Canadian Prosperity
Canadian Prosperity
driver of the Canadian economy, creating jobs and adding value.
Canola is the #1 source of farm revenue for Canadian farmers, earning $12 billion in farm cash receipts in 2021.
CropFarmers prosper when their sustainable practices are recognized and rewarded.
Growth opportunity: Engage with farmers early in developing sustainability policies, programs, and targets. Provide improved financial recognition for on-farm activities that benefit Canadians as a whole, such as carbon offset credits and nature-based climate solutions.
Canola farmers have a long history of adopting innovative practices that improve the sustainability of their operations; their farms and future farm generations depend on it. In keeping with that responsibility, the Canadian canola industry has set bold sustainability targets for 2025 to improve energy and land efficiency, sequester more carbon, improve soil and water health, and protect biodiversity. These targets can be achieved through continued access to and increased adoption of the latest crop innovations and agronomic practices on farms.
Farmers help mitigate the effects of climate change through modern agriculture practices, and with the right policies in place, these environmental benefits can be maximized. Canola is able to efficiently sequester large amounts of carbon due to its high yields and deep roots. It is important that this environmental contribution be recognized through Canada’s carbon offset credit system. To allow farmers to continue to make significant investments required for new sustainable technologies, carbon pricing exemptions must be made when an alternative fuel source is not viable. Nature-based climate solutions programming is also key in recognizing farmers for sustainable practices to help them remain profitable and encourage the adoption of new practices that benefit their farms and the environment. Farmers will play a meaningful role in Canada’s sustainable future, but to realize agriculture’s full contribution, farmers must be at the table when sustainability policies, programs and targets are being developed. Only then will we reach achievable outcomes that support sustainable land and farm profitability.
40% decrease in the amount of land required to produce one tonne of canola.
Utilize 4R nutrient stewardship practices on 90% of canola acres.
18% reduction in fuel use per bushel.
Sequester an additional 5 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in Canadian soils every year.
Safeguard over 2,000 beneficial insects that call canola fields and surrounding habitat home.
Farmers prosper when there are adequately funded programs to help manage uncontrollable risks, giving them the confidence to invest in their operations.
Growth opportunity: Improve Business Risk Management programming to be more predictable, timely, and responsive to the farmers’ needs.
From extreme weather to international trade restrictions and rail disruptions, canola farmers face increased volatility and uncertainty. They rely on the suite of Business Risk Management (BRM) programs to help manage risks beyond their control. Improvements are needed to better respond to the risks of modern farming, which will help position farmers with economic stability for their rural economies and sustain the agricultural sector as a driver of the Canadian economy.
Farmers and their represented associations need to be engaged early and often on programming changes to ensure these critical tools remain relevant and effective. Any changes should align exclusively with the core objective of the suite of programs: to provide producers with tools to protect against income and production losses that threaten the viability of farms.
Innovation
Farmers prosper when there is a robust regulatory environment that encourages innovation and boosts competitiveness.
Growth opportunity: Resource and enable federal regulatory bodies to make efficient, science-based decisions that help farmers stay competitive and sustainable with the most up-to-date crop protection products and seed varieties. Modernize Canada’s grain quality assurance framework.
Canola is a hallmark “Made in Canada” success story, first developed by Canadian scientists in the 1970s. Over five decades, the canola industry was built from a foundation of innovation, industry-government partnership, and a science-based regulatory process. Access to innovation, including no-tillage cropping systems, precision agriculture technologies, and plant breeding innovation, is more important than ever, allowing farmers to increase production to meet growing demand while providing solutions to our food system and sustainability challenges.
Regulations and government-led initiatives, such as the Pest Management Regulatory Agency’s (PMRA) Transformation Agenda, must be grounded in science-based decisionmaking that does not unnecessarily stifle access to new products. Access to the latest innovations will drive our success in meeting canola’s sustainability targets and Canada’s climate change goals while improving yields, increasing our competitiveness at home and in a global marketplace, and further contributing to Canada’s economic growth. Additionally, farmers need a modernized Canada Grain Act and Canadian Grain Commission that better align with the needs of farmers now and into the future as innovations evolve, and markets and demand change for their product.
BiofuelsFarmers prosper when they can meet growing demand for their product.
Growth opportunity:
Enable a sustainable source for food and fuel.
Canadian canola is proven, sustainable, and available to take on the increased demand.
As Canada and more markets around the world choose canola-based biofuels (biodiesel and renewable diesel), the Canadian canola industry has a big opportunity to meet growing demand. Canola is used as a high-quality, domestically sourced, sustainable biofuel feedstock that can play a key role in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in transportation fuel. Canola biofuels have excellent GHG reduction characteristics, emitting up to 90% less GHG emissions than conventional diesel fuel. This reduction is calculated on a lifecycle basis, which includes growing, processing and transportation. The significant announcements in the canola processing sector in 2021 show the entire industry is responding to produce and process increased volumes of canola – to meet the growing global demand for food and fuel. Currently, approximately 1.8 million tonnes of seed are used in biofuel manufacturing in North America. With the current regulatory landscape, estimates suggest that this could increase to approximately 6.5 million tonnes annually in 2030. Government should work with industry to ensure regulations enable meeting this increased demand.
Farmers prosper when they have access to diversified markets to sell their products.
Growth opportunities: Promote rules-based trade and timely solutions
to market access barriers. Expand and diversify international markets.
Trade is key to the competitiveness of the canola sector. Modernization of the World Trade Organization and full implementation of Canada’s bilateral agreements ensure open borders and resilient supply chains. Farmers are well-positioned to provide safe, reliable canola to the world but require science-based trade rules to grow and diversify markets. Free trade agreements (FTAs) with Indonesia and the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and investments in market access activities should be core to Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy. Successful FTA conclusions will create new opportunities, and additional on-the-ground technical expertise will help our sector understand evolving regulatory requirements and generate market access solutions.
Canadian canola seed is crushed into oil, which can be found in consumer products worldwide.
Canada is the #1 exporter of canola to the world.
90% of canola is exported
as seed, oil, and meal to more than 50 markets each year.
In 2021, 90% of canola seed was exported to 5 markets.
United States:
China:
Japan:
Mexico:
European Union:
in 2021
*Sourced from Statistics Canada, August 2022
to Port to CustomerFarmers prosper when there is a reliable transportation network to ship their product.
Growth opportunity: Increase transparency and confidence in Canada’s railways and invest in adaptable and resilient transportation infrastructure.
Over 90% of canola grown in Canada is exported to customers all over the world, and rail is the only practical means to move from the areas of production to port. Canola seed and processed oil and meal products are all grain commodities that require transportation in bulk volumes – there are no other practical options.
The industry relies on efficient, predictable, and timely rail service, as do export customers who need to know that they can trust Canadian canola to arrive as expected. When railways can’t deliver on service or transportation is otherwise halted, farmers and customers are directly affected. The grain supply chain is a complex system that requires the right grain, in the right place, at the right time to ensure timely loading of vessels at port and contracts with global customers are fulfilled.
Timely data and transparency are key components to ensure we achieve this. CCGA is a founding partner of the Ag Transport Coalition (ATC). Created in 2013, the ATC produces weekly performance measurement reports tracking railway service to grain shippers. More information can be found at agtransportcoalition.com. In 2022-23, CCGA and other partners in the grain sector are calling for greater transparency and assurance from Canada’s railways on how they will move this year’s harvest. More information can be found at canadasready.ca.
For the long-term, transportation corridors need considerable investment to be upgraded to handle not simply the goods of today, but increased volumes of the future as Canada works to diversify its trade flows. The federal government must make further, long-term commitments to infrastructure improvements that will help facilitate exports, especially through the Western corridor to supply growing Asian markets. Infrastructure investments are key to ensuring Canada’s competitiveness and resiliency to natural disasters that impact the supply chain.
Read more about Transportation
The national
voice of Canada’s
43,000
canola farmers.
Since 1984, Canadian Canola Growers Association has been at the forefront of driving change for canola farmers, representing their interests on national and international agricultural issues, programs and policies. The association has been an administrator of the Advance Payments Program for more than 35 years, providing cash advances to help farmers better market their crops and finance their operations. The Advance Payments Program is a federal loan program administered by CCGA. It offers Canadian farmers marketing flexibility through interest-free and low-interest cash advances.
CCGA is governed by 10 farmer directors who represent Canada’s provincial canola associations.
