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Resolving the canola issue with China

Resolving the canola issue with China

Canada is setting up a working group and has sent a letter to Chinese officials

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

Canada’s federal ag minister has outlined some of the steps the government is taking to resolve the canola trade issue with China.

“On the weekend, I sent a letter to my Chinese counterpart, requesting to send a delegation led by (Dr. Siddika Mithani) the president of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, along with her team of plant health experts, and the support the technical experts from the Prairie provinces,” Marie-Claude Bibeau told reporters yesterday.


Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Marie-Claude Bibeau

On March 6, China suspended canola imports from Richardson International citing “dangerous pests,” a Chinese official said. Then, on March 26, China suspended canola shipments from Viterra Inc. because of “several hazardous organisms” discovered in the cargo, the Associated Press reported.

The federal government is also assembling a working group of industry experts determined to find a collaborative approach to resolving the market issue.

Representatives from the Canola Council of Canada, the Canadian Canola Growers Association, Richardson, Viterra, the federal government and the provincial governments of Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan will be part of the working group, Minister Bibeau announced.

The canola industry welcomes the federal government’s commitment to finding a solution to the market access issue.

Presenting proper evidence to Chinese importers should help repair the trade relationship, said Jim Everson, president of the Canola Council of Canada.

“This group will ensure that all Government of Canada resources support resolving China’s concerns,” he said in a statement yesterday. “We’re very confident in the quality if our canola and want to resolve the difference of opinion between Canada and China as quickly as possible.”

China’s actions on Canadian canola could be related to Canada’s involvement in the arrest of Meng Wanzhou, the chief operating officer of Huawei Technologies, on Dec. 1.


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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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Does anyone really think it's anything other than the Huawei issue? Wasting so much time, money and energy on sending delegates from every group when it's not about pests isnt helping - or appeasing - anyone.
Oblivious |Apr 4 2019 11:16AM