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Feds weigh in on Canadian durum issue

Feds weigh in on Canadian durum issue

Minister MacAulay provides trade mission update from Europe

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

Canada continues to discuss possible resolutions to a durum wheat issue with Italian importers, Minister MacAulay says.

During an Oct. 8 to 11 trade mission to Europe, MacAulay “met with the Italian grain industry (and) raised Canada’s serious concerns about market conditions in Italy which are hurting our durum wheat” exports, he told reporters today on a conference call from Rome.

Italy used country-of-origin labelling (COOL) and other actions to present Canadian durum as a dangerous product laced with glyphosate since July 2017. Italy also bans the application of glyphosate on pre-harvest wheat.

Since Italy implemented its COOL actions, Canada has exported very little durum wheat directly to the country.

In July 2018, Cereals Canada and Grain Growers of Canada urged the federal government to file a complaint with the World Trade Organization to challenge Italy’s practices. But Canada isn’t willing to go that route yet.

Canada will consult directly with Italian industry officials, MacAulay said.

Canadian producers want the durum wheat issue resolved as soon as possible.

The longer Italy curbs Canadian durum wheat imports, the higher the chances of other markets acting in a similar manner, said Margaret Hansen, a durum producer from Moose Jaw, Sask., and the Saskatchewan vice-president of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers.

“We produce about 8,000 acres of durum, and none of it from our farm has gone to Italy in about a year,” she told Farms.com. “I’m very concerned about these kinds of actions spilling over into other commodities and that other countries witness what happened in Italy and find reasons to be protectionist.”

The wheat issue aside, Canada’s agriculture minister did provide positive news about trade in Europe.

CETA’s has been in effect for under a year but has already been beneficial for some Canadian ag sectors.

“Since CETA came into force, Canadian agriculture, food and seafood exports have increased to most of the member states in the European Union,” MacAulay said. “Our corn exports to the EU are up by 82 per cent, our blueberry and cranberry exports are up 28 per cent and our maple syrup exports are up by 13 per cent.

“All told, that represents an increase of over $133 million in new sales for farmers in the first 10 months of CETA.”

Since enacting CETA, total Canadian exports to Europe are up by about $1 billion, he added.

Minister MacAulay also reaffirmed the government’s plan to compensate Canada’s supply managed sectors with the upcoming ratification of USMCA.

Pixabay photo


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The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.

 

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