What does "biological" mean?

Organic products offer numerous benefits, particularly for the environment and potential health prevention, in addition to providing reliable guarantees as they are verifiable from farm to table. However, it can be difficult to pinpoint what the term "organic" really means, so here is a little guide to help clarify things.

The "organic" certification means that any product declared as such must comply with the specifications of the organic designation in Quebec as well as the Canadian organic production standards. However, to carry this label, producers must also bear significant administrative costs, in addition to the investments directly related to production.

These standards govern practices in food production and processing as well as the list of substances permitted in this mode of production. They are based on environmental protection and have been grouped under four main principles: health, ecology, fairness, and precaution.

To produce certified organic meat or poultry, animal welfare is a priority. That is why farming standards take into account all the conditions necessary for their well-being:

• provide sufficient space in buildings for their comfort and to allow them to express their natural behaviors;
• provide access to the outside and natural light in buildings;
• feed them with 100% organic grains and forages.

Furthermore, in organic farming:

• animals receive preventive care in the form of homeopathic treatments and other natural treatments instead of antibiotics;
• "The breeding periods are longer, since the animals do not receive growth stimulants."

In an organic farming operation, direct contact with the animal is important and necessary. It is essential to develop observational skills in the field and a good understanding of animal behavior to succeed in this type of farming.

In Quebec, organic certification is granted to a business following verifications conducted by an independent organization that has ensured that the business has rigorously applied the necessary requirements.

That being said, just because a farm does not have the official "organic" label does not mean it does not meet the criteria mentioned earlier. Several small producers, including some with whom we collaborate, choose not to carry this certification, preferring to invest the fees it requires directly into their farming.