Winnipeg, MB -- Today’s announcement by Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Gerry Ritz and Environment Minister Peter Kent, to mandate the blending of biodiesel in diesel fuel, is welcomed news for Canada’s canola farmers. “A two percent renewable fuel mandate for diesel fuel has the potential to create new domestic demand for about one million tonnes of canola,” says Ed Schafer, President of the Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA).
It also brings Canada’s renewable fuel standards in line with many other regions including Europe, the U.S. and Argentina and helps Canadian farmers contribute to our nation’s greenhouse gas reduction targets.
“Due to its unique characteristics, canola makes an ideal feedstock for high-quality biodiesel,” says Rick White, General Manager of CCGA. “Canola biodiesel has been tested in all types of Canadian conditions and the research shows that it performs well across many types of equipment.”
“A strong domestic biodiesel industry, backed by this national renewable fuel standard, will create significant economic and environmental benefits that can be measured in new jobs, stable incomes for farm families, growth for rural communities and cleaner fuel for all Canadians,” says Schafer.
While canola farmers are very pleased with the July 1, 2011 start date to the mandate, “we also urge the government to look for ways to support the build-up of medium to large-scale biodiesel plants in western Canada so that our national mandates are served by biodiesel processed by Canadians using Canadian feedstocks,” says White.
Renewable fuels such as canola-based biodiesel reduce our dependency on fossil fuels. “They are good for farmers, good for the environment and good for the economy,” says Schafer.
The Canadian Canola Growers Association represents more than 50,000 canola farmers on national and international issues that impact farm profitability.
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Contact:
Kelly Green, Director, Communications
Canadian Canola Growers Association
Phone: 204.789.8821
E-mail: kellyg@ccga.ca