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South Korean trade deal good news for Canadian agriculture

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

The Canadian-Korea Free Trade Agreement was signed on Tuesday in Ottawa by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Korean President Park Geun-hye.

The deal was welcomed by the agricultural industry who say that the free-trade agreement with South Korea will provide Canadian farmers with equal opportunity to compete against some of their main competitors - including the United States, E.U. and Australia – who all currently have trade agreements with the Asian country.

John Masswohl, a spokesperson for the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, said that Korea is one of Canada’s top-five importers of beef. Trade access will allow Canadian beef farmers to export beef and compete with their American counterparts to sell parts of the animal, like the stomach and intestine – meat cuts don’t really have a market domestically.

In the PMO’s office internal “24 Seven Excusive” episode, Masswohl acknowledges that while the trade deal has taken a long time to come through, Prime Minister Stephen Harper made sure that the agreement provided an ideal opportunity that would be beneficial to the Canadian beef sector.

According to government officials, Korea’s 40 per cent tariff on Canadian beef products will be dropped to zero over time, a package that is also outlined in the U.S. trade deal with South Korea. Similarly, for canola, the five per cent tariff will be eliminated imminently when the agreement officially takes effect, while canola oil and crude oil tariffs will be phased out over three and seven year time periods.

Dan Paszkowski, a representative for the Canadian Vintners Association, is confident that the new partnership with South Korea will boost tourism for wine country. He said that witnessing the signing of the agreement was “very memorable” for his industry.

The trade agreement is worth about $10 billion annually. Later this week, Harper is expected to announce the details of the trade agreement with the European Union. The 24 Seven Exclusive on the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement can be viewed at pm.gc.ca.


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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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