Winnipeg, MB – Canada’s canola industry welcomes the outcomes of last month’s Energy and Mines Ministers' Conference, particularly the Ministers' commitment to strengthening Canada's energy security and expanding domestic biofuel production.
With nearly 1 in 3 acres of canola grown in Canada destined for biofuel markets in Canada, the United States and the European Union, it is encouraging to see the Ministers building on future energy security by supporting the production and use of low-carbon fuels from feedstocks we already grow.
The Ministers' reference to increasing Canada's domestic biofuel production toward 60 percent of consumption by 2030, signals the important role that Canadian agriculture will continue to play in meeting the country's energy and climate goals.
By the end of 2026, Canada is expected to have the capacity to process approximately 15 million tonnes of canola annually, driven by more than $2 billion in investments in new and expanded crushing facilities across the Prairies. These investments have been made in response to growing demand for both food and fuels and represent a significant opportunity to create additional value for Canadian canola farmers.
This opportunity depends on competitive and predictable domestic policy in order to support farmer profitability and attract investment. Canadian Canola Growers Association, the Canola Council of Canada and the Canadian Oilseed Processors Association continue to advocate for targeted amendments to the Clean Fuel Regulations (CFR) that support increased domestic production of biofuels and feedstock provisions that safeguard the use of North American feedstocks, like canola oil.
The proposed CFR amendments form part of the federal government's support package announced in September 2025 to strengthen Canada's canola industry. The industry awaits publication of the targeted amendments and looks forward to meaningful policy changes that support investment, expand market opportunities, and reinforce canola's role in building Canada's low-carbon economy.