Top Crop Manager

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Investing in new markets for Canada’s field crops

October 27, 2014 - The Canadian government has announced an investment of $15 million to the Canadian International Grains Institute (Cigi) to support market development efforts and sales of Canadian field crops in global markets through customer education and training.

Cigi is an internationally recognized non-profit market development and technical analysis organization that delivers customized training programs and technical expertise to customers around the world.

"Our Government continues working to enable Canada's field-crop sector to keep pace with growing world demand," says Agriculture Minister, Gerry Ritz. "By promoting the quality and safety of Canada's field crops, producers are able to differentiate their product from key competitors and remain dominant players in the global marketplace."

In 2013, Canadian grain exports were approximately $23 billion. This new investment will support Cigi's ongoing efforts to share technical and market knowledge with customers around the globe, further strengthening the competitive advantage for Canadian field crops. According to Cigi, this will be achieved through technical exchanges, new crop missions, educational programs for global clients, and domestic training.

"The Government of Canada has been a long time funding partner of the Canadian International Grains Institute," notes JoAnne Buth, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian International Grains Institute.  "We welcome [this] significant investment which demonstrates a continuing commitment to the work that we do on behalf of farmers and industry. It will enable us to promote Canadian field crops and the Canada brand for quality and consistency worldwide through our educational programs and technical training."

On May 29, 2014, Bill C-30, the Fair Rail for Grain Farmers Act, received Royal Assent. The legislation identifies clear and achievable measures to get Canada's agricultural products, and other commodities, to market in a predictable and timely way.

This investment is being made through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's AgriMarketing Program, a five-year, up to $341-million program under Growing Forward 2.

October 28, 2014  By Top Crop Manager


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