Delegates attending the 37^th Annual Canola Council of Canada convention in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, heard that while the canola industry continues to expand and evolve to better serve customer and consumer needs and preferences, challenges still lay head.

According to Liam McCreery, President of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA), trade is a key to a bright future for the Canadian canola industry.

“Canada needs to be a leader, and to seek opportunities for the future,” said McCreery. “We must build on Canada’s competitiveness and innovation, and look out – not in.”

As a grain and oilseed grower, McCreery knows the importance of the international market.

“It is the destination for about 60 per cent of my grain and oilseeds and their products,” he noted. “For too long, growers in my industry and others have had to compete in a marketplace that is distorted by unfair subsidies and high tariffs.”

Dennis Maxfield, publisher of The Trade News Service, discussed the near-term global oilseed supply and demand outlook. He noted that steady growth in the world’s population and an improved global economic outlook, particularly in developing countries, will drive strong demand for protein meals and edible oils.

“World oilseed production is projected to rise around four per cent for the current marketing year,” said Maxfield. “We expect to see world exports of the major oilseeds top a record 76.0 million tonnes shipped during 2002/03, more than double the amount done just 10 years ago.”

Speaker Linda Thrane, Executive Director of the Council for Biotechnology Information (CBI) in Washington, D.C., presented an update on the bio-safety protocol, CODEX and key issues and developments in the GMO arena that impact canola. She stressed to delegates at the annual convention they better manage the ‘politics’ of GMO.

“Seven million farmers in 18 countries today grow biotech crops,” she noted. “In 2003, the global area of biotech crops was 67.7 million hectares, representing a 15 per cent increase in hectares over 2002.”

Thrane added there is a virtual smorgasbord of environmental benefits with GMO canola, including the prevention of soil erosion, improved water quality and air quality, and increased biodiversity. She says despite this positive outlook, challenges still abound.

There is a lack of awareness and information about the benefits of GMO crops, she says. “As well, trade disputes and market access are something we need to overcome to help improve understanding of the benefits of agricultural and food biotechnology.

New and varied uses for canola outlined at Canola Council’s annual convention

The increasing alternate uses for canola was one of the focuses of speakers at the Tuesday session of the Canola Council of Canada Annual convention.

Industry experts and researchers say alternate uses hold tremendous potential to increase canola sales.

Canola can be used to produce diesel fuel or bio-diesel. Bio-diesel is already sold commercially in Germany, says Peter Reimers, Manager Biodiesel for Archer Daniels Midland. He told delegates that the outlook for canola bio-diesel is bright.

“There are currently various efforts underway around the globe to use canola oil as a bio-diesel,” he says. “Using this alternate form of fuel has many benefits, including cleaner emissions and a significant lubricity enhancement.”

Another exciting alternate use for canola is in the creation of biodegradable plastics. Dr. Suresh Narine, Director of the Agri-Food Materials Science Centre at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, focuses his research on lipid shortenings and the synthesis of biodegradable polymers from lipids, including canola oil.

“I think we have a wonderful oil in canola oil,” said Narine. “It is unique in many ways in that it can be used to produce plastics, as well as lubricants and drying agents.”

Barb Isman, President of the Canola Council of Canada, says the alternate uses for canola are expanding and will help boost canola sales.

The 37^th Canola Council of Canada convention in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico from March 21 to 23, 2004, features speakers from around the globe discussing the opportunities and challenges for canola.