SaskCanola, Alberta Canola and Manitoba Canola Growers, through their representation in national organizations, work together to enhance the trade of canola seed, oil and meal around the world.

Grower directors work for stable and open trade

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Ninety per cent of Canadian canola is exported as seed, oil or meal. That is why stable and open trade is a pillar of the Canola Council of Canada (CCC) strategic plan and a key policy objective of Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA).

Farmers on the boards for SaskCanola, Alberta Canola and Manitoba Canola Growers also sit at the CCC and CCGA board tables. These dedicated directors provide the essential farmer voice needed when working to advance stable and open trade.

Pam Bailey, vice president of Manitoba Canola Growers and CCGA director, says farmers are the best people to speak for farmers. “When farmers meet directly with customers from around the world, we can explain how we work to be reliable, sustainable, high-quality suppliers of canola,” Bailey says. “It is hard to replicate this grassroots connection from the farm gate to the end user.”

Here are a few CCC and CCGA trade activities that benefit
from the farmer voice:

The biofuels opportunity. A year ago, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel and other biofuels made from canola oil will qualify as “advanced biofuels” under the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard program. This gives canola oil a pathway into the U.S. market. The CCC worked with the Canadian Oilseed Processors Association (COPA) and the U.S. Canola Association to achieve this level playing field with other oilseeds.

“We have advocated for increased use of renewable fuels because it has the ability to drive our economy forward,” says Christine McKee, director with Alberta Canola and CCGA. “It means more jobs, creates another market for our crops, increases farmers’ revenues, and helps to ensure long term price stability.”

Potential in the Indo-Pacific. The 40 nations of the Indo-Pacific represent the fastest-growing economic region in the world. The CCC joined forces with other value chain organizations to promote market access and a more strategic, coordinated approach to growing and diversifying exports to the region. A result of this work is the plan to open a new Canadian Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office in the region.

“Adding the Indo-Pacific office gives Canada and Canadian farmers a chance to enhance existing relationships and create new ones,” says Dean Roberts, director with SaskCanola, CCGA and CCC boards.

“Adding the Indo-Pacific office gives Canada and Canadian farmers a chance to enhance existing relationships and create new ones.”
— Dean Roberts

International MRLs. When it comes to maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides, not all countries approve and set these limits at the same time or same level. This can pose a trade risk for canola and delay farmers’ access to crop protection products. Codex provides an international standard for MRLs. CCGA is part of the Coalition for an Enhanced Codex, which supports global standards to facilitate trade.

“As farmer directors, we can show decision-makers how international and predictable standards for MRLs would help us,” says Dean Roberts.
“We market our crops for 12 months after harvest and if MRLs change unexpectedly in that time, we’re stuck. We can’t un-use anything we already applied to the crop.”

Justin Nanninga, director for Alberta Canola and the CCC, says when farmer directors meet with governments or foreign delegations to advocate and raise awareness of Canadian canola, they do this for the benefit of Canadian farmers. “Building relationships to grow more export markets for canola, canola oil and meal is vital to maintaining a diversified marketing strategy,” he says.