M-117 Organic agriculture

That:

(a) the House recognize that,

(i) farmers are on the frontlines of increasing climate change impacts, and must be supported with all available tools to adapt while reducing environmental impacts,

(ii) organic agriculture is a globally recognized approach to sustainable food production that is backed by federal regulation and a third-party assurance system, and driven by growing consumer demand in Canada and internationally,

(iii) organic agriculture has documented benefits for increasing farm income, increasing biodiversity and soil health, reducing greenhouse gas emissions per acre, and building resilience to the impacts of extreme weather,

(iv) developing and improving organic agriculture can make a significant contribution to Canada's environmental, climate, and economic goals,

(v) Canada’s lack of a policy framework to develop organic food and farming, in contrast to many of our major trade competitors who have organic growth policies and are making historic investments in their sectors, leaves Canadian organic farmers at a competitive disadvantage; and

(b) in the opinion of the House, the government should fully recognize and incorporate organic agriculture in Canada's Sustainable Agriculture Strategy as a cross-cutting tool to meet multiple goals.