Organic Federation of Canada

What Organic Federation of Canada does

The Organic Federation of Canada (OFC) is a Montreal-based national nonprofit federation founded in 2009 that represents provincial and territorial organic organizations across Canada. Its core mandate is to maintain and interpret the Canadian Organic Standards (CAN/CGSB-32.310 for production and CAN/CGSB-32.311 for permitted substances), which are referenced by the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations and are therefore mandatory for any organic product sold in Canada. The federation excludes GMOs, nanotechnologies, growth regulators, cloned livestock, and synthetic fertilizers from the organic production definition.

OFC operates four core program areas: standards maintenance and interpretation via the Standards Interpretation Committee (established 2009 with CFIA), scientific research coordination through the Organic Science Clusters (OSC3 currently active with 70+ industry partners), bilingual sector communication through the InfoBio monthly newsletter and Organic Science Conversations podcast, and the five-yearly standards review cycle (the 2025 review is currently underway). Revenue is sourced from member organization fees, sponsorship of the standards review process, and federal-provincial funding via Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Agri-Science Program under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. OFC is not a commercial entity; it serves as a coordination and standards body for the Canadian organic sector rather than selling products or services at market rates.

Name

Organic Federation of Canada

Legal name

Organic Federation of Canada

Website

https://organicfederation.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Organic Federation of Canada is a Montreal-based nonprofit federation that maintains and interprets the federally-referenced Canadian Organic Standards and coordinates the Organic Science Clusters research network on behalf of provincial, territorial, and sector members across Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organic Agriculture Standards & Research

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Organic Certification Services (AFALAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Certification Program Administration & Scheme Management (Standard Owners) (AFALACAC), Food Safety Certification Bodies (ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, BRCGS, SQF) (AFALAAAC), Pre-Assessment, Gap Assessment & Certification Readiness Services (AFALACAE)

Keywords

• Organic agriculture standards
• Certification framework
• Agricultural research network
• Organic sector advocacy
• Standards interpretation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership and Sector Support: The federation operates as a nonprofit organization funded through membership fees, sponsorship of the Canadian Organic Standards review process, and support from the organic sector. The 2025 review of Canadian Organic Standards has supporting sponsors and industry partners.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Organic Federation of Canada (OFC) is the national federation of provincial and territorial organic organizations that maintains and interprets the Canadian Organic Standards (CAN/CGSB-32.310 and CAN/CGSB-32.311) referenced by the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations. It coordinates the Organic Science Clusters research network and operates the Standards Interpretation Committee to resolve questions from growers and certification bodies across Canada.

Product overview

The Organic Federation of Canada operates as a standards and research coordination body rather than a commercial product company. Its offerings include the Canadian Organic Standards framework (a regulatory reference document governing organic production), the Organic Science Clusters research network, Standards Interpretation Committee services, and knowledge resources including the InfoBio newsletter, Organic Science Conversations podcast series, Final Q&As guidance documents, and Organic Science Canada magazine. These products and services collectively support the Canadian organic industry through standards maintenance, scientific research coordination, and knowledge dissemination.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Canadian Organic Standards

Quantifiable outcome

• Standards reviewed and updated every five years
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAFC is a key partner in the Organic Science Clusters research program. AAFC scientists conduct research on organic farming practices including pest management, nutrient management, cover crops, and soil health. The partnership is supported by the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) and the Agri-Science Program.
• Organic Science Cluster 3 Industry Partners (70+)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 70 biological sector partners provide financial and in-kind support to the Organic Science Cluster 3 research program. Partners include monetary contributors and in-kind contributors supporting organic agriculture research.
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFIA establishes and oversees the Standards Interpretation Committee (SIC) which resolves questions from growers and Certification Bodies accredited under the Canada Organic Regime.
• Centre d'agriculture biologique du Canada (CABC), Université DalhousiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada at Dalhousie University collaborates with OFC to direct the Organic Science Clusters research program. CABC manages program activities including communications, research coordination, and stakeholder engagement.
• BC Wine and Grape CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe industry grower association identifies research priorities for the organic viticulture research on cover crops, rootstocks, and irrigation techniques in British Columbia vineyards.
• Southbrook VineyardsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCertified organic and biodynamic winery in the Niagara Peninsula participating in OSC3 research on cover crops, rootstocks, and irrigation techniques for Canadian vineyards.
• Bautiault Family Initiative on Seed SecurityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports the ALÉBIO vegetable improvement program which conducts participatory variety trials with organic farmers across Canada, a partnership with the Organic Science Cluster 3.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Quality Assurance International (QAI): US-based organic and sustainability certification body. Comparable to OFC in supporting certified-organic operators and interpreting organic standards, though operating commercially rather than as a nonprofit federation.
• Organic Research Centre: UK charity conducting applied research and knowledge exchange in organic/agroecological farming. Closely mirrors OFC's research-coordination and grower-engagement role within a national organic sector.
• Ecocert: France-based international organic certification body operating across many countries. Comparable to OFC's standards-ecosystem role in commercial organic certification, though operating as a private certifier rather than a national federation.
• FiBL (Research Institute of Organic Agriculture): Swiss-headquartered applied organic agriculture research institute running the largest organic farming research program globally. Comparable to OFC's Organic Science Clusters in coordinating multi-partner organic R&D, though much larger in scale.

Direct peers

• Canada Organic Trade Association: Canadian non-profit that promotes organic trade and policy domestically. Closest geographic peer to OFC, with overlapping stakeholders (organic producers, certifiers, provincial bodies) and similar advocacy and member-funded operating model.
• Soil Association: UK-based charity that both certifies organic producers and runs organic research and education programs. Directly mirrors OFC's combined standards-and-research mandate at a national scale, though UK-focused.
• Centre d'agriculture biologique du Canada (CABC / Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada): Dalhousie University-hosted centre that co-directs the Organic Science Clusters with OFC. Most directly comparable in research coordination and Canadian organic science mandate, operating as a partner rather than a competitor.
• CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers): US organic certification body and trade association that combines organic certification, advocacy, and grower education. Comparable to OFC in serving organic producers across an entire regulatory jurisdiction.
• Organic Trade Association: US-based organic industry association that, like OFC, represents organic producers, drives standards advocacy, and publishes research and market data for its national organic sector. Most directly comparable in mandate and structure.

Broad incumbents

• IFOAM – Organics International: Global umbrella organization for the organic agriculture movement. Comparable in its federated model and standards advocacy role, but operating worldwide rather than within a single national regulatory framework.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/OFC_organic

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Organic Federation of Canada