Canada’s Organic Action Plan signals growth opportunity for retailers
Submitted by Sophie Marvell, senior communications coordinator, COTA
The release of Canada’s Organic Action Plan (OAP) set the stage for members of the Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA) to meet in Ottawa from November 2 to 4, 2025 to urge the federal government to increase support for the organic industry.
Canada’s OAP provides a national framework to grow the country’s organic food and farming sector, which has surpassed $9.75 billion in 2024 and ranked fifth in global sales. The plan calls for coordinated investment and policy action to strengthen domestic production, expand markets, and modernize regulations to position organic as a scalable solution.
Developed through broad consultation across the sector, the plan focuses on three pillars:
Accelerating innovation and productivity
Growing domestic and export markets
Strengthening policy and data infrastructure
For retailers, these measures promise a more reliable supply of organic products, greater data insights, and expanded product offerings that align with the “Buy Canadian” strategy.
The national OAP prioritizes building consumer trust and increasing familiarity with organic products among retailers. By strengthening transparency, education, and engagement, the plan aims to ensure that both consumers and retail partners have confidence in the integrity and value of organic, driving growth and accessibility across the marketplace.
The launch of the plan and COTA’s early-November meeting in Ottawa were reinforced by the association’s flagship Organic Summit and Parliamentary Reception and Organic Parliament Day events. More than 100 parliamentarians, senators, and government staff engaged with organic leaders to discuss priorities and opportunities for growth. The summit featured discussions on consumer demand, shifting global markets, and strategies for scaling organic businesses. Insights from organizations such as NielsenIQ, Pattison Food Group, and Farm Credit Canada highlighted the growing importance of organic products in retail and the need for transparent assurance systems to strengthen consumer trust.
Industry leaders emphasized that organic is no longer a niche category but a mainstream growth engine. With government support, Canada’s organic sector can expand production, mitigate climate change, protect biodiversity, and build a resilient food system. For retailers, this represents a clear opportunity to meet rising consumer demand, differentiate your retail brand through organic offerings, and capture new revenue streams.
The momentum from these events underscores the importance of strategic government action to secure Canada’s position as a leader in organic trade. Retailers who embrace organic assortments now will be well positioned to benefit from the sector’s growth and to align with consumer values that increasingly prioritize transparency and environmental stewardship.
Follow the Organic Action Plan news on the COTA website: canada-organic.ca/en/what-we-do/advocacy/organic-action-plan-canada
Stay up to date by subscribing to the COTA retailer mailing list: mailchi.mp/7c4fe92b8580/join-the-canada-organic-trade-associations-retail-mailing-list