Soy Canada annual meeting highlights industry collaboration and future direction
June 18, 2026, Ottawa, ON – Soy Canada’s 2026 annual meeting highlighted the power of collaboration across the soybean value chain and the opportunities ahead for Canada’s soybean industry. Discussions at the event focussed on strengthening market relationships, improving competitiveness and preparing for the future through a renewed strategic vision.
The organization’s annual meeting was held June 18, 2026, in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. The event brought together industry leaders from across Canada to review progress over the past year and discuss future priorities for the organization. The 2025-2026 Annual Report highlights progress made in the past year.
Brian Innes, Soy Canada Executive Director, shared key accomplishments from the past year, including strengthening relationships with international customers and improving collaboration across the soy value chain. Noted highlights included advancing discussions on soybean protein variability as part of the third Northern Soybean Summit and expanding participation in the Sustainable Canadian Soy Program that is now in its fourth year with more than 1,000 farmers, eight exporters and includes over 30,000 acres.
Another highlight was Soy Canada’s 2026 outgoing mission to China, Taiwan and Japan, that included 25 representatives from across the Canadian soybean value chain. The Canadian delegation visited one of China’s largest private soybean crushers that purchased more than one million tonnes of Canada’s 2025 soybean crop.
“Canadian soybeans continue to earn a reputation for quality, reliability and sustainability in markets around the world,” said Innes. “This past year demonstrated the value of bringing the entire value chain together to address challenges, focus on building customer relationships and create opportunities that benefit the entire industry.”
Soy Canada also shared progress on the renewal of the strategic plan that will layout a vision for the industry and the organization over the next decade. The current strategic plan is approaching its tenth year, and extensive engagement is already underway. To date, 21 member organizations and five non-members have participated in interviews and focus groups to help identify priorities and opportunities.
“The Canadian soybean industry has changed significantly over the past decade, and our strategic planning process will help us chart the course for the next decade,” said Innes. “By working closely with our members and industry partners, we can identify where the greatest opportunities exist and how Soy Canada can help the industry work together on solutions.”
Soy Canada’s leadership was confirmed at the meeting, with members affirming nominees for the 2026-2027 Board of Directors.
- Jeff Barlow, Grain Farmers of Ontario
- Melvin Rattai, Director at Large (Manitoba Pulse & Soybean Growers)
- Andrea Faubert, Seed Developers (Corteva Agriscience)
- Colin Richardson, Food Grade Exporters (Snobelen Farms)
- Frank Prince, Manitoba Pulse & Soybean Growers
- Jeff Stonehouse, Commodity Exporters (The Andersons Canada)
- Ramzy Yelda, Producteurs de grains du Québec
- Winston van Staveren, Saskatchewan Pulse Growers
- Garth Baxter, Director at Large (AgriBax Global Inc.)
- Crosby Devitt, Director at Large (Grain Farmers of Ontario)
- Lucy Reed, Director at Large (Bayer Crop Science)
“Soy Canada’s strength comes from its ability to bring together every part of the soybean value chain around common goals,” said Barlow. “As we look ahead, we have an opportunity to build on that foundation and ensure Canadian soybeans continue to meet the evolving needs of customers around the world.”
The organization recognized outgoing directors Dale Heide, Jeff Wildeman and Michelle Wall for their leadership and contributions to Soy Canada.
Soy Canada is a national value-chain organization for the soybean sector, including seed companies, growers, exporters, and processors. Created in 2014, we provide industry leadership on issues affecting the growth and profitability of the soybean sector, coordinate research efforts across the value chain and across the country, as well as lead on market access and market development efforts. Canada is a global leader in producing high quality, sustainable and trusted soybeans for world markets. Soybeans are among the top three most valuable crops in Canada, with 70 per cent of production exported each year.
For more information:
Brian Innes
Executive Director
Soy Canada
613-617-8483
binnes@soycanada.ca
www.soycanada.ca