Canada is missing out on an opportunity to bolster food security and protect the environment while boosting international trade, say organic farming advocates.

Organic farming eschews synthetic pesticides and fertilizers in favour of farming practices aimed at promoting soil health and protecting the environment and human health. Research by the Canadian Organic Alliance found that the approach can reduce greenhouse gases by 35 per cent per acre, and uses half as much energy as so-called "conventional" farming, which relies on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

Tripling the amount of organic acreage in the country could save roughly the annual emissions of 165,000 cars, contribute 14 per cent of Canada's planned cuts to emissions from fertilizers, and prevent nearly 1.8 million

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