Canadian finds silver lining in Aussie canola

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Published: May 22, 1997

While more Australian canola exports to Japan may cause a small dark cloud over some Canadian prospects, the president of the Canola Council of Canada says he sees a silver lining.

Dale Adolphe explained more supplies of canola are needed worldwide. Ideally, he would like to see Canada filling the demand.

But he said it’s better for Australian canola to fill orders than for customers to switch to soybeans or another oilseed.

Increased production “builds a larger world niche for canola whether it’s being traded into Japan or into Mexico or being processed here in Canada by Canadian processing companies,” Adolphe said.

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The past president of the Canola Association of Australia agreed.

“There’s good synergies there with the Canadian canola,” said Ian Mack, adding the Australian industry doesn’t see itself as “outright competitors” with Canada.

“Look, we’re going to compete, but at the same time it’s not going to a full on, ‘We want the whole market,’ ” he said.

“The Canadians have worked damn hard at building up export markets for their crop, and through co-operation and not trying to take a greater share of the market than what either of us can supply … it’s going to help through times where there’s a growing market demand.”

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