September is harvesting time!
SOD News
As harvesting continues for organic producers, let the Saskatchewan Organic Directorate (SOD) keep you updated during this busy time.
Organic sector works to stop Roundup Ready Alfalfa
SOD signed on to the Canadian Organic Growers letter of support that will be sent to Honorable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The letter addressees concerns about the pending approval of Monsanto’s Roundup Ready Alfalfa. The letter states that the organic sector views this as the most urgent threat facing organic farming and the timing could not be worse. The organic sector has spent years building the organic brand and we have good reason to believe that licensing RR alfalfa will irreversibly undermine our efforts and erode organic integrity.
SOD: Organic Agriculture Protection Fund, with the support of the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network have been working towards educating politicians and the public about organic producers concerns regarding genetically engineered glyphosate tolerant alfalfa - Monsanto's Roundup Ready Alfalfa.
SOD is a spokesperson for Organics
One of SOD’s roles is to be a spokesperson for organics. With field days taking place during the summer and many of them featuring ADOPT Projects, Martin Meinert, President of SOD, comments on the importance of organic research in Saskatchewan. To read this article, go to Discover Moose Jaw.
SOD is looking for new Board Members
SOD is looking for 2 Directors for their Board. If you are interested, please contact the office @569-1418 or email admin@saskorganic.com.
SOD Newsletter will be out early in November
We are beginning to collect articles and information for this issue. If you are interested in submitting an article or photo, or if you are interested in advertising in the newsletter, please contact the Saskatchewan Organic Directorate by emailing admin@saskorganic.com or phoning 306–569–1418.
Local, National, and International News
SOD is involved in National Organic Week October 15th to 22nd.
Dine With The Stars was a project undertaken by SOD, Food Miles Campaign Committee with funding from the Ministry of Environment Go Green Funds. The project is nearing completion and on October 16th, there will be a gala series launch of the event. It will be held in Regina at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum (RSM).
The day’s activities will include a mini organic trade show during the day, featuring as many of our producers as would like to participate and we will be showing the series in the auditorium from 9:00 AM to 4:15 PM. This will be open to the public. A private reception will follow for those people involved in the creation of the series.
We are celebrating as our series will begin to air on ACCESS on Sunday, October 23rd at 7:30 PM and on SHAW on Wednesdays and Fridays at 5:30 PM starting on October 26th and 29th. The series will run for 13 weeks and will feature the growers and restaurants from the dinner events that were filmed over the past year.
Organic Research – First Canadian Organic Science Conference to be held in 2012
The Organic Science Cluster is in its 3rd Year of Activities - A First Canadian Organic Science Conference will be held in Winnipeg from February 21 to 23, 2012. Leading scientists will present current advances in the field of organic agricultural practices and work with the participants to identify the next Science Cluster research priorities. The finalized program will be published this fall.
More information on the researchers and their projects can be found on the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada website.
