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By Alice McFarlane

Securing the future of Canadian cereals

Cereals research and market support funding

Oct 18, 2024 | 10:20 AM

Federal funding is supporting the future of cereal farming in Canada.

Cereals Canada has received $7.3 million for research, innovation, and market support from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). This includes $6.6 million over three years from the AgriMarketing Program and $674,000 over five years for research.

Cereals Canada CEO Dean Dias said the research and market access initiatives will benefit Canadian wheat, durum, barley, and oat growers, and the value chain.

“This funding enables us to amplify our resources, maintain and grow markets, and foster industry relationships and advocacy, helping to ensure the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of Canada’s cereals industry,” he said. “Our oat research aims to enhance our understanding of Canadian oat quality and how it performs as an ingredient.”

The announcement was made from Cereals Canada’s pasta laboratory, one of six technical facilities located in downtown Winnipeg. These specialized labs have played a crucial role in the organization’s research and development efforts.

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One of the key initiatives is a four-year project led by AAFC scientists Dr. Sijo Joseph and Dr. Lovemore Malunga. They will look at how variety and environmental conditions affect oat quality for different food applications, providing the industry with knowledge about year-to-year variability in oat quality and how best to ensure that Canadian oats continue to deliver consistent quality expected by customers.

Wheat is a staple food for 35 percent of the world’s population and is Canada’s largest field crop grown. Canada is the fourth largest wheat exporter in the world and one of the world’s top exporters of high-quality durum.

As the world’s largest exporter of high-quality oats, Canada produces about four million tonnes of oats on average every year. Saskatchewan typically produces more than 50 per cent of Canada’s oats each year.

Canada’s cereal sector is responsible for $68.8 billion in annual economic activity and 370,000 full-time jobs in Canada and leads the country’s agriculture exports to over 80 countries.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @farmnewsNOW