|
Prairie Canola Agronomy Program
On June 18, 2008 the Manitoba Canola Growers Association (M CGA) signed the Prairie Canola Agronomy Research Program. This agreement will mean many positive things to Manitoba canola growers.
It is a joint partnership and collaboration with the Alberta Canola Producers Commission (ACPC), Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission (SCDC), Canola Council of Canada (CCC), MCGA and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. These groups are workng together to maximize dollars and projects. With all of the canola grower organizations working together along with the Government of Canada and its Agri Food Research Centres this is finally a coordinated approach to canola agronomy research in western Canada.
The objectives of the program are to: reduce pesticide (herbicide, fungicide, insecticide) inputs and optimize fertilizer inputs to maintain economic sustainability for canola growers (Manitoba growers, you have been asking for this.) and to increase adoption of technologies that reduce business risk.
MCGA signed on because it is our mandate to do more agronomic research. MCGA can now access more researchers, projects and dollars. With collaboration from all of the provincial canola organizations, growers can leverage more government dollars, which in turns provides more opportunities for great research projects.
Canola Product Research Fund
The Canola Product Research Fund was created to fill a void in research on the health benefits of canola oil. There is research that has shown that canola oil has significant cardioprotective properties, but there is very little on how canola oil can help manage diabetes and other chronic diseases.
This program funds research on the effects of canola oil on Type 2 diabetes and chronic diseases. Canola oil research is important to help demonstrate to consumers that canola oil is the healthiest oil on the market. If we can do that, canola oil consumption should increase, and along with it the demand for canola. This is all done to develop a stronger market for canola and give growers a better return on their canola crop. MCGA is in its second year of co-funding this program along with ACPC, SCDC and CCC.
Government outreach
MCGA has been part of several canola industry delegations to Parliament Hill. The focus on the last trip was a mandate and incentive rates for biodiesel. The board of directors deemed it important to talk to MPs so they could better understand the issue from a grower’s perspective. This outreach was considered successful, because the mandate has since been passed, and there is an incentive rate in place.
MCGA also regularly visits with Manitoba’s Minister of Agriculture and the opposition ag critic. Up for discussion were how to start a biodiesel industry in Manitoba and the impending moratorium on hog barns in the province. There is some concern that the canola industry could be next for heavy regulation.
MCGA also sent a written submission to the Legislative Review Committee on Bill 17 (hog moratorium). MCGA does not support this bill because there is not scientific evidence to show that a moratorium on hog barn expansion will solve water pollution problems.
CanolaInfo
The Manitoba Canola Growers fund this marketing effort in partnership with ACPC, SCDC and the Canola Council. CanolaInfo is the marketing body for canola oil in North America.
CanolaInfo provides culinary and health information about canola oil to consumers, culinary professionals, food product designers and health professionals in North America. One piece of information that Manitoba growers should find inspiring is the vast consumption of canola oil and the increased potential for market share in the United States.
At the recent National Restaurant Association show in Chicago, IL a company called Technomic gave a presentation on oil consumption which reports that the United States Vegetable oil market is 11 times larger than Canada. This shows great potential for the Canadian canola industry.
Canola oil is already making strides into US kitchen cupboards. Canola oil is ranked as the number two oil in the United States and continues to rank as number one in Canada even with declining consumption. Displacing canola oil in Canada have been such high saturated fat culprits like lard, tallow and palm oil.
The price of oil has been an issue, but the United States’ demand for a healthier oil is driving sales down south. AC Nielson 2008 states that canola oil is the only oil with increased volume since 2004. The drive for consumers to seek a healthier oil and restaurants searching for a trans fat-free oil directly benefits Manitoba canola growers.
SIDEBAR:
In 2007 MCGA spent $194,275 on agronomic research. Every grower dollar from MCGA provides almost $6 in direct funding for the High Erucic Acid Rapeseed Industrial Research Chair at the University of Manitoba and a further $1.4 million in additional investment in Manitoba public canola research.
In 2007 MCGA spent $105,000 on the North American Oil Promotion. How big is the US market? In 2007 11 million tonnes of soybean oil was used and only 1 million tonnes of canola oil. It would not take much of a percentage increase of canola oil to increase the demand for canola to the US. The objective for the North American Oil Promotion is to: increase canola oil consumption and value in North America and promote canola oil’s health benefits.
Every $100 million in new demand for canola generates an additional $83 million in Canadian gross domestic product and more than 730 direct jobs in value-added industries, many located in rural areas.
|
