Farms.com Home   News

Canola Council elects new chair and reflects on ‘growing opportunity’ in 2023 annual report

Tessa Ritter has been elected the new chair of the board of directors for the Canola Council of Canada (CCC). Ritter is the Stakeholder Relations Manager at Viterra. She succeeds Jennifer Marchand who finished her two-year term as chair but remains on the board as a director.
 
“On behalf of the board, I’d like to thank Jennifer Marchand for her service as our board chair, and our outgoing board members David Kelner and Ryan McCann for their contributions to our industry,” says Ritter. “We also warmly welcome two new directors as we continue to partner across the value chain to identify and pursue opportunities, address challenges and drive the industry forward.”
 
New to the CCC board of directors for 2024/25 are:
Chris Anderson, DL Seeds, nominated by life science companies
Tyler Groeneveld, Corteva Agriscience, nominated by life science companies
At the Canola Council of Canada’s (CCC) Annual General Meeting yesterday, president & CEO Chris Davison presented the 2023 annual report: Growing Opportunity. Davison reflected on the year’s achievements as well as new opportunities that will help keep Canadian canola thriving.
 
“This was a year to both build on past achievements while also nurturing new opportunities for the Canadian canola industry,” said Davison. “While there are always challenges to navigate, the strengths and opportunities of the Canadian canola industry are well recognized both domestically and internationally. Strong collaboration, research and a drive to innovate are among the things that will help us realize those opportunities moving forward.”
 

  • The report highlights opportunities that took root in 2023 in all pillars of the CCC’s strategic plan, including:
  • Growing diversification into biofuels markets
  • Renewing investment in research, and market access and development
  • Establishing resources in the Indo-Pacific region
  • Revitalizing connections with China and other key markets
  • Learning more about canola agronomy in the brown soil zone
  • Facilitating innovation in plant breeding and crop protection products
Click here to see more...

Trending Video

2024 AGM Day 1 Panel - Succession Planning & Risk Management

Video: 2024 AGM Day 1 Panel - Succession Planning & Risk Management

Statistics Canada’s 2021 Census of Agriculture indicates that 75% of all farms operating in Canada operate as sole proprietorships or family partnerships. While incorporated farms make up just over a third of Canadian farm operations most of those are also family-run corporations. If the issue of farm succession planning is not on the minds of Canadian farm producers, it probably should be. That same Statistics Canada Census of Agriculture indicates that the average age of a Canadian farmer is 56 years of age with the 55 plus age group becoming the fastest growing segment in Canadian agriculture.

Despite these statistics, the same Census reports that only 1 in 10 Canadian farm operations have a formal succession plan. While each farm has its unique issues when it comes to transferring the business to the next generation, there are some common topics that almost all farmers must address. Join financial, legal, and tax experts to learn about how to begin the process, key tips on ensuring a smooth transition from one generation to the next, and how to manage the strong emotions the topic can create within the family.