National organization strives to maintain relationship with China, India as diplomatic tensions with the two nations rise
REGINA — Canada’s pulse industry is working hard to retain Chinese pea imports, farmers attending the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers annual meeting heard. The country is an important market for Canadian peas, but that market needs attention in the face of government inattention and competition from Russia, said Pulse Canada vice-president of communications Jeff English. China […] Read moreTag Archives Pulse Canada
Farm groups back away from sustainable ag strategy
Organizations say they will no longer participate in strategy discussions, saying it does not align with producers' needs
REGINA — Agriculture Canada says consultations on its Sustainable Agriculture Strategy will continue even after six major organizations withdrew from the advisory committee last week. However, with the federal government in disarray after the Dec. 16 surprise resignation of former finance minister and deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland, the strategy may never see the light […] Read more
New uses for pulse starch seen on the horizon
Protein is normally the focus of pulse production, but research shows value can also be gained from the starch byproduct
Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan are seeking new uses for pulse starches in the food and biomaterial sectors. Byproduct market research aims to reduce food waste, increase efficiency and add more value to crops grown on the Prairies. While protein is often the goal for pulse crops in Western Canada, starch makes up more […] Read more
Demands continue to reform interswitching
Prairie grain shippers insist extended interswitching should be made permanent so all Prairie regions are accommodated
REGINA — Grain companies last week added their voice to the call for extended interswitching. Wade Sobkowich, executive director of the Western Grain Elevator Association, said the practice is an example of low-hanging fruit that would provide rail rate and service competition for shippers. He said it’s one of the only tools shippers have to […] Read more
Canada moves to end disputes at ports of Vancouver and Montreal
UPDATED: November 12, 2024 – 1250 CST – includes comments from Pulse Canada and the Canadian Specials Crops Trade Association. OTTAWA, (Reuters) – Canadian Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon said on Tuesday he had directed the country’s labor relations board to order an end to disputes at the ports of Vancouver and Montreal, citing the economic […] Read more
Agriculture sector braces for ESG requirements
Producers are warned that environment, social and governance standards could have sweeping implications for them
Glacier FarmMedia – Sustainability disclosure could soon become standard in many international markets, such as the United States and the European Union, a recent conference organized by the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute was told. To illustrate how this could affect Canada, Isabelle Mégré, director of the IFRS Foundation’s Montreal office, gave the example of a […] Read more
Pea protein sector goes to the dogs (and cats)
The human food side of the pea protein business continues to grow, but pet food remains the ingredient’s dominant user
WINNIPEG — In June, Louis Dreyfus Co. broke ground at its new pea protein plant in Yorkton, Sask. The processing plant could be completed by the fall of 2025 and may be operational in the spring of 2026. The new facility will add to an expanding supply of pea protein that is processed in Western […] Read more
India’s food balancing act provides opportunities
Exporters work within government’s efforts to keep crop prices high enough for farmers but low enough for consumers
Despite India’s hopes of becoming self-sufficient in food and crop production, a leader of a powerful farm group in that country recently told the Canadian pulse and special crops sector that Canada can play an important role in the giant nation’s needs. “There are lots of opportunities where Pulse Canada and (the National Agricultural Cooperative […] Read more
Pulse ingredients boom, but competition looms
Industry official wonders if the expansion of pulse processing that has been seen in Western Canada is outpacing demand
WINNIPEG — Every year, food companies in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia launch thousands of new products. Peas, lentils, pea protein and chickpea flour made from pulse crops grown in Western Canada are becoming common ingredients in those novel foods. In 2023, for instance, more than 1,200 products from around the […] Read more
VIDEO: Pulse, special crops conference dodges roadblocks
It hasn’t officially started, but the Canadian Pulse and Special Crops Trade Association annual conference has already survived more drama than most commodity industries have seen in ages. Just last week it looked likely that the conference would either be crippled or its attendees stranded by a labour breakdown at Air Canada, but just a […] Read more
