News
Soybean industry forms new organization

Sept. 8, 2014 - Twenty-seven soybean industry organizations and companies are joining together to form Soy Canada.

According to a news release, Soy Canada will act as a unified voice to address industry challenges and opportunities from a national perspective. Its mandate is to maintain and expand market access, open new markets, increase industry profile and strengthen relationships among stakeholders.

An interim board of directors has been formed, comprised of producers, crushers, commodity and food-grade exporters, and seed companies.

Mark Huston is the new chair of the organization. The farmer from Chatham-Kent, Ont. is also a director for Grain Farmers of Ontario. Huston is joined by Ernie Sirski (Manitoba Pulse Growers Association) as vice-chair, and Clint Munro (representing crushers) as secretary-treasurer.

Producer directors include Ramzy Yelda (La Fédération des producteurs cultures commerciales du Québec), John Bennett (Saskatchewan Pulse Growers Association), Barry Senft (director at-large) and Edgar Scheurer (director at-large). Industry directors include Sue Robert (representing commodity exporters), Andrew McVittie (representing food-grade exporters), Mike Nailor (representing seed companies) and Martin Harry (director at-large).

Soy Canada has started a search for an executive director to lead the organization, which will be based in Ottawa, Ont. The organization is expected to be fully operational by November 2014.

September 8, 2014  By Top Crop Manager