The canola industry can realistically reach its goal of growing 15 million tonnes by 2015 by increasing the canola acres, improving product quality and increasing yield potential.
Read Also
U.S. government investigates high input costs
The USDA and DOJ are investigating high input costs, but nothing is happening in Canada.
Government assistance will also play a part in achieving this goal.
Historically, the national recorded seeded acres have been maintained around 14.5 million (Statistics Canada, 2009).
Looking at the yield trend line, canola is on the rise. Lately, there has been an upward trend, which can be attributed to the high stability of canola breeding programs and continual research, technology and funds being invested to enhance the overall product quality.
Maintaining the canola breeding program and increasing properties such as oil content, pod shatter resistance and reducing days to maturity will continue to help this commodity flourish.
With growers, research teams and retail distributors committed to working together, the industry will quickly progress. As new varieties continue to develop, the yield trend will also continue to climb.
Canola has been a competitive commodity since the introduction of high stability canola and also since the rise in demand for healthy oil.
Canola oil has become a smart, healthy choice in many homes around the globe.
The recent healthy diet trend has helped increase the overall export market for canola oil. Consumers love the oil because it is the healthiest of all cooking oils; it is all natural and nutritious. It also lowers cholesterol and is high in omega 3 fatty acids.
These healthy properties are a huge selling point for the canola industry and high demand will always be present for this home-grown health product.
Another way the canola industry can reach its goal for 2015 would be to increase the number of acres seeded to the crop each year. This can be accomplished by using modern technology.
We are slowly seeing the number of acres increasing due to canola being grown in places it never could be grown historically, and is made possible by using technology such as the drought resistance gene (Monsanto, 2009).
The government of Canada also recently invested almost $3.5 million into this booming industry. This investment will assist the industry with the increase in market demand and will help expand processing plants across the country.
The support from government is greatly needed and appreciated. The money will promote economic development and new jobs throughout the industry.
The canola industry is in a great position to achieve its goal for 2015. It has the technology, financing, product demand and room to grow and expand all across the country.
With co-operation between growers, retailers and consumers, this commodity will easily meet the goal and continue to excel past 2015.
