March 10, 2022 – The Canola Council of Canada (CCC) has released an updated Canola Innovation Strategy, outlining an aligned value chain vision, from farm to customer, for near-term innovations needed to do even more for our economy and our environment. The strategy articulates a path for innovation and research to achieve the industry’s Keep It Coming 2025 strategic goals and beyond.
“Canola’s position as one of the world’s most important oilseeds and Canada’s most valuable crop is built upon continued investment in research and innovation,” says Curtis Rempel, CCC vice president of crop production and innovation. “Canola needs constant innovation to increase productivity per acre, maintain high demand for its oil and protein, and continue to improve its environmental footprint.”
The Canola Innovation Strategy was developed through in-depth consultations with stakeholders throughout 2021, including canola grower organizations and companies along the value chain, to identify innovation focal points to achieve these objectives. It focuses on four key pillars – performance, precision, protection and product, and calls for a predictable and science-based regulatory system.
“These discussions also helped identify current gaps and opportunities in various aspects of canola innovation, pointing the way to our research funding priorities for the Next Policy Framework for agriculture and other funding opportunities,” says Rempel. Through the vision of this strategy, growers, government, universities and private researchers can collaborate to increase the likelihood of success. “The Innovation Strategy provides the direction and framework for that collaboration.”
The four key pillars of the strategy may be summarized as follows:
- Performance – Increase productivity and meet current and future customer needs for oil and protein. Remain a top crop for Canadian producers, sequester more carbon in the soil, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to biodiversity.
- Precision – Use current and new field tools and technologies to increase productivity and reduce the environmental footprint of canola.
- Protection – Protect the crop from pests and other threats to productivity, including climate change factors, while also protecting markets.
- Product – Ensure Canada’s canola industry can supply current customers while also being flexible to adapt to changing market demands for oil, meal, protein and fuel.
To learn more about the canola value chain’s vision for innovation, including underlying factors driving the need for innovation and sustainability, read the full Canola Innovation Strategy report or summary.
The Canola Council of Canada is a full value chain organization representing canola growers, processors, life science companies and exporters. Keep it Coming 2025 is the strategic plan to ensure the canola industry’s continued growth, demand, stability and success – targeting 52 bushels per acre to meet global market demand of 26 million metric tonnes by the year 2025.
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Media may contact:
Heidi Dancho
Director, Communications
(204) 227-5731
danchoh@canolacouncil.org
