Canada’s agricultural landscape has another new commodity organization, Cereals Canada, which will deal with issues that affect the country’s cereal grain industry.
It is a multi-commodity organization that was formed to enhance the domestic and international competitiveness of Canadian cereal grains.
The group will represent the interests of various stakeholders in the Canadian cereals industry, including growers, grain handling companies and seed companies.
The organization will address issues affecting various crops including wheat, barley, oats and triticale.
The group’s founding directors include Richardson International executive Jean Marc Ruest, Syngenta Canada president Jay Bradshaw and Alberta Wheat Commission chair Kent Erickson.
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A search is currently underway to identify a president who will oversee and direct the organization’s efforts.
“Our overarching objective is to ensure Canada’s entire cereal grains industry remains competitive, profitable and innovative,” said Erickson, a grain farmer from Irma, Alta.
“And because Cereals Canada represents the entire industry value chain, we can effectively be that voice for industry to be able to achieve those objectives.”
Efforts to create a collaborative cereals organization began in 2012 when a working group representing various industry stakeholders met to discuss the formation of an all cereals commodity organization.
Cereals Canada is modeled after other successful commodity groups and aims to become an all-encompassing voice representing various interests Canada’s cereals industry.
“Taking this approach makes sense,” offers Ruest, senior vice-president of corporate affairs for Richardson International. “Structuring the organization in this way allows us to deal with issues and priorities that are more reflective of the way we carry out our respective businesses, and will allow us to work towards the most successful outcomes for the whole industry.”
Cereals Canada will support activities in the areas of research, agronomy, market development, market access and policy development.
