The special crops industry thinks it might have a special connection with the new federal agriculture minister.
As former secretary of state for rural development, Andy Mitchell is aware of how the pulse processing sector drives economic activity in many small prairie communities.
“From that perspective I think we’ve got a bit of a head start with him,” said Francois Catellier, executive director of the Canadian Special Crops Association.
Speaking to the 316 delegates registered for the 18th annual CSCA convention held earlier this week in Regina, Catellier said the association won’t have to waste time getting the new minister up to speed on this growing sector.
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“He’ll have an understanding of where we’re coming from.”
Catellier told convention delegates that special crops processing facilities provide jobs for 1,000 Western Canadians, with an annual payroll estimated at $21 million.
On a good year, the sector generates farm cash receipts of $1.5 billion.
Crop production peaked at 4.9 million tonnes in 2000 but has tailed off. This year’s harvest is projected to bounce back to 4.5 million tonnes and Catellier sees no reason why that number can’t grow to 7.5 million tonnes within five years.
To achieve that goal, the industry is going to require increased federal government investment for rural initiatives related to special crops, said Catellier.
Gordon Bacon, chief executive officer of Pulse Canada, said he looks forward to meeting with the new agriculture minister to discuss his agency’s priorities.
Topping the list is getting more research and development dollars out of Ottawa.
“We are pushing hard to have the federal government define their role in the whole research sector.”
Another key issue Bacon highlighted in his July 26 speech to CSCA delegates was the need for continued vigilance in stamping out food safety barriers, which are rapidly replacing tariff and quota restrictions as impediments to trade.
He pointed to India’s new fumigation requirements, which could severely disrupt shipments to Canada’s top pulse destination.
Domestic regulatory issues are also a concern. Bacon said legislation on plants with novel traits is hampering the growth of the pulse sector.
“Plants with novel traits regulations require us to go to some expense and time in providing data that shows a bean that has been consumed for thousands of years is safe for human consumption.”
Garth Patterson, executive director of Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, also mentioned that issue as a priority.
“We feel it’s a real barrier to innovation. We’re seeing that right now with the Clearfield lentil. It has held us up by two to three years in the commercialization of that crop.”
Patterson said Mitchell appears to be a person willing to listen and consider viewpoints, which is an important trait for a minister.
But Patterson won’t have much contact with the new minister because Pulse Canada speaks on behalf of the provincial grower groups.
“We found the national voice to be more effective than a number of provincial voices,” he said.
