Soybean Value Chain Welcomes Government Support for Soybean Research
Ottawa, ON – The Canadian soybean sector welcomes the announcement earlier today by Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, of Government of Canada support for soybean research under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
“On behalf of all participants in the Canadian soybean sector, I wish to commend Minister MacAulay for the allocation by the Government of Canada of $5.4 million under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership in support of ten highly valued research projects,” said Soy Canada Chair Ernie Sirski. “Combined with a $3 million contribution from industry, the new research initiatives will greatly assist the soybean sector’s ten-year objectives of increasing yield, improving quality, enhancing pest resistance, expanding into new production regions, and strengthening competitiveness and exports,” added Sirski.
“Following a 103% increase in production during the past decade, not only are soybeans already a Canadian success story, the potential exists to double production yet again during the next ten years,” said Soy Canada Executive Director Ron Davidson. “As research and innovation will be pivotal to converting potential into achievement, today’s announcement is both most timely and greatly appreciated,” added Davidson.
Canada’s fastest expanding major field crop during the past decade, soybeans are now Canada’s third most valuable field crop after canola and wheat. Accounting for $2.7 billion of farm cash receipts , soybean production this year totalled 7.3 million metric tonnes in eight provinces (Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Alberta, and Nova Scotia). In 2017, Canada exported 5 million metric tonnes of soybeans and soy products, valued at $2.7 billion, to 71 countries.
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For further information contact:
Ron Davidson
Executive Director
rdavidson@soycanada.ca
613-233-0500