Saskatchewan Organic Sector Training Needs Assessment

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Saskatchewan Organic Sector Training Needs
Assessment

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Background on the Study

• Study period February to June, 2006.
• Conducted by Sage Management Services, overseen
  by steering committee, funded by Saskatchewan
  Learning.
• Producers participated in surveys and focus
  groups. Discussions and surveys took place with
  Stakeholder Group.
• Extensive internet and Web based research, Review
  of relevant studies and reports.
• Feasibility study of Prairie Ursuline Centre

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Saskatchewan Organic Sector Training Needs
Assessment Included

• Environmental Scan
• Training Needs Assessment
• Consultations
• Review of Educational Models, Program and
  Curriculum
• Feasibility Study Prairie Ursuline Centre
• Recommendations

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Organic Food Production
Environmental Scan
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Global Consumers
Environmental Scan

• Global organic food and drink market US 23
  billion in 2002.
• Distribution
• 51 North America
• 46 Western Europe
• 3 other areas
• Typically
• Lives in urban area
• Considers quality, origin, production methods
• Well educated, middle to high income household

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Profile of a Canadian Organic Consumer
Environmental Scan

• 60 are female
• Under represented in the 60 to 80 K
• More likely to be form British Columbia
• Less likely to be from Saskatchewan (7) or
  Alberta (12)
• More likely to be 25 -34 yrs of age versus the
  over 55 age group

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Education and Training
Environmental Scan

• Few formal educational opportunities exist.
• Strong models to follow in European countries
• Member and Stakeholder groups provide support
• Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada providing
  support

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Farm Information
Survey

• 89 of those surveyed are Certified Organic, 4
  in transition.
• 95 produce grain, 22 Livestock, 15 Fruit
  Vegetables.
• 86 dedicated 76 to 100 of farm production to
  Organics.

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Producer Skill Level
Survey

• Organic Production
• 52 Experienced
• 34 Intermediate
• 8 Beginner
• 6 Expert

• Organic Product Marketing
• 36 Intermediate
• 29 Beginner
• 28 Experienced
• 3 Expert
• 4 Dont Know

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Communication andGathering Knowledge
Survey

• Telephone preferred tool, for communicating
• 78 have computer
• 42 have dial up, 11 high speed
• 15 use computer for marketing and research
• 89 learn from other Organic Growers
• 82 from books, 70 workshops, 62conferences,
  60 trials
• Producers prefer a regional, rural setting for
  training programs over major cities or online.

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Areas of Training Need
Survey
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Organic Certifications Regulations
Survey

• 73 rate Organic Certification Extremely
  Important
• 64 rate Environmental Farm Plans Important
• 30 rate On Farm Food Safety Extremely Important,
  30 Important
• 33 rate Foreign Certifications Extremely
  Important, 33 Important
• 54 rate Canadian Standards Regulations,
  Extremely Important, 30 Important

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Organic Certifications Regulations
Survey

• 93 have Organic Certification in place
• 55 have Environmental Farm Plans in place
• 25 have On Farm Food Safety in place
• 63 have Foreign Certifications or plan to have
  in place

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Education Costs
Survey

• Tuition
• 43 of producers felt Tuition was of little to no
  concern
• 46 would pay between 50.00 100.00 per course
• Accommodations
• 54 of producers felt accommodations were of
  little to no concern
• 40 would pay between 35.00 50.00 per night

• Loss of Farm Labour
• 49 said 1 day loss of labour was no more than a
  small concern
• 63 said 1 week loss of labour was a concern or
  would have a serious impact
• Producers would pay
• 25 pay 50 - 75/day
• 27 pay 100 -125/day
• 13 pay 100-200/week
• 12 pay 300/week
• 24 pay 500/week

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Customers Sales
Survey

• Only 27 of organic producers market direct to
  consumers
• 68 of those do so at the Farm Gate
• 16 at Farmers Markets
• 11 at a Retail Outlet

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Prairie Ursuline Centre (PUC)
Survey

• 53 Surveyed were familiar with PUC.
• 49 on average felt it met expectations
• Start up costs approx. 800,000
• Considerable risks associated
• with ownership of the facility
• Need for a common vision of an
• Organic Learning Centre

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Focus Group Sessions
Other Consultations

• Successes of Sector
• Positive environmental impact
• Higher nutritional value of food
• Preventing entrance of GMO wheat into Canada
• Export market development
• Organic farming viable for next generation

• Sector Needs
• Financial support for conversion
• Common Vision
• National Standards Regulations
• Training and Resources
• Research and Development
• Functioning Value Chains

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Certifiers view of Producer Needs
Other Consultations

• Classify producers new experienced as needs
  vary significantly
• Transitioning is intense process requiring
  support
• Feel mentorship program would be very valuable
• Not certain of the need for an Organic Learning
  Centre but a Sask focus to research and resources
  is needed.

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Educational Models Opportunities
Research Findings

• Lack of Credit Studies available in Sask.
• University of Guelph have only degree in Canada.
• Certificates available in other Provinces.
• Certificate in Ag Program (CAP) at U.of S. a good
  model to use for Organic Certificate
• Seminars and conferences highly utilized by
  organic producers
• Good models exist from which to build Formal
  Apprentice and Mentoring programs

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Dedicated Organic Learning Centre The Falls Brook
Centre, NB
Research Findings
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Program Curriculum Development
Research Findings

• Certificate Program
• Easy to begin with, cost effective
• Computer mediated and regional delivery lends to
  self directed learning style of many producers
• May ease certification
• difficulties

• Degree
• Would benefit the sector with valuable research
  papers
• Develops highly educated organic professionals to
  provide
• expertise
• May interest new entrants to the College of Ag
  Bio - Resources

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Recommendations

• Develop a Provincial Organic Strategy (1)
• Develop Organic Promotion Plan that focuses on
  Consumer Awareness of health, environment and
  social benefits of buying organic. (2,5,6,8)
• Study mission to Europe, Cuba and other
  countries, review actions that support the growth
  and development of the organic sector. (3)
• Ensure lenders are knowledgeable of organic
  production and marketing systems.(4)
• Conduct research to support nutritional and
  health claims on organic products. (7)
• Seek membership with Agriculture in the Classroom
  program.(9)

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Recommendations

• Universities and Colleges form a consortium to
  develop curricula in Organic Agriculture/Ecologica
  l Agriculture (10)
• Study new potential students entering College
  of Agriculture Bio Resources, U of S, on the
  potential of an Organic major. (11)
• Provide Organic Producers with educational
  resources including an updated enhanced Organic
  Production Manual and a library of reference
  material. (12, 13)
• Make application to Advancing Canadian
  Agriculture and Agri-Food Saskatchewan (ACAAFS)
  for financial assistance. (14)

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Recommendations

• Develop a formalized mentorship program that
  includes support and resource material for the
  acting mentors (16)
• Develop an Organic Leaders Program in
  conjunction with Canadian International Grains
  Institute (CIGI) (17)
• Pursue eligibility of the Organic Certification
  process as an approved Learning Activity under
  the CASS program. (18)
• Work with the First Nations Agriculture Council
  of Saskatchewan (FNACS) on co-beneficial
  programs.(19)
• Develop a common vision for an Organic Learning
  Centre conduct feasibility and develop business
  plan. (20)

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Wrap up and planning session

• What comes next?
• Release the report via website.
• Prioritize the Recommendations
• Develop a Plan of Action from the Study.
• Provide general membership
• with follow up information.

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Thank you