices, which focus on improving soil health, sequestering carbon, and enhancing nutrition and crop yields. 

Loftsgard cautions, though, that there is no standard definition of what “regenerative farming” means. The Rodale Institute, a leader in organic agriculture research, is a founding partner in the international Regenerative Organic Certified program, which sets standards for regenerative farming practices that support soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness.

Healthy soil, healthy foods

Farmers rely on soil to grow their crops and feed their poultry and livestock. Organic farming aims to keep soil healthy for years to come. To examine the impacts of organic farming practices, the Rodale Institute has been running a real-world trial since 1981. 

Researchers have found that organic practices lead to greater soil health compared to conventional practices—such as increased organic soil matter, greater diversity of microbes in the soil, and reduced soil compaction. These changes can improve the micronutrient and phytochemical content in crops.

The Rodale study has also shown that organic farming produces 30 percent higher yields during times of extreme weather compared to conventional farming, with the two practices having similar yields overall for cash crops, such as corn and soybean.

With human-caused climate change linked to an increased number and severity of extreme weather events, organic farming offers a way to take care of the earth under stressful circumstances. This is supported by a 2025 review of hundreds of studies, which found that in the majority of situations examined, organic practices showed advantages for environmental protection and resource conservation.

Farmers key to organic success

Loftsgard says farmers choose to convert to organic practices for several reasons. Some want to raise their children on an organic farm without the use of pesticides, while others want to cash in on the popularity of organic foods.

However, “the majority of farmers who are here for the long term realize the benefits of organic farming,” she says. She notes that it’s a significant investment, because farmers typically go through a three-year transition period before products can be certified organic, often without guaranteed price premiums or consistent financial support, and may experience lower yields at first as they adopt new practices.

For farmers who persist and put in the sweat, day after day, there is a market eager for their organic products. Right now, “there is a huge opportunity to sell locally,” says Loftsgard, “especially with many Canadians leaning into buying Canadian.”

Even with recent spikes in food prices, Loftsgard says consumers are still buying organic. “People are buying based on their values and the taste of organic foods. For consumers who go the extra mile to learn about the nutritional aspects of organic foods, we’re also seeing that people are willing to pay for it.”

This Organic Month, taking a closer look at what organic certification really means may reveal that the label represents much more than a farming method—it reflects a broader commitment to the health of people, animals, and the planet.

This article was originally published in the September 2026 issue of alive magazine.