Feds give more than $13M to grain, oilseed sectors for market development

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Just one day after investing millions into the Canadian beef sector, Agriculture and Agri-food Minister, Marie-Claude Bibeau announced millions will flow towards the grain and oilseed sector.

At a farm near Airdrie, Alta., Bibeau announced more than $13 million will be used for various projects that will “help to strengthen, diversify and grow Canada’s grains and oilseeds exports.”

By giving money to various organizations, the federal government hopes it will help increase exports even more. New opportunities have already started to emerge from the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

The money comes from the Canadian Agricultural Partnership’s (CAP) AgriMarketing program. According to a news release, Combined with Canada’s other free trade agreements, Canadian farmers and producers with preferential market access to an estimated 1.5 billion consumers in more than 50 countries.

Quotes

“Today’s announcement to invest in getting the most for canola exports helps to maintain the foundation of our industry. This joint industry and government investment will support our efforts to maintain and grow our access to international markets, as well as building the reputation of canola around the world. With more than 90% of our canola exported as seed, oil or meal, getting the most from international markets drives our industry.”
–  Jim Everson, president, Canola Council of Canada

“The Canadian pulse and special crops industry is heavily reliant on export markets and challenges in even one or two countries can have a massive impact on growers and the trade. Through the partnership between the Canadian Special Crops Association and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, we can ensure that we’re proactively addressing issues before they result in a market closure, and minimizing the impact they’ll have on growers and trade. In addition to addressing trade issues, the growers from the pulse, special crops, cereals and canola industries know that in order to compete effectively in the markets we serve today and the markets we’re expanding into for tomorrow, we need an efficient and reliable transportation system that’ll grow with the industry.  The partnership between the Ag Transport Coalition and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada ensures that we have objective and credible information on the capacity and the service that’s being provided to the industry so that all stakeholders can focus on the improvements that’ll be needed to meet all of our customers’ needs consistently and reliably.”
–  Quinton Stewart, president, Canadian Special Crops Association

“Moving 25% of Canada’s pulse production into new markets and new uses by 2025 is a priority for our industry. Pulses are well positioned to take advantage of the growing demand for plant protein and because we’re investing in creating knowledge on the functionality, nutrition and sustainability attributes of our pulses, there’s a real opportunity to establish a unique advantage for Canadian pulses. The partnership between Pulse Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is critical to our effort to establish that unique Canadian advantage and to create new demand amongst food manufacturers and foodservice industries around the world.”
–  Allison Ammeter, chair, Pulse Canada

“As the national industry association representing the various components of the soybean and soy products value-chain, including seed development, production, handling, processing, transportation, and exportation, Soy Canada sincerely thanks Minister Bibeau and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada for announcing support of Soy Canada today. The soy sector has realized incredible growth over the past decade and this funding will allow us to keep the momentum of growth rolling as we plan to once again double our soybean production in the coming years. Growing our exports will allow us to achieve our goals and in particular this funding will allow us to expand existing international markets by undertaking market development missions to key European markets, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, and Taiwan.”
–  Ernie Sirski, chair, Soy Canada

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