Manitoba Organic Alliance

What Manitoba Organic Alliance does

Manitoba Organics (formerly Manitoba Organic Alliance, MOA) is a provincially registered, not-for-profit organization founded in 2009 and headquartered in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. Its stated objective is to grow the organic community in Manitoba by bridging the gap between organic farmers and consumers. The organization serves four primary constituencies: Manitoba organic farmers seeking certification and transition support, conventional farmers considering transition to organic, organic consumers seeking local products and education, and agricultural researchers and students (notably through collaborations with the University of Manitoba's LEAP Project and Organic Science Cluster 4). Named farm profiles span small to mid-market operations including Adagio Acres, Blue Lagoon Organics, Wild Earth Farms, Black Family Farm, Midmore Farms, and Moose Creek Organic Farm.

The organization's product surface is built around three free digital tools — DriftWatch (crop/apary registry for spray-drift protection, available since the April 2025 FieldWatch partnership), the Nutrient Budgeting App (multi-year soil fertility planning), and the Canada Grazing Exchange (livestock-to-land matching) — supplemented by an active content library (Grain on the Brain Podcast, Season 5; Organic Bytes monthly newsletter; articles on composting, bird-friendly farming, and Canadian Organic Standards) and a program stack including Winter Farm Clubs across four Manitoba locations, seasonal Farm Tours, the Cost-Share Program, and the annual Organic Grain Hub Trade Show. The technology stack is web-based with no proprietary AI/ML systems, and the organization does not develop or sell technology.

Manitoba Organics' business model is a non-profit funding blend rather than a commercial revenue model. Primary inflows include the farmer-run MODF grain check-off, federal grants (Canadian Agricultural Partnership, Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, Prairies Economic Development Canada — $278,438 disclosed August 2025), Conservation Trust and Farmers for Climate Solutions support, modest event revenue, and donations/memberships. Services are provided free or near-free to farmers; the organization's role is sector advocacy, education, and stewardship infrastructure rather than product commercialization. Leadership rests with Executive Director Marika Dewar-Norosky, supported by a Board of Directors, with operations delivered by a small (1–10) staff team.

Name

Manitoba Organic Alliance

Legal name

Manitoba Organic Alliance

Website

https://manitobaorganics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Manitoba Organics is a provincially registered not-for-profit that grows Manitoba's organic sector by funding farmers, running farm clubs and tours, publishing educational content and podcasts, and stewarding tools like DriftWatch and the Nutrient Budgeting App for organic growers across the province.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organic Agriculture Industry Association

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (813910), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)

Keywords

• Organic agriculture advocacy
• Farmer education programs
• Organic certification guidance
• Sustainable farming support
• Agricultural community building

Headquarters

HQ city

Portage La Prairie

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Organic Check-off (MODF): Manitoba Organic Development Fund (MODF) is a farmer-run grain check-off that funds projects and programs supporting organic agriculture in Manitoba. Producers contribute through the mandatory check-off system.
2. Membership and Donations: As a not-for-profit organization, revenue likely includes membership fees and charitable donations from supporters of organic agriculture.
3. Event Revenue: Revenue generated from events including farm tours, the Organic Grain Hub Trade Show, and educational workshops. Some events have registration fees while others are free.
4. Grants and Funding: Funding received from government programs including the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, Science Horizons grant program, and Conservation Trust.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Manitoba Organic Alliance (operating as Manitoba Organics) is a provincially registered not-for-profit organization that grows Manitoba's organic community by providing free digital tools (DriftWatch crop-field registry, Nutrient Budgeting App, Canada Grazing Exchange), educational content (Grain on the Brain Podcast, Organic Bytes newsletter), peer-learning programs (Winter Farm Clubs, Farm Tours, Organic Grain Hub Trade Show), and financial support (Cost-Share Program, MODF grain check-off) for organic farmers and the broader public.

Product overview

Manitoba Organics (formerly Manitoba Organic Alliance) is a not-for-profit organization focused on growing the organic community in Manitoba by bridging the gap between farmers and consumers. The organization operates a suite of free digital tools supporting organic farming, including the DriftWatch online registry for mapping crop fields and protecting farms from pesticide drift, the Nutrient Budgeting App for multi-year soil fertility planning, and the Canada Grazing Exchange platform connecting livestock owners with landowners. Beyond technology tools, Manitoba Organics delivers educational content through the Grain on the Brain Podcast and Organic Bytes newsletter, facilitates farmer networking via Winter Farm Clubs, and hosts events including Farm Tours and the annual Organic Grain Hub Trade Show. The organization also administers the Manitoba Organic Development Fund (MODF), a farmer-run grain check-off program, and a Cost-Share Program providing financial support to organic farmers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DriftWatch A free, voluntary, secure online registry supported by Manitoba Organics that lets Manitoba crop producers map the locations of their crop fields so pesticide applicators can avoid spraying near organic farms, protecting them from spray drift damage.
• Canada Grazing Exchange A free online platform made available through Manitoba Organics that connects livestock owners with landowners across Canada who have available grazing land or cover crops, helping improve soil health and maximize forage opportunities.
• Nutrient Budgeting App A free web application referenced by Manitoba Organics that helps farmers calculate whether nutrients are accumulating or being depleted from their fields over time, tracking inputs (including nitrogen fixation by legumes) and outputs to support multi-year nutrient management planning.
• Grain on the Brain Podcast An ongoing podcast produced by Manitoba Organics featuring farmers, researchers, and industry professionals discussing livestock integration, nutrient budgeting, phosphorus management, and the transition to organic certification, available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
• Cost-Share Program A grant program administered by Manitoba Organics that accepts applications from farmers to fund organic production and transition activities, with the 2026 application window open until June 30th and no application fee.
• Manitoba Organic Development Fund (MODF) A farmer-run grain check-off program administered by Manitoba Organics that funds organic research, promotion, and development initiatives in Manitoba, with a producer refund mechanism and projects benefiting the organic sector.
• Organic Grain Hub Trade Show An annual trade show event delivered by Manitoba Organics that connects organic grain producers with buyers and industry stakeholders to support market development for Manitoba's organic sector.
• Organic Bytes Newsletter A monthly newsletter published by Manitoba Organics providing news, updates, funding opportunities, and event information about Manitoba's organic sector, with archives available on the website.
• Farm Tours Seasonal on-farm tours hosted by Manitoba Organics at member organic operations across Manitoba, providing hands-on learning about organic farming practices, cover cropping, and sustainable agriculture.
• Winter Farm Clubs Monthly peer-to-peer farmer clubs hosted by Manitoba Organics across Winnipeg, Steinbach, Russell, and Souris that serve as collaborative platforms for farmers to share experiences, exchange knowledge, and refine skills in sustainable agriculture.

Quantifiable outcome

• 117% higher net returns for organic producers
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FieldWatch, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2025Manitoba joined FieldWatch as its 30th member and 2nd Canadian province (after Saskatchewan). This partnership enables Manitoba's beekeepers and crop producers to use DriftWatch and BeeCheck registries to identify and map locations of apiaries and crop fields to help pesticide applicators avoid spray drift damage to organic farms.
• Young AgrarianscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership for farm tours and educational events. Young Agrarians and Manitoba Organics co-host events including farm tours at Wild Earth Farms and cover cropping workshops, combining community building with agricultural education.
• Manitoba Beekeepers AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitial funding supporter for FieldWatch Manitoba launch, representing beekeepers who benefit from the BeeCheck registry for mapping hive locations.
• CropLife CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitial funding supporter for FieldWatch Manitoba launch. Partnership supports communication and stewardship between crop producers, beekeepers, and pesticide applicators.
• University of ManitobacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership including LEAP (Levering Ecosystems to transform Agriculture on the Prairies) Project collaboration, with researchers like Dr. Martin Entz and Dr. Joanne Thiessen Martens contributing to farm clubs and research field tours.
• Organic Science ClustercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Organic Science Cluster 4 (OSC4) research experiments showcased at annual field tours. Research focuses on perennial grains and recycled phosphorus inputs for organic field crops.
• FaRM Learning HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Farm Resilience Mentorship Program providing learning modules and resources shared with Manitoba Organics audience for climate-resilient farming education.
• Relish Ideas Inc.minorOthersCreative agency that designed Manitoba Organics' new logo and brand identity, acknowledged as the creative force behind the organization's rebranding from Manitoba Organic Alliance to Manitoba Organics.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Organic Alberta: Alberta's provincial organic association providing advocacy, education, and networking for organic farmers — directly comparable in mission, structure, and Prairie-provincial scope.
• Organic Council of Ontario: Ontario's provincial organic sector organization focused on training, advocacy, and certification support for organic farmers — same nonprofit advocacy model with broader provincial scale.
• Saskatchewan Organic Directorate: Provincial organic sector association for Saskatchewan — the closest geographic and structural peer to Manitoba Organics, administering organic check-offs and farmer support programs in the neighbouring Prairie province.
• Certified Organic Associations of British Columbia (COABC): BC's umbrella organic certification and sector association — comparable as a provincial nonprofit administering organic verification, advocacy, and farmer education across a single province.
• Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario: Ontario-based farmer-led nonprofit supporting ecological and organic farming through farmer-to-farmer networking, workshops, and advocacy — directly comparable GTM motion (community-led farmer clubs, workshops) to Manitoba Organics.

Emerging players

• Young Agrarians: National network for new and young farmers — direct partner of Manitoba Organics on farm tours and events; comparable peer-to-peer farmer mobilization model across Western Canada.
• Farmers for Climate Solutions: Pan-Canadian farmer-led coalition advocating for climate-resilient agriculture — overlaps with Manitoba Organics' climate-smart agriculture funding partner role and shared farmer advocacy mandate.

Broad incumbents

• Canadian Organic Growers: National charity promoting organic regenerative practices through education and policy advocacy — broader geographic scope but overlapping educational programming and farmer support mission.
• Canadian Organic Trade Association: National trade association representing Canada's organic value chain at federal level — broader scope than MO but overlapping mandate in organic advocacy, policy, and market development.
• Organic Federation of Canada: National federation coordinating the Canadian Organic Standards and the Organic Standards Interpretation Committee — overlaps with MO's regulatory and certification guidance role but at federal level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ManitobaOrganic
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@manitobaorganics
• Facebookfacebook.com/ManitobaOrganics
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/manitoba-organics
• Instagraminstagram.com/manitobaorganics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Manitoba Organic Alliance