Assessing the Barriers to Conversion to Organic Farming in Canada

Despite high growth rates of organic production in canada, it remains a very small sub-sector of canadian agriculture. the focus of this paper is on identifying factors that encourage or discourage farmers when considering adopting organic practices, especially the institutional factors that affect the decision whether to convert to organic farming. the data used in the study were collected from a sample of both organic and conventional farmers in saskatchewan. the results reveal that conventional fanners lack information in many areas of organie practices, and that those institutions related to organic farming are very useful in providing information about organic farming. lack of knowledge and skills needed to manage an organie farm and lack of market opportunities for organic products are the most important reasons for not using organic farming practices. it appears that conventional farmers' beliefs and attitudes are important factors in affecting their willingness to accept organic practices. moreover, the effectiveness and protection of organic regulations, certification bodies and marketers can encourage conventional formers to convert to organic practices. conventional farmers' opinions indicate that private organizations in saskatchewan are important for the development of the organic fanning sector.